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

Gosh. How hot was it yesterday. Usually heat like that would have seen me diving into a vat of lager. As soon as I walked in door after visiting df I was handed a lager by Dh who said 'bet your ready for that '. he must have seen something in my expression because he quickly said don't worry it's af beer. He'd been and replenished my depleted stock while I was out. That's 2 wins. No alcohol and Dh finally realising that I don't want to drink. 21 days done. Bring on day 22.

Day 21 so 3 weeks in.

Hamsterannie that's great re your dh. How does he feel about it? My dh has noticed. To be really honest I think he's a bit disappointed. Not said that only been supportive but thats how it feels.

Still feel very tired. Not noticed a lot of benefits yet to be really honest. Those of you who have been in it for the long haul is this common?

Saywhen, when I first decided to go af I went out and bought becks blue but also ordinary beer for Dh. He was a bit bewildered at first but I made an excuse that I may be called into work on the Saturday morning. He kept offering full beer for the first few days but I kept saying no and gritting my teeth. I think he's just got used to me having af and over past few days when he's been getting one for himself he's been automatically grabbing me an af one. Yesterday ther was no af left in fridge so when I walked in and he handed me a drink I was going to throttle him until he smiled and said he'd been to shop for af for me. Think he's now accepted that I like it this way and doesn't question it anymore

My Dh drinks too much but he doesn't push it onto me. I've had a few long spells of sobriety so he's used to it. He drinks beer or whisky so I wouldn't have any of that anyway.

Hi ladies, I've nof been on the thread for about a week now because of problems with my phone...all fixed now...I'm looking forward to catching up with how we are doing. My husband also has got the idea and hands me a gf and af lager now without thinking. I think he drinks a lot still too. However, he has tried a few of mine which is a good start! I feel ashamed to have to update you that possibly after the worst weekend I've had in years, I am back to day 2 a/f and so very disappointed in myself. I didn't have access to the thread over that time which did not help at all. Will check in later

Please don't be ashamed, we're all hear for the same reason, and you're back on it... a stumble rather than a slip!!

I was dreaming about drinking again last night... always wake with a slight sense of panic that it wasn't a dream!!

Long distance bestie visiting this weekend, and some issues to talk through which is going to be tough, maybe.... gin in the fridge for her, but not even on my radar, which still feels a little odd, and sometimes I worry I'm getting complacent (can't spell 'blasay')....

Only need to worry about today, getting through tonight's shift in one piece!!!

The bleach is calling, those taps won't polish themselves!!!

Hello all. I'm back, 7 months after fooling myself that I could be a moderate drinker. I can't - abstinence is the only way for me. Day 8. Not sleeping well at all which I'm sure is partly to do with the heat but I do suffer from insomnia. This has been part of my reason for drinking (only a small part though - main part is because I love getting and being a bit drunk).

Good luck to us all in this incredibly important fight.

Morning everyone
tinker we've all had those rough weekends- they're one of my sober tools. When I want a drink I remember how it wil end and how awful I will feel after.

bg hope your friends visit goes well. My best friend doesnt drink much so it's nice when I visit we chat over tea (sounds sad) and it's lovely to remember everything we say and not be giving out daft stupid drunk advice!

cupoftea I've trief moderation and it doesn't work for me either.

I've been reading sober post on instagram. One that stuck with me is that it's ok to retire from the party lifestyle- I loved going out in my 20s and have felt that I need to cling to that and the alcohol that goes with it, but I don't enjoy it anymore and that's ok to try something new.

Keep going everyone I'm day 18 today

Hosted a dinner party last night. I drank af wine & sparkling water and enjoyed being calm and in control. My fave moment was when I poured other folks wine dregs down the sink - In my previous life I would have poured them down my throat. Went for a run at 8am too. Life is good.

Yey well done cupof bet you feel good not drinking last night and sounds like you enjoyed it as much

Day 28 today. Can't believe I've come so far. Went out last night and stuck to af beers with a couple of tonic waters in between but have woken with a massive headache. Feels like a hangover. I went to the bar myself each time so I know there was no alcohol. May be that I'm just exhausted. another cup of coffee on its way. Hopefully have enough energy to face the day soon. (oh and if I had been drinking alcohol I would still be in bed until lunchtime - been up and about since 7)

Morning hamster hope your headache clears? Maybe the weather- hot and humid gives me a headache.

Day 20 here. Dh went out last night. Very drunk, found him fast asleep upright in a dining chair. His choice but I don't want to be like that anymore.

