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

(On the upside I have also had some unusually vivid dreams that were quite funny)

When you stop drinking you start to sleep properly again (can take longer for some than others, sigh, like with me. ) so yes, dreams can return, become vivid. It's what sleep is meant to be like :)

I realised sometime after I stopped drinking that i'd actually stopped dreaming. Same thing with dreams happened to me. It was nice. Dreams both good and bad are normal and alcohol was suppressing that side of me.

Could be to do with quitting alcohol Antigrinch, I got particularly vivid dreams from stopping smoking.

I know the first time I quit I finally made my peace with my separation and allowed myself to feel sad. This was despite the fact we had broken up about three years previous, a lot of my heavy drinking was running away from all those feelings.

Thanks everyone for sharing. And making me feel normal.
Hope you're all having a good day. I realise it is normal not to drink on Monday nights but I am still enjoying that I had a great time last night and don't have to deal with nausea and guilt today

Morning all......lovely to read such inspirational stuff.....! Thanks for the Belle 100 days idea Sarah. It's struck a chord with me.......day 2 coming up ;)

One thing alcohol does is numb our emotions. So when we stopped drinking, we started to really feel them again. Also a lot of us drank to escape or self medicate, so we didn't have to actually deal with how we felt about stuff. When the drinking stops we have to learn how to cope with those feelings in another way. For many of us it may be the first time we have had to actually deal with stuff rather then just blotting it out.
One thing I've realised, in my several year journey learning how to stop drinking, is that its OK to feel sad or happy or whatever emotion, and just sit and experience it. We don't have to mask how we feel (although modern life would have us do so) and just "get on with it" , actually emotions are there for a reason.
Does that make any sense?

yes it does make sense. I am feeling truly awful today, really devoid of hope or energy and crying all the time. I should be working and I have barely managed to begin anything.

I've just opened a Becks Blue because I just need something to make me feel like I'm having a treat.

I feel such a mess

I am so tired of dark, heavy feelings. Politics and the news is terrifying. My ex makes me feel angry and resentful. Work is difficult and boring. I am stuck in a rut where I am just doing something out of duty all the time and I honestly cannot for the life of me see a chink in it where I can bring some fun in.

I did have a good time last night, with my brother at a concert, and I was so emotional because my whole mind and body was just so surprised to find me actually having fun that I was overwhelmed by it.

I don't even kn ow what I like any more. I don't know what music I like, what I like to read, or what TV I like. I don't enjoy food (though I eat all the time) and I don't even know who my friends are. I just don't know where to begin.

Hugs Antigrinch, take it easy on yourself tonight, lots of treats and nurturing. It's often said in sobriety the best thing is the intensity of feelings and the worst thing is the intensity of feelings. I spent Saturday night sobbing to that hiccuping, nauseous feeling stage if it makes you feel any better. It's cathartic.The lack of energy and blues is totally normal, roll with it if you can and you will pass through it. It simply takes a little while for our bodies and emotions to heal and reach some sort of equilibrium again.

Poor AntiGrinch......don't know what to say really other than thinking of you. Maybe too that you have already "begun" ?! Day 13 for you today isn't it?? For a 2 dayer like me that's amazing I'm in awe of you & envious of such an achievement! Enjoy your Becks Blue.....! Poppy X

Thanks. I really appreciate the advice to roll with it. When I feel like this I feel as if it is forever, and of course it never is. thanks Vidorra and 20poppy.

No, it's not forever. I tend to still go from high to crashes sometimes. I know from spending most of 2015 sober though, it will even out in the end. Persistence.

As for not knowing what exactly you like, I understand that. I was chatting to dp on Saturday and said that I didn't exactly know who I was after drinking and partying most of my adult life and hottling a lot of stuff away. You can look at it two ways and one of them is as an exciting opportunity to learn, grow and discover more about yourself? How do you begin? You already have

Seriously antigrinch we do understand, we have been there, it will pass. Trust us. Maybe not today or tomorrow but it really does get better. And all alcohol does is to add a hangover and shame fear guilt etc to this mix. Hang in there, you can do this. Have a treat or several. Have a soothing bath or shower, watch TV, eat something you like and remember you, and any one else reading this - we are all doing a really big brave thing in not drinking.
Hugs to all xxx

Thanks again. I actually managed to do a bit of work and that has made me feel better. I have probably done about 80 minutes work all day today, max. Which is pretty shit but I feel better having done some.

