DRY 17

[Loubilou09]

[This message is actually from Sober Sarah! She wanted this thread to start with links everyone will find useful. MNHQ]

If you're quitting alcohol for a brighter sober future come and join us here. A very welcoming bunch supporting ebach other every step of the way. smile
We have put together some helpful info and links, to help you do this Smile tiredofthinkingaboutdrinking.com

Tired of thinking about drinking, Belle's website filled with free stuff as well as subscription courses and an account of her four years sober.

joinclubsoda.co.uk/ Club Soda - to help you make the change you want.
www.sobersassylife.com Sober Sassy Life - A Selection of Articles, Blogs and Freebies to get you unstuck, and on the way to your Sober Sassy Life! Also has paid for courses.
thesoberschool.com/ - an online hub with the mission of inspiring and supporting women who are tired of feeling hungover

www.blogtalkradio.com/bubblehour - podcasts on a huge range of issues relating to addiction and recovery

www.smartrecovery.org.uk/ - an alternative to AA. Meetings nationwide and online.

Useful meditation or relaxation apps
www.headspace.com Headspace for calming the brain chatter
www.withandrewjohnson.com Andrew Johnson stop drinking app
Helpful blogs from people who are sober
sothisissober.com/ our own vxa's blog
www.alcoholfree2016.com our own Lily's blog
www.alcoholfree2016.com our own Lucy's blog
www.sobergrowing/blogspot.co.uk our own Sober Sarah's blog

All of these blogs contain links to loads of other brilliant blogs.

Sobriety counters
meetnomo.com/index.html
www.pilanites.com/streaks/

Hope this helps you ! Love Sober Sarah and Vxa

Day 227 for me and cravings are hitting me hard right now. I have faced my mum's cancer diagnosis sober but have a job interview tomorrow and really want to drink while prepping for it. I feel jittery and itchy with nerves, which i want to soothe with alcohol. Sorry for selfish rant but you guys are the only ones i can share with.

Hi hedgehog have you tried kalms herbal remedy? It's supposed to be good for anxiety. I use the night one when I can't sleep. Drinking won't help you'll just feel like crap in the morning.

Good luck for tomorrow

Also hedghog sorry to hear about your mums diagnosis

Thanks Rarity, 😀great idea. I think i have some flower remedy stuff from when i had my wisdom teeth out. I also have out of date valium but i think that might be a bad idea. Off to root about in calpol/plaster drawer! Also just your response helps. Thanks so much

I'm so sorry you've had to deal with the bad news about your mum. You'll do so much better at the interview if you don't drink tonight. Plus if you can beat the cravings you'll walk into your interview feeling you can do anything! Have you got any good substitutes you can have as a treat instead?

Thanks both of you and all on this thread. Your suggestions of doing something to fight cravings not wallow in them have helped. I have gulped three Becks lemon and relistened to the Andrw Johnson Quit Drinking app i used in the first few months of being sober. I feel much calmer and cravings are not as strong. Thank you, i really thought i would have caved as shocked at how strong after all this time the cravings were.

No problem hedgehog that's why we are here isn't it? To support each other through our ups and downs.

I've baked brownies with DD, had a nail painting session (she did mine ) and cleaned the kitchen, hall and front room. All in all a good day

Bit scared about cravings on day 227 though, I'm on day 2

Think about how far you've come, you can do this!!!

Sunshine** don't let me put you off, i have not had cravings for ages, i found the first few days hard and mainlined chocolate, sweet things, and spent £2 on Andrew Johnson and listened to that a lot. Then the cravings just sort of faded...What I am trying to say is if a flakey lightweight like me can do it you can too. It genuinely gets easier and tonight was a blip i am over now.

Hi. I would like to join please. I'm on day 2 but I don't drink every day so it's not a big challenge not drinking today. I'm a binge drinker

hedgehog well done for fighting it tonight. Hope your interview goes well!
Hi ruby I'm new here too. I'm a binge drinker as opposed to an every day drinker as well so I know what you mean about it not feeling like a challenge yet. I've found being able to pop on here and see how everyone is doing and vent has been really useful though. Hopefully you will too.
Have you told anyone in rl yet?

Sunshine could it be a bout of PAWS? That can happen for up to a couple of years. after stopping drinking?

Morning all- this is Cocoa with another namechange. :)

Welcome ruby Hi everyone. [waves]

Morning.