Thinking of taking up scuba diving! Love being in the sea and I know someone local who teaches. Would be a huge sober treat to put money and effort into a hobby like that, but also exciting and much more rewarding!

Drank low sugar cranberry and diet ginger beer last night- lovely.

Hi all, you are all brilliant and super inspiring. Day 12 for me. If ever I was going to have a wobble, it would have been going to a barbecue yesterday but luckily for me, the host thoughtfully bought me some AF wine. I found that I still got that 'aaaah, relax' feeling, but without the getting hyper, obnoxious or smashed. I didn't feel like I was missing out at all, which is a real biggie for me.

may well done on the BBQ.

Sundays normally a struggle for me, think it's triggered by sitting around the house.

But I'm not drinking today and that makes it day 21. I have treats planned for day 25 and day 50.

Had a family meal last night- I didn't drink but neither did my dad- he's over 1 year sober after a lifetime of heavy drinking.

Quiet thread!

Day 22 of 100 day challenge eating mini eggs.

Wow, 100 days of eating mini eggs - I like!!

BGJ43 missed a , there! Think I'd very easily do the mini egg challenge and it wouldn't be hard to get others joining me!

It made me smile

Hello everyone.

May I join?

Have lurked on and off (I think I stopped lurking a good 4-5 threads ago.)

Day 1 for me. I have a question though which I hope people can help me with. In the past when I have tried a few days AF I get shivery and headachey and feel very ill. I assume that after 20 years of pretty solid drinking I have some sort of physical dependence. hen I google symptoms I freak myself out thinking I am going to have seizures and die. is this normal in your experiences? Should I be tapering? (Tapering in the past has only led to drinking).

I am scared a bit.

Any advice gratefully received!

Hi silvery welcome,

It's been a bit quiet here this week but have you seen the post on the first page it has loads of useful links.

In terms of the flu like feelings that is normal and will pass after about 7-9 days after you stop. How many units were you drinking? Have you spoken to your GP, maybe a general check up is a good idea?

I check in most days I'm day 24 and really starting to feel the benefits.

Day 15 here. All is good but daughter (20) says we're more fun when we're drinking wine 😳

Good morning!

Thanks efc.:) Thank heavens I am having a short holiday from work for a week after today, so i can probably battle through 7 -9 days of flu-like symptoms. That was unexpectedly good timing!!

I was drinking 1 and a half bottles of wine a day I estimate. I work from home in the afternoons so would start at about 4.00 pm I guess, then bed about 10 so that is stretched over the whole evening.... just constant glass of wine.

Morning Cupoftea.:)

Morning All,

Feeling very 'meh' about the whole not drinking thing currently... In the process of moving house, so probably a little stressed, more than normal!!

But also wholly not tempted, so hoping that can continue, crossing my fingers every day...

Keeping on keeping on - onwards!

Morning everyone. Haven't posted much recently but lurk regularly and still here, still sober, I've lost track of days but my last alcoholic drink was February 21st 2017.

In the time in between have managed several sober firsts such as family holiday away, summer bbq's, a weekend away for a comedy gig with my other half and a sober birthday. However this weekend myself and DH have tickets to see Adele and so a trip to London is on the cards. This means a trip to London by train which usually means lots of good food, a few drinks and generally just time to do as we please without thinking of kids, housework, work etc.

Anyway I'm really torn whether to include the few drinks or not. Part of me feels I could probably stop at a couple and then there's the other part that worries this will ignite the touch paper again for drinking too much. Really trying today to think sober thoughts but this feels like the biggest test I've had so far in my sober journey. Really odd as haven't felt really tempted in a while. Anyway enough of my waffling just needed to get it out.

Hope the moves goes well BGJ. Stress can be a big trigger so you're doing really well to stay focused. Also welcome Silvery. I work from home part of the week too and it was all too easy to crack open a bottle early and then finish it, so you're doing really well to break the habit. I know the strength that can take. Just keep going one day at a time.

Hope everyone else is ok. I'm off to try and distract myself from thinking how "a few drinks won't hurt" and remind myself why I started this sober journey in the first place.

silvery enjoy your time off work. Lots of rest, I find having a sleep/ lying downhelps when you get craving.

cupof my kids are younger but I grew up around heavy drinkers and I want to set a better example to my kids. It's one of my main reasons to stop, but I do worry I'll get boring!

bg good luck with the move, a hangover will make it much harder.

mini don't worry about weekend yet, you'll get overwhelmed.

I'm day 25 so 1/4 through Belle 100 day challenge.