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

I also drink AF beer and sparkling fruit juice (substituting sparkly wine). I tend to have one beer at my 'danger' time. But if I've opened a sparkly bottle I will drink the lot as it goes flat quite quickly.
I think as long as you are staying AF does it really matter right now if you are drinking a full bottle? It's a coping strategy and in time you'll probably widen your drink selections.
You are doing the most positive thing by not buying alcohol. Try not to worry or over analyse, just keep ticking off those AF days

Thank you Rarity I'm on day 7 which is the longest I've gone in years. I'll stick with what I'm doing at the moment then. I'm probably being silly as I wouldn't think a vegetarian who ate quorn burgers was a cheat! It just struck me last night that it was quite similar to an alcohol night, but maybe that's a good thing, like having my cake and eating it?

Plus the af wine was left over from last weekend, if it had been real wine there's no way it would have lasted in my house that long

Morning all. Never I made that very same mistake after doing Dry January, thought I could moderate and did try but ended up falling back into step with my old behaviours of one never being enough.

Sunshine I don't think it matters what you drink at all. If you enjoy the af stuff I say go for it. Personally I find the af wine too sweet so I've replaced with ginger beer or just tonic which I'm trying to use at those times I would usually reach for wine/gin. I'm doing this to try and change some of my associations with relaxing and treating myself which is starting to feel ok.

Morning all. Day 7 . Never that sounds exactly like something I would do. Well done for nipping in the bud and also for sharing because it has reminded me of how I would react. The thing for me here is to stop thinking of wine as a great thing that I would have as a celebration/treat. I was thinking earlier about how it was Friday and how l would normally be on the wine at 4.30pm but would have to acknowledge Friday in a different way. My thoughts moved on to going out for tea but then I thought ooh I could have a glass of wine.

Then I thought ffs shut up going on!! Not resolved it but I'm aware of my wolf inside trying to make me do it.

Oops missed some posts . Rarity I hope DD is on the mend. Sounds like a bug doesn't it? Kids usually recover really quickly so I'm sure she'll be feeling more like herself very soon. Hopefully you can rest today with her to make up for early wake up call.

Sunshine I've never had any af beer or wine. However shouldn't you just be proud that you weren't drinking alcohol and like someone else said it surely doesn't matter how you go about it.

I worry about the same thing with AF beer but luckily it gets boring and gassy after 2 cans so I usually am ok to give up drinking it and then feel relieved I will have no hangover.
I will keep it in check though because it could be a bad path back to alcohol. But I try to see it like the vape I use - it's a substitute but I don't still smoke cigarettes and don't actually want to. I think if your overall outlook and goals are for one thing - to be AF then these are just little crutches along the way

They're here....... #happybunny

BG I love your rings! They are so elegant and I love the contrasting colours and the textures. Beautiful. :)

My thoughts on AF beer and wine- it can be a useful tool for whatever reason, and if it gets you through, why not?

I go through phases where I might really get stuck in to AF drinks (beer usually). Last weekend we went to a german beerhouse and they had 0% erdinger. It was brilliant. I have a bottle of AF sparkling in the firdge for tonight, and I am looking forward to it. But generally I don't drink them that often. But AF beer is great when you want to 'fly under the radar' in the pub for example.

For me they are a tool, and whatever works is fine by me!

I'm a vaper too! Must be better than cigarettes and alcohol

Vaping is awesome. I will never smoke again. I'm about 18m in, for the first 3 months I cheated with cigarettes a few times (WHEN DRUNK OBVS) and then suddenly just lost the urge. I wish that could happen with alcohol haha

BG they're beautiful. So pleased they've finally arrived for you.

Love the rings! 😍

Ok this is funny, I vape too! Stopped New Year's Day and have no desire to smoke again.

You obviously are my people!!

DD has managed a cup of chicken noodle soup and a cup of water without further vomiting. She slept most of the morning and is now doing "arts and crafts" as she puts it (so cute) and is making some sort of paper Frankenstein? Got to love the resilience of kids.

BG love the rings, hope you're having a better day today

Aw hope she's better soon!

I have an addictive personality.
The one and only reason I am not a drug addict is because I was always too anxious and scared to try it because I knew I would get addicted. I am too scared to take painkillers for this reason. I took diazepam once (legitimately) and the amazing feeling scared the living crap out of me afterwards

I am addicted to: some TV shows, sugar, Diet Coke, nicotine, my phone, alcohol etc.

Another vaper checking in I think it's the reason I'm not missing smoking in the slightest. Last time I quit I ended up addicted to NRT lozenges instead and pined after cigarettes a lot.

I get twitchy about taking painkillers I have to say Kiki. I take codeine for my back and make sure I have days where I'm not taking them as I've read so many horror stories on here and know my own addictive personality.

Glad your dd seems to be on the mend Rarity. Did you manage to catch a bit of sleep yourself? 5 is an early start!

BG, your rings are stunning, I love them. Well worth the wait.

Feeling a lot better today, but have done nothing but sleep....

The weather is horrible for training today, no training tomorrow due to rugby so feeling a little twitchy about the lack of km 's done - but the sleep is more important... I have to be healthy!!

Onwards

It's raining here too BG wenjave spent the day in our pj's

No I did a bit of pottering while she slept and I was just about to close my eyes.....when she woke up and wanted to play I am tired now!!

Early night tonight. Onwards with day 11

Just took DP up a cup of tea (he works nights) and mentioned that I'm tired. He said well it's your own fault for not going to bed earlier in the week. I tried to explain my difficulties with sleeping (can't switch off) and he said maybe it's your body because you were used to alcohol. Can't explain why but it just made me feel rubbish. Judged.
Probably pathetic of me.

He hasn't got up yet (he has been asleep 10hrs now!). I'm not sure whether to discuss it with him later or not. But I feel like I'm on the defensive iyswim? But I'm also aware that I could be minimising and should acknowledge the impact my drinking on others. Otherwise I'm just being very self involved.

Sorry just needed to let it out.

Vile weather here too. I have the blues and I need some serious sunshine to cheer me up. It's the day for here. Most people I know are on the lash and I'm throwing a mini tantrum to myself that I'm not.

Mean this in the nicest possible way Rarity but he may have point. I do know what you mean about feeling judged though and probably not the best thing to say when you've been up early with your dd.

Oh vidorra I think you are right. I just feel a fair bit of self pity. I really don't like talking about it in RL. I just need more time I think to adjust in my own head.
I haven't had to tackle any family things or holidays etc, but I can imagine its pretty naff.

Hi everyone.

Must have been in the air I have spent the bulk of the day flopping around and feeling tired also.

Vidorra Rarity can you head for bed early? I am in bed now, planning to listen to some meditation and hope for sleep.

Things will look brighter in the morning.

I know also what you mean about feeling judged.

Morning all.:)

Hope everyone feels fine today.

Busy day today here ChezMoon. But hopefully with some time out with DS for the library and a cafe lunch.

Onwards Sober Revolutionaries!

Morning all. Sober Saturday looking good so far. Off for an early run, then DS footie then rugby to watch. Love the way not drinking on a Saturday morning when I'd usually be hungover feels, it's one of the many benefits which is making me feel more than ever that only dry days lie ahead