Well I had a stinker of a weekend. My dc have been so poorly behaved lately, culminating in temper tantrums and disrespect yesterday I ended up cancelling what was meant to be a day out treat for them. Really upset me and I ended up crying in my bedroom as I feel like I'm raising thankless little brats. My mood hasn't been great the last week anyway but this is just the icing on the cake. So bloody fed up with it all and tempted to just pack them off to bed early tonight and down a bottle of wine

Vidorra.

Pack them off to bed early and snuggle down with a film and lots of tea and chocolate cake instead.

Hope so much you have a better day. xx

(had a nc)
Vidorra
You did the right thing. Its horrible being a parent sometimes, but you carried out the consequence - I'm guessing you warned them before
from me as well xxx

hugs

Had my parents visiting for the weekend... and realise I would normally have had a glass or two of wine by now - despite starting work at 2.30! Actually can see why, sort of... it's great to see them, and I love having them, but it's not easy and very disruptive...

But making fresh coffee and contemplating chocolate milk.... realising I talk the talk re-chocolate milk, but don't walk the walk quite so often! It's the ultimate last resort somehow, it's there if things get really bad, cos it's a 'special treat' which is crazy... but it works, and I DO like chocolate milk... but the lure of the reward is somehow enough in most cases....

The irony of half price from Tesco bog-standard chocolate milk being treated like caviar and champagne!!!!! Whatever gets us through...

Hoping for a quieter week at work, but it's back shift so unlikely!!! Last week was incredibly draining, mostly in an emotional sort of way... best description I ever heard of my job was industrial social worker... uff.... so off to be screamed at, have mobile phones thrown at me..... might take CM with me!

Onwards, one sober afternoon at a time...

Hi. Thanks for the welcome. A few people know in real life. Three people who had to get me home on Friday night because I had blacked out, I have no memory of it. Had to apologise on Saturday morning and they have said how concerned they are about me. I have told my DH who seems relieved that I have at last admitted that I have a problem (he has thought so for years). Also told my best friend who just listened.

I also have emailed a boozy mate I am meeting for a boozy lunch on Saturday to tell her that I'm not drinking but would still like to meet.

I feel so sad but also quite positive.

Oh vidorra kids drive us mad at times don't they? You aren't raising brats, children are naturally selfish! The most important thing is you followed through on your threat. They will learn from that. Bloody hard work parenting at time though

DP is home from his weekend away and we've had a row . I asked how much money he had left as I don't get paid until Friday. Having paid holiday deposit this month I'm broke. Got told I'm a boring broken record and all I care about is money . Oh and he is going out tonight .

Pissed off and taking it out on the ironing (not doing any of his stuff though - wanker).

Hi ruby and welcome to the thread. It's a big thing telling people, makes it real. Well done

Hope work is bearable BG sounds very draining.

Ffs apparently now I have "spoilt his weekend". Aaaargh .

Sorry I know this isn't a relationship thread but God it makes me want to stick two fingers up at him and get hammered.

But I won't, I will continue ironing and sip cranberry juice tonight. At least if he is out I can watch Broadchurch uninterrupted.

Onwards day 7.

Monday's are often one of those days for me that I find hard because back in the routine of work I have 4 more days of it. My job is boring and my life is a boring routine most of the time.
I have an alcohol free beer to 'reward' myself with and I think that will do the trick but I am a little concerned at whether they are a good idea or not? Will I just spiral back?

Thanks The plan was to settle down tonight with a box of birthday chocolate I had been bought but the little monsters had rummaged through my bedroom drawer today, found them and ate them all They have to replce them obviously and hopefully the talk I had later with them will sink in - repeats to self 'it's just a phase, just a phase'

Welcome Ruby. I agree it's a really big step telling people and takes nerves, well done. It will pay off in the long term having that support there.

Enjoy the peace and having the tv to yourself Rarity How have you spoilt his weekend, it's Monday. Never mind kids being hard work, men are too

First day back in the real world and I am pretty sure that my worst fear of folk being able to tell as soon as they looked at me has passed. Although pretty sure my classmates thought I was a bit more deranged than usual but everyone was stressed today.
Also wondering why the fucking hell all the nice soft drinks and alcohol free beers are in the booze aisle in my local supermarket?!
Ruby it sounds like you have good support around you and you're using it. Hopefully it makes things a bit easier for you.
Vidorra it's infuriating when kids act like that but try remember they only do it to you because they feel secure enough to. So in a roundabout way them acting like little shits means you're a great mum who's raising secure confident people. And then call them little twats under your breath and make faces at them behind the door and eat secret chocolate.
Rarity that is shit timing just after he's been away. At least you're putting to rage to good use, I only iron when it's either that or buy new clothes!