I really appreciate you talking me down. thank you so much.

Time to stop work now then AntiGrinch and pick a few of Sarah's chilling out suggestions......just about to do the same thing. Bath and an early night for me.......;) Going to try to start reading again properly instead of a token page before I fall asleep in a sozzled stupor ;(

Sorry you're feeling so low antigrinch. Hopefully tomorrow your emotions will stop flexing their muscles.

I quit my job this morning and counting the days until I leave (I might make an advent calendar). The best part is that half term counts as part of my notice period so I'm only working for three weeks! I'm just glossing over the lack of new job issue at the moment. With the booze money I've saved since the end of November (at least £600) I can probably afford a couple of weeks off.

Hi 20Poppy thank you for noticing my days! tomorrow is my fortnightiversary.

Thanks Rrross. Yes do make an advent calendar! That time after you have resigned is the best time in the world. I hope you enjoy it.

Hope you are all well. I have early meetings tomorrow and need to get to sleep soon. I am going to put down the lap top and get to bed.

Evening all another day done. Managed to avoid pizza and beer for tea as was off work - had water and roasted veg and fish instead. Today's benefit was being productive this evening and getting some revision done (which would have definitely been ignored if would have had a drink)

antigrinch sorry you're so low - like others have said it will pass. Be proud you've done another day sober and some work even though you didn't feel like it - tomorrow will be a better day

vidorra very much enjoyed clear head this morning - was one of the most positive starts to the day I've had in a while

Goodnight everyone and good dreams

Hi all,

You've all done so well! I know it's early days for a lot of us and I'm only on day 14 for me but that is the longest time since I was about 18 that I have been without a drink.

Went to GP yesterday for flare up of eczema and she remembered me asking for help with alcohol abuse in November. I was so happy to tell her it was almost a fortnight AF. She asked if I had some AA help or another resource and I told her that I am online with a really amazing group.

It's just wonderful to be able to check in and be able to see mine and everyone's progress.

I also have realised I ate absolute crap when drinking. No wonder weight piles on!

Hello neverdoing - we are on day 14 together. Here's to KOK
Hi Yellow. Thanks.

I feel better today. Up early for a pre-work appointment with my therapist. I have never mentioned alcohol to him! A bit tearful this morning as we worked through some of the stuff that was on my mind yesterday. I haven't seen him many times but I think he can really help me. It's costing me an arm and a leg but I'm going to keep going for now at least.

His focus is on change: thinking about things, working on them and making them better - not on listening and sympathising, which is not enough. I am ready to change.

Hi everyone, how are we all bearing up?

Now 10 days for me.

Has anyone noticed any physical differences since quitting the booze?

Personally my skin is looking much better, not having mini outbreaks on my cheeks like i was, just looks 'clearer'.
Also I've lost 1 lb , although I'm genuinely not sure how as I made and ate most of an apple dorset cake at the weekend.

Keep going everyone.

*Dorset apple cake rather

Helloooo yellow and welcome back!

Still here but not posting often, still getting support from this thread, and yes the wine witch still comes knocking.

Great going everyone!!

Glad you're feeling a bit better today Antigrinch; you sound more positive today. I think you've got it the right way about, working on changing things. Unfortunately removing booze doesn't magically fix everything, it 100% helps but certain aspects of life or thinking can require some effort.

Awesome never, funny my skin flared up with my rosacea about 3 weeks in, has calmed down now again.

That kind of answers your question splurgle, no I haven't seen any physical changes really I feel a lot healthier though and that's enough for me. On the subject of desserts, tonight I had a massive bowl of cornish ice-cream with homemade caramel sauce and a twirl crumpled in. I regret nothing! Unhealthy but a damn sight healthier than a bottle plus of wine