The Brave Babes Battle Bus - Swinging Into Sobriety!

[Mouseface]

Hello there,

I'm Mouse, one of the Brave Babes travelling far and wide, stopping off here and there to collect lovely folk, just like you, for a natter all about booze and the blues that come with being a drinker of whatever quantity.

We don't wear or sell judgey pants here, although a G-string or two (Oooh Matron!) has been known to sort the fan belt out on the Bus as we've been driving for such a long time now!!

In short, we've regular posters here, lurkers, those who have managed to keep their drinking to 'social' occasions, some who are really struggling on an hourly basis and some who are completely dry!

Whatever your drinking 'status', you're welcome here in the new bigger Battle Bus, (as requested) whilst we head far and wide, listening to one another, as we face each day that comes our way, whether it be good, bad or downright ugly, we really have seen it all and don't mind one bit. Lurk or chat, it's up to you but one thing you will always find, is a warm welcome, Opal Fruit wrappers (Looks at Ma bosom push up! ) and of course, in complete confidentiality.

So, if you'd like to look what happened on the last thread (a bit like catch up TV) you can look at this link which will take you there - JUST HERE

And, if you would like to see where we started driving this wonderful Bus, over seven years ago, you can have a look at this very honest thread - RIGHT HERE

Hope to see you soon,

Mouse xx

Hmmm, well I had some beers last night. I can't say it lived up to my anticipation after 3AF days. I can totally relate to boredom without it though. I'm off for my morning run and regretting that last beer. Back later for proper chats. Bloody good work though people - including those in the sidecar - the honesty goes a long way. Occurs to me lots of people in life are are hiding from their stuff.

Also morning elba be good to yourself. Can you get outside, it's glorious here today. I like to book up half marathons in nice places to look forward to. Perhaps have a look about and give yourself a new goal.

I used to be a bottle a night and can have a couple socially or just at home but I think everyone has a different drink pattern. There are Babes on here who get absolutely shit faced which I don't do,but then have a long run of AF which I can't do. I don't know why it's different for different folks.

morning elba get what you can from today.
We've all been there.
I have 2 little DC and stayed up til 1130 drinking beers - not too many but then one DS had a tummy ache as 5, so that's hard - and I could have gone to bed at 10 !
I totally get the compulsion to keep drinking.
Name it and shame it, keep posting.

doowhop in theory the 'drinking more than a bottle a night transformed to social drinker' could be me. However, even now, I know how difficult it can be to keep a boundary around what 'social drinking' means..... For my non-drinking (not alcoholic) friend it means a glass of prosecco or wine on Christmas day and birthdays (her's and her dh's, not the birthday of someone she once met in a library and the next-door-neighbour's cat!!). And she would be as likely as not to leave some of the drink that she did have.

I too can drink like that, but it takes control to maintain it, and in my mind I reinforce to myself that I don't really drink these days. If I allow myself to be a social drinker then I can find an excuse to be 'social' 4 days every week - an after work drink with colleagues, a chat with a friend, end of the week dinner with dp, lunch with my dsis....

And my idea of the quantity the quantity that constitutes a social drink could easily be much more than a glass

Hey everyone.

Special big squeeze for Mouse xx

On the 5th of July this year I will have been totally sober for 5 years.

Massive thanks to Mouse and all that helped me.

Keep on going on this bus. Awesome place xxx

By the way I havent read the thread. Sorry it's a bit long to try and catch up.

But hugs to demented and Venus.

I'm sure theres lots more on here that I know too.

Hugs to everyone

Hello all, I stuck to my allocated allowance last night and went bed earlier. I won't be going AF for a couple of weeks as I need to cut down gradually.

Work up this morning feeling good and ready for cutting down even more tonight.

What's sunny lovely morning. One of the things I hate most about drinking too much is never enjoying crisp/sunny mornings because I feel like crap all the time!

Hope everyone has a good day. Congrats on being 5 years sober, what an achievement

Occurs to me lots of people in life are are hiding from their stuff.

^^ This. Yes and 1000 times yes, stilllearnin. I know I was. I still resist seeing my "real" life on some levels, sober. It was so much easier in some ways to go "F* it" at the end of a busy day/week/whenever and get ratted. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE being sober, but sometimes I still have those moments. The difference is trying not to hide from it. I've been quite weepy the past couple of weeks!

