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

Thank you minibinx, you are an inspiration.
hello artycake

high5 day 9 buddy! saywhen

Thank you tinker.

Minibinx 100 days - amazing. You are right I am being very impatient. Need to calm down today I've done well.

Antigrinch nearly there on day 9 high 5!!

Day 10 Antigrinch!

If I get to tomorrow. When I get to tomorrow - it will be the longest I have not drank for since pregnancy.

I am surprised at how emotional I am finding it to be honest. Feel very tearful today. I am OK with this just unexpected. Work is really stressful at the moment which doesn't help. At the very beginning of starting to feel this stuff I guess rather than reaching for the wine.

Onwards and upwards....

Warm welcomes arty

Damn good going on 100 days mini, did you do anything nice or treat yourself in any way?

Whoop whoop for the double digits Anti and Say!! My emotions were all over the place at the start, a lot of stuff I'd been burying came to the surface and without booze to numb them. Alcohol plays horribly with hormones too and can take a while for the body to settle down again. I've read a few times that the best and worst things of stopping is 'feelings' and I've found it true.

Have a test coming up. Going out with bf at the weekend as they have just been through a messy breakup and fancy a few drinks. I'm going to need some willpower for this one!

Other than that all good. Dc been off sick this week so tired from lack of sleep but can handle that.

Thanks everyone.

I agree burntnorton about the worst thing being feelings. I last gave sobriety a decent attempt a few years ago and as I was having difficulties with DH at the time I found it too painful to have to face it so started drinking again to block it all out. Things are better now, so I feel able to face it all again.

I am out for dinner tonight at a works farewell. I have shoehorned myself into the role of designated driver, and have brought my car in order to ensure it.

Day 7.

Saywhen! Day 10!

Woop woop!! Antigrinch!! I love it!!

Good luck with your challenge burntnorton. That's very true about the hormone impact hadn't thought of that.

Hope it goes well tonight arty!

Agree about the feelings. I went out for a walk at lunchtime yesterday and found myself just sobbing. I started out sort of neutral-but-bored, then I went mildly-happy-to-be-getting-fresh-air and then suddenly it went into overwhelmed-by-trees-in-a-good-way and that was a bit tearful and then suddenly slid into actually-sobbing-don't-know-why-not-sure-this-is-good-anymore.

Hope all are well this evening. I'm enjoying my day 10 cup of celebratory tea.

Hi Ladies just checking in. I'm still dry but like you AntiGrinch at a point where I feel so neutral and indifferent about a great many things. I guess it isn't those feelings in reality vut the fact that I've been so highly strung and emotional with that many mood swings, peaks and troughs etc. That I've almost forgotten what amore calm and stable mood feels like noq that acohol isn't dictating what mood I should be in from one moment to the next. It feels quit strange right now TBH. Down with a bug going around this week at work - on way back into office after going home early yesterday. Stay strong ladies, keep it up.

Sorry on a VERY bumpy bus journey right now , hency why typos!

Hi. election day today. Radio 4 going on about a boozy election cake this morning. Then the presenters giggling that they had sampled some and it was rather strong. Ugh. get lost with your stupid 8.30 am boozing.

Sorry to hear about the emotional stuff and that you are not well, tink. I hope you're better soon.

Day 11 for me today. And saywhen.

I'll be home alone (with kids in bed) when the election results are coming in so no one will be there tempting me to celebrate / drown sorrows. I think I will probably just go to bed early to give myself a fighting chance of being in decent shape emotionally to cope with whatever unfolds tomorrow.

Forgot to put the recycling out this morning. Realised as I left the house. didn't bother to go back and make myself late because almost nothing in it :)

How are you feeling today tinker?

Day 12 Antigrinch!!! Woop woop!!

Yesterday was the first day I can remember for a looooong time that I didn't feel exhausted. First positive to be honest!

Coming into the weekend feeling good. Got to be careful as the last time I got to day 10 felt good then it all changed very impulsively so must be careful of this.

