The Brave Babes Battle Bus - Sweet, Summer Sobriety!

[Mouseface]

Hey, I'm Mouse

Welcome to the Battle Bus! We're a group of travelling drinkers of varying levels, those who are teetotal, and those who have tried so many times to stop, those are 'controlled' drinkers, but we NEVER give up and keep coming back for the support we share, and trying to get some kind of control over the Wicked Wine Bitch Witch!

It's not easy, boy, it's so not easy to stop or cut down some days. There are days when even the Bravest Babes fall into the Sidecar. And do you know what? That's okay.

There is NO judgey pants worn on this Bus and you don't have to be anyone other than YOU to join us

So, come and grab a seat, some Opal fruits, (it'll make sense eventually!)) and meet the rest of the Babes. Remember, you're not on your own, ever with us, you'll always have a Babe you can relate to.

Here's the last thread for you to catch up on if you like

And here's where the entire journey began.

Mouse xxx

Crashed again today. Came home,slept from 4pm to 6pm. Still tired

Aw ma do you feel better for it though? I've been napping a lot but I got a Fitbit that monitors sleep and it turns out I only sleep a couple of hour out of 7. But I deep sleep when I'm napping. I know this isn't orthodox but could you take a sleeping pill around 10 to make sure you still get to sleep tonight? Might help reset you a bit

Hi, feel ashamed but am owning up on here to drinking and eating too much to side-step anxiety and depression. Although I have meds for A & D, I am finding it difficult to be 'me' without drinking every evening. I am managing a family and a full-time job, exercise daily, I feel like utter shit inside, worthless and damaged. I have received many years of therapy after being abused as a child so that isn't the answer. So, currently eating and drinking my way through 'life'. To make things worse, my supposed long-time best friend has turned out to be a huge game-player, has done nothing but take from me and DH and has generally stirred shit with other friends, playing on my vulnerability. I feel so let down. On the plus side, my DH is supportive, although he knows I have a few drinks most nights, I feel like I am on a downward spiral and feel lost.

HappyUnicorn you've come to the right place.
Please don't feel ashamed my lovely, you're human and we all understand I can promise you that. Just post as much or little as you are comfortable with.

Hello everyone, my Internet is not quite up to speed yet - gah!

Hope you sleep tonight ma lovely to see Spanna posting and such great posts too.
I will catch up but meanwhile wish everyone strength and good things.

Hello could I join? I am day 17 af have been on dry but it is so quiet - here seems a little busier! I can't seem to moderate so went for dry. Long term I am not 100% what the plan is I know I feel better not having the daily wine conversation. Although last night was hard and there are some big challenges over the next few weeks.

The last week I drank was a bad week but I shocked myself as I had 80 units - bad week but still not OK. I have 2 young children and worry about not being here for them or letting them down.

So here I am!

Ooh day 18 actually!! .... every day counts and all!!

Welcome say you've done so well so far. You're right it is pretty busy here and extremely friendly

Just had to share:
DD2 got a First! Graduates with First Class Honours ....so, so proud.

and here she is celebrating another first. Her first birthday!

Oh ma that's FANTASTIC!! YAAAAAY.

Ha! Great pic ma and blimey, fantastic on the 1st- she's worked hard for that.

Welcome saywhen that's impressive. I've not managed anything like that for years. I have cut down. 2 af this week and 2 halves last night. Thing is, I do this and feel so much better and then screw it up. Lots of work on so aiming for af again tonight

Welcome to unicorn and saywhen jump aboard, and lets us know how you are. Can we help when you feel under pressure, suggest some alternative drinks? Or distract you with mindless nonsense? Or just sit close by and give you a friendly hug smile.

ma amazing news about dd2. Well done her and well done you (for support, encouragement and patience over the years). Those brains run in your family 🎉🎆🎈🎈🎈🎉

Thank you so much for the warm welcome lux and venus! Day 19 today.

Still learning thanks I am not sure I could moderate tbh. That's why I have chosen to stop completely it's a weight off to not think about wine so much. But I miss the fun of the 1-2 glasses! Just not the end of that story. None is better for me although worry a lot about what to tell people. To embarrassed to be honest. Have a few reasons prepared so that's helping!

Well done to your DD2, ma. That's a fantastic achievement! And brilliant photo, too .

saywhen: "Just not to the end of that story"
^^ this.

Yes, saywhen, that's exactly my problem too. The first two glasses would be oh so seductive and delicious - but then BAM! Mayhem (and/or blackout).

Unicorn no need to be ashamed - although I'm sure everyone here understands only too well that feeling. We all totally get it. You're in the right place!

Welcome, both.