I must set aside some time to catch up properly on the whole thread. TrinityRhino 5 years is A-MA-ZING! Well done. Can you share any hints/tips for the rest of us on here? I think you must be floating on some kind of higher plane. Awe inspiring. What made you quit in the end? What made sobriety stick for you?

Btw I think it's also equally amazing to do your first wine o'clock sober, or your first 24 hours. It isn't easy but it is SO worth it.

Brokenbutbreathing

I can recognise now that I drink to block out total emotional disaster and grief. And also that drinking makes it worse, and harder to cope with everything. It's crazy, isn't it?

This - so much.

I feel utterly wretched. I drank last night and started yet another argument with my fiance on VC. He immediately cut me off and has unplugged his phone. I desperately want to speak to him. I feel so ashamed. I want this pain to end.

I can manage (just about) every other day AF. I feel this will never end and it will only get worse. I wish, I desperately wish I could flip a switch and just stop. It's bringing me so much misery and pain.

Hi Phoenix- I can't offer much advice as I can't even do every other day alcohol free yet.

Just saying I understand. Drinking amplifies whatever mood I am in, so if I am feeling happy I will get more buzzed and if I am down or in a bad mood these will normally get worse too, so know how it feels to be antagonistic and start an argument with my other half after too much to drink. I wake up feeling so guilty. Reason number 10000 to cut back.

Here to talk if you are looking for someone to listen x

roseanya Thank you x

I can see he's now about but he's ignoring me.

I desperately wish he was here. Desperately. I feel like I am climbing a slippery pole. I'm guessing by the speed in which he cut me off last night, then unplugging the phone and ignoring messages - he's now dumped me.

Can't say I blame him TBH.

I'm sorry - I know I am feeling sorry for myself. I just want the pain to end.

I'm so sorry you feel this way. I'm sure he just wants to take a breath. Maybe give him some space. Send him a message telling him you are sorry and you will be there when he is ready to talk? Easier said than done I know. How long have you been together? How is your relationship normally?

I am playing catch up here but does he know you feel this way after drinking etc? If not then it might be time to talk, so he at least understands. If he does already sorry as that's useless advice 👎🏻

Am I in the right place? I need to reduce my drinking significantly. I drink wine 4-7 nights a week with at least a bottle on each occasion (I daren't count the weekends consumption). I don't want to have to give up completely so I need to cut down now before it gets totally out of hand. I'm off work with stress. I do a job that most people would run from the hills rather than do and have done for most of career. Wine was my thin red line between work and home, my permission to switch off. I've started anti anxiety medication with my GP and I'm sure excess alcohol is making me more anxious. Big problem is my OH loves a drink too. Not any more than me but he has no will power so if I say let's agree not to drink during the week, he cracks saying 'it's a lovely day, let's get some chilled white' or 'it's been a shit day, let's get wine in'. He's lovely and doesn't pressure me but he doesn't help when I'm trying hard to cut down. I worry what message our drinking sends to our young children. Pregnancy is really the only time I hardly drank at all and mainly not at all. So, there is a party at the weekend and I don't want to drink. I can legitimately drive as it's a little way away but we have often got taxis before so they won't wash with people. I don't want anyone to know about my medication so don't want to use that excuse either. Trying to be healthy will just result in pressure about it's just one night. Not going to the party isn't an option (I can't say why as too identifiable) either. Argghhh! Thanks for getting this far. If I'm in the wrong place please point me in the right direction.

There are Babes on here who get absolutely shit faced which I don't do,but then have a long run of AF which I can't do.

I'm one of these. I can go through very, very long periods of complete abstinence (which, as an alcoholic, really is the best and only way for me), but if I relapse, I RELAPSE. Awful binges. Terrifying amounts of booze.

There have been times when I can go out for dinner, or on holiday, after a long AF spell and only have a couple of glasses of wine, then call it a night. BUT... the little 'just one more' voice in the back of my head is still there, and I have to stamp on it.

To the poster upthread who asked if it's normal to want to eat everything in sight after giving up booze: yes, it's completely normal. Your body is trying to adjust and it wants the calories it normally gets through alcohol. It does pass, and don't beat yourself up about stuffing your face in the meantime!

thingscanonlygetbetterrrr yes you're in the right place, welcome. Just join in and share as little or as much as you are comfortable with.