It's unbelievable Antigrinch the references to alcohol, regardless of time of day etc! The supermarkets market booze everywhere!

Hi Saywhen...Isn't it an awesome feeling the positives creep in? I know what you mean about impulsive feelings creeping in when you start to feel good - you start to tell yourself one drink won't do any harm...please try not to listen to yourself say that.

I'm feeling better bugwise and on the mend, but have an immensely stressful weekend of DIY and work on the house. There are a few relatives 'allegedly'mucking in this weekend. I find it can often causes real problems when offers like this happen... i end up getting wound up and don't get much done due to no help. Problem is I 'm working to a deadline of relatives staying from next weekend for the week, and I really doubt the work will get finished unless they all help. Usually I 'd just crack on myself...just as well I quit drinking...I need a lot of luck this week!

You are so right tinker - That voice - "you've managed this long it must be ok, you've done so well ..." etc etc. No it won't. It actually won't. In nearly 20 years my drinking has actually never been ok. Even when I wasn't drinking often / much there was already a difference between myself and my friends. It's really good not have have the internal conversation every day about wine - this is straight forward - no I won't drink today.

Day 13.

Good luck with the diy and the house guests tinker!

Managed first sober night out. It was fine. Honestly didn't really enjoy and woken up feeling exhausted again but at least no hangover.

How are you getting on Antigrinch?

Hello, I'm back... last year i was sober for 3.5 months. I started moderating and did fine for 6 months just having a glass or 2 then got hammered during the day at a friend's BBQ 12 days ago. I had a huge row with my DH and ended up walking 4 miles home on my own. I never want that to happen again as it was extremely damaging to our relationship. He has major issues with depression and drinks every day. We have both stopped 12 days ago and I intend to be dry indefinitely. He is doing a month to see how it goes. We're both doing really well, it's much easier this time and i haven't felt tempted once. Went to another bbq today and nearly everyone was sober, we all had a great time and didn't miss booze at all. My sleep us crap at the moment and I feel irritable but at peace with my decision to embrace sobriety once more. Hope everyone is having a nice weekend, I will read the thread now and see how you are all doing x

hi, I drank last night :\ day 1 again for me here.

Hi Antigrinch- are you OK? Do you know what the trigger was (mine appear to be most emotions including happy....) onwards and upwards x

Hello welcome gotta. 3.5 months is amazing going. It's really hard when both people drink I'm still only in my first 2 weeks but noticing how much dh drinks.

yes, exactly, saywhen. I was up a lot on Thursday night and really pleased labour did so well and then just fell into wine time on friday evening.

didn't enjoy the morning after and I regret it after feeling so good without it.

didn't slip up again on satruday night though - avoided the "fuck it" risk

Good for you. When I stopped for 10 days when I started I just carried on for nearly a month drinking most days...

I was dreaming I was drinking.... I always wake with a start...

a chance to meet up with a friend today, haven't seen each other in 7/8 years, it's mostly an online friendship, so excited, and a little nervous somehow!! Really hoping we can make it happen...

A wee race in the double before that!!

Onwards!!

Well done everyone. Hello Gotta, I'm still lurking here. Thought I'd update too, for anyone who thinks they'll try to moderate. I was dry for the last 4 months of last year and this year have managed ok. BUT only if there is no wine in the house. I allow myself 1 bottle of red per weekend. Easy when there's only 1 bottle. If I get cocky and think I'll get 2 bottles on a Friday so there's one for next week it always goes the same weekend. So I still have to be strict with myself. Wonder how the rest of the gang from older threads are...anyone ?

BG hope you visit with friend went well!

Day 15.

How's everyone getting on?

Hi patch. Good for you and the moderation. Tbh I can't see me being able to do that. I know I'm very early days. I find not drinking much easier than trying to moderate, I feel better not having the debate each day about wine... I have some real challenges over the next month so I hope to get through!

Hi again- sorry I dropped off the thread. I am back on day 1.