I've had such a rollercoaster of a week. I'm finishing off a project and it's gone very well (it was touch and go for a while earlier in the week which was hugely triggering for me). Several times I've wanted to say f* it and sink into half a bottle of gin (or more). But no. I like being sober much more (at times I've been telling myself that through gritted teeth - but it is in fact true, really).

Made it through! Almost the weekend!

Drunk a bottle of Pinot last night. Worked it off in the gym. Then ate a Gregg's sausage roll walking down the street. Call it my mid life crisis!
Still nothing back from interview.
Have some little yellow tomatoes fruiting on my window sill.
It's DP birthday tomorrow. Apparently it's going to Sun on us so I may do us a BBQ.

dementedma
Huge congratulations and well done to mini demented

Hi, many thanks for the welcome, it feels good to have your support. I really admire how some of you have gone so long without a drink, it is inspiring. I drank less yesterday and didn't overeat so I feel a bit better today. Having friends over for bbq tomorrow so will try not to drink too much and do my hyper thing, being mad and silly and fun-loving, then crashing into sadness when they have gone! DH is wonderfully patient, bit of a saint really. Hope you are all having a great day and enjoying some sunshine x

Well hello everybody, my internet seems to be up and running properly so I am happy.
Ma what fantastic proud making news, what a wonderful thing, so pleased to hear this.
made how are you out there? Elba ooh that holiday pic, nto jealous much oh no siree!

Flowerey how are you my lovely one? Great to hear from Venus your wise words always seem to crop up just when someone needs them.

Spanna 42 how's things?

Hope you enjoy the thread Unicorn and say it's a step at a time but I found keeping well hydrated helped me a lot, thirst makes the cravings unbearable, keep busy and try to change your habits p-s if Friday is wine with friends maybe meet them for coffee Saturday afternoon

Mint things are a bit tough aren't they? they will get better (oh god I do hope, things ain't great here, I desperately need a job) so lets try to keep positive.

Not seen our lovely Dubh or Margie awhile, I hope you're ok out there and I'd love to see you on the thread.

Elf my idol, my hero, you are amazing, truly - I remember when you first joined us, what an achievement, you rock!

Who have I missed out? I hate leaving Babes out but gosh we are a big old bus these days so please know it's not personal just my memory.

So, who is nearly 6 months without wine? Why, that would be me - whoever in a gazillion years would have thought I could be parted from my Pinot?

Yes, I can enjoy a beer or two, a gin here and there and they are fine for me, I can moderate and have 1 or 2 or even 3 then walk away.
So different when I was under the witches spell ad too much was never, ever enough.

Keep up the hydration, a face bomb never hurts (mine is due tonight) paint your nails, soak in the tub, read a book, have an AF beer, be your own best friend because the wine witch actually hates you, the toxic old boot - give her a kicking.
She's a wily old thing so don't feel ashamed (Unicorn I'm looking at you m'dear) if it's tough to say no, (we all know it's tough to say no) do your best, always, always do your best. We all have wobbles and that's fine, we just get up again and maybe again, and again but we never stay down - right Babes?

Right lux!

I am in the car park of the wine shop.
Child free.
Had extremely busy/trying week.
Anyone around to het me out of here??

Ahh I bought a bottle of lower ABV, I'll go slow, I'll drink water, I'll go to bed early.
Hope Fridays okay for everyone. Last Friday I was AF at the end of a week mostly drinking, this week been AF and will really keep it to a minimum tonight.
Gosh darn it this is hard sometimes.
Happy evening babes x

Am I in time? You absolutely know you feel better without the drink. Now you need to totally believe it.

This is my tipple. Not sure it's good for you though

Thanks still have had a glass, going to make it to bed early.
I've not really thought of AF beer, will give it a try. Thank you.

Drink water. Drink more water. Put the (rest of the) wine away for one hour (just one tiny hour) and eat - anything, cheese on toast, tuna and mayo sandwich, potnoodle. Then brush your teeth. Drink more water. Paint your fingernails and toe nails. Then.... Have some wine with soda as a spritzer. But, maybe by then you won't really want it anymore and you can kerp it for tomorrow, or for cooking....

Evening all and welcome, Unicorn.

Still not sure if my posts here are helpful, as I certainly classify as a proper alcoholic. But it took me years to realise it before I lost a lot.

I also recommend mindfulness. Calm is a brilliant app.

A good text that's not AA is Melody Beattie, the language of letting go. It is recovery focussed and very much about co-dependency.

Lots of liquid. Honestly. I am never without a bottle of water.

To all those struggling, moderating etc, all the best on this stuffy Friday night.

Ps - used to post on the babes thread as snowvelvet.