Oh, Beauty yes, the little devil in your head whispering 'one more won't hurt' - it does though, doesn't it?

My life is in chaos right now but all will be well, just means I don't have much time to hang out here, I'm always reading though.

More than ever I need a little luxury in my life, any ideas?

Luxury, it bloody does! And it's so CONVINCING... so you have one more. Then you wake up amid a pile of empty bottles with sick in your hair, either that or you've wet yourself.

Hope you're alright though my love, and you're staying afloat as best you can. As for luxury... all I manage is a hot cup of coffee at the moment, so I'm not the best person to advise on these matters

trinity !!! So good to see you! 5 years is truly awesome.
We need a sparkly rhino horn on the front of the bus in your honour!

So I'm having dinner in the pub with dh. I intended to drink and I have. The challenge will be to NOT drink tomorrow Saturday and Sunday. If I manage that I'll be absolutely thrilled.

Beauty glad to see you’re back, any opal fruits left? (she asks hopefully)

Hi user

Rose how are you doing?
Doowhop well done! In answer to your last question, I have but I haven’t. I’m ok drinking in social situations, even the odd glass in front of the tv. But when I’m stressed/upset/angry, the worst thing possible for me is to turn to drink, because I drink and drink and drink and it makes things worse. I think I’ll always need to be mindful of that.
Trinity that’s bloody fantastic, well done

Phoenix sorry you’re having a rough time

Hello and welcome things

Ok need a kick up bum/slap with Barrie. Me and dad have argued (well, had a horrible argument yesterday and he is still in a mood/things aren’t right between us yet). Am annoyed because me and mam shout and bawl worse than that and next hour are fine, no he holds grudges and has been snappy all day/night. He’s gone to bed now without saying goodnight and I just hate upset. So am debating taking a few co cocodamol to cheer mysrelf up. Silly as its weigh in Saturday and taking a few will definitely affect the number on the scale. Also not taken any all week. But just want that floaty feeling. I know what I should do, but torn and I think I need a good talking to (and to stop being so bloody oversensitive!)

So I couldn't have one glass oh no. I had 3, so s bottle of wine. And I'm just 10 days AF the difference was amazing.

I felt ok last night, merry but no blackout periods. But woke at 1.30am with raving heart and palpitations (am on BP meds which help with this as well so not good!).
Felt lousy.

It's totally put me off! Which is great. I'm going away in two weeks with dh so will see how I feel then but feel confident I'm going to be AF again for a while.

Hey all.

I have managed to stick to the reduction I planned so far. It's been very very difficult. I have more than halved my intake and it's all I think about at the moment. Sleeping has been tough and I'm aching.

However, I'm feeling determined and proud. I did what i planned instead of just making an excuse.

Friday and Saturday will be more difficult and I don't know how I'm going to stay at the reduced level. My main strategy is to plan something exciting for Saturday and Sunday morning which might help keep me on track rather than lying in bed with a terrible hangover until midday.

If I can keep to this reduced level until my body adjusts then I will look at reducing again.

Hope you all have a nice weekend lined up xx

Oh I also feel bored and like there isn't that buzz to look forward to now, sad that I felt that was the best part of my day, my poor husband and dog. But maybe that will change in time.

made, since joining the Babes I've made sure I always have a stash of Opal Fruits about my person! I've also discovered these things called Bonny Fruits - I think I got them from the local Lithuanian shop - and they're bloody lovely. Really soft jelly with sugar coating, you can feel your teeth rotting with every chew. Marvellous stuff!

rose, you're doing really well. Tapering your alcohol intake is really, really tough, but if you've been a heavy drinker for many years, it's absolutely necessary unless you can get a GP to arrange a supervised medical withdrawal using a benzodiazepine such as lorazepam.

I went cold turkey once, after years of sinking large amounts of vodka daily, and it literally could've killed me. I was hallucinating, my heart rate was through the roof for days, and I could easily have had a seizure or 10. I spent every night pacing around the living room, as I was convinced that if I went to sleep, I'd never wake up. It was every single kind of awful and I felt like I was dying for a good week after I was over the worst.

If you aren't able to taper, and you feel like you're going back to your previous levels of alcohol intake, PLEASE see your GP