DRY 18

[vxa2]

Link to old thread www.mumsnet.com/Talk/relationships/2841743-DRY-17

Hi fail,

Welcome to the thread and to sobriety! It's hard going at first, but well worth it!

Keep on keeping on is the thread motto, and one day at a time is the way to do it. I remember at 3 weeks sobriety thinking 'I'll want some champagne at my daughters wedding, so may as well drink now '

Daughter is twelve!

There are lots of blogs out there, I found reading them really helpful.

Well done on the sober Christmas everyone!

Welcome fail
I prefer it here as I no longer want to drink at all.
Best tip is to get organised with lots of nice af drinks and change your routine .
Hot bath,book,boxset,hot choc.
All the things I never had time to do I now do instead of drinking .

Hi everyone, please can I join? I have a generally busy life (don't we all!) and decided there's no room for booze. I used to binge drink about once a week and it always led to anxiety and hangovers. Haven't had a drink for 32 days now and DH has been very supportive. I've lurked here and appreciated the advice about taking the time to have a hot bath, read a good book, etc. in the evenings instead of drinking but still find social occasions very hard. I'm mid-30s with a young DD so any mention of not drinking is pounced upon as an unspoken declaration of pregnancy, when in reality I had a miscarriage a couple of months ago. I also struggle with the 'helpful' friends and family members who say "Go on, just one won't hurt" because I know I'll never stop at one. Any advice you have about what to say to others or how to silence the 'just one' brigade would be great

One won’t hurt, and neither will none......

"I dont drink alcohol " works for me!
Dry January is a good time to stay dry openly and then carry on as you feel so much better which is how I started off -one minor blip after a year but still sober now .

I've had 'one won't hurt' but I have never seen the point in one drink. I still don't! So far me none is better.

I'm not a just the one type of person!!! Never have been never will be!!

Reasons I give:
I'm driving
I'm exhausted
I'm trying to loose some weight
I have a run I'm training for
Those are my favs currently. The more you say no the less people ask. I have had some awkward moments and people have been disappointed.

BGJ43 I like that, thank you!

Pinkpeppermintteaforme Well done for sticking with it. I'm hoping that people get used to the idea over time and ask less the more I say no, as with Saywhen I think friends and family are used to me being 'fun drinking friend' so seem a bit disappointed. DH has been very sweet and told me I'm more fun when not drinking, which is great because stupidly that's something I've worried about

Well done Apples
With your friend situation you have to make yourself and your health,mental health and wellbeing your priority .
True friends will get that.

Thanks biscuit and pinkpeppermint for the welcome. Just starting day 3 AF and feeling quite sad and anxious but my resolve is strong. The sadness/anxiety are around family issues so would be there anyway; I'm just not numbing myself with booze.

Haven't been in a public drinking situation yet but wondering what I'll say when/if asked and how people will react. I expect I'm better company sober as I seem to switch off after a few drinks, partly due to tiredness from the cycle of up late drinking and rubbish sleep.

Hope everyone has a sober and productive Thursday.

Thanks Pinkpeppermintteaforme You're right about friends too.

Well done failagainfailbetter I found that period of time really hard for anxiety but it's got easier every day so hoping you experience the same

Hi all, old poster with a NC.

Still KOKO, sober Xmas done, lots of chocolate consumed but on Day 300 + here now :) 2017 is the year I drank on less than 30 days, in total. Since 2014 I have been dry for 80 % of each year (total days drinking out of 365) :) This year so far Im 300 days continuous dry and hoping to stay dry each day as it comes. You have all been such a huge help so thank you all xxx

Say congratulations on your first sober Christmas... You sound really positive and determined.
Pink I'm very much like you and just tell people that I don't drink alcohol. Whatever I say, people will think whatever they want to think. It's not my problem, so I don't let it bother me...
Apples stay here. It's a great support. So much kindness, help and advice.

BGJ, Vxa and Lily you were all around when I was a regular on here, quite some time ago. I'm so glad that you are still here and helping everybody else.
I took a little break from social media, so apart from a quick post last week, it's been around a year since I was last here.....
Which brings me to my boast post.

2 year sober anniversary today!!!
And I celebrated the day by getting up at 6am to go on a 14 mile walk with DH and the Long Distance Walking Association in beautiful Arnside and Silverdale...
It was stunningly beautiful up there today

Thanks Vxa and Lily for your lovely comments last week.
I'd like to pop back on the thread to chat sometimes if that's OK.
I love how strong we all are. This is an amazing thing that we're all doing you know.
And I am very proud
Xx

like congratulations on 2 years! Wow that's such an achievement it lovely to hear how happy you are. Walk sounds wonderful. Running is my thing but walking is a close second.

Thanks for saying that had a moment yesterday after feeling a little low on Christmas day thinking that I can do this! Most of the things I have worries about I has moved past now. Of course there are still things to come but I have done a lot of them which is a really good feeling.

Hope everyone is doing well.

fail congratulations on day 3 af how are you getting on?

Wow growing that's amazing!!!

Saywhen thankyou! The main thing I've found is that alcohol is much like anything else that makes false promises, it's just an illusion. Granted, a very powerful one.. but it's 's never, ever going to make anything better. That can only ever come from inside you. But from reading your posts, I think you already get that...

I'm a runner too, but I'm injured at the moment so I'm taking a break whilst having physio. It's sooo hard, I miss my running buddies so much.
The Long Distance Walkers are a bit like The Ramblers, but on speed!! A lot of them are ex fell runners, so it's a fabulous workout with a diverse mix of interesting people coupled with beautiful scenery. A really good backup to have.
I'm a road cyclist too. I like to climb hills and to clock up decent mileage when I can.
And I do it all hangover free!!

Growing that's a fantastic achievement. Really well done.
We are so strong just being here.

Growingstuff that's incredible. You have done SO well! I love the way you're still successful despite having drunk a little. I hope not to fall off the wagon but I'll think of you if I do. ATM I feel like a single drink would be a disaster instead of a minor set back, and that's a lot of pressure.

LikeaHurricane I will definitely stay here, it's so nice to finally talk to people who get it and are supportive.

Waves at hurricane! Well done on your two years! I'm not going to think how that could have been me as well, I'm content with what I've managed and hope to come back next year with a 100% dry track record :)

Growing & Like what wonderful and inspiring sobriety. Thank you for being here to tell your tales. Wrapping up day 4. Resolve still strong mostly because of fear over the state of my liver. When the fear subsides i expect more challenges. For now am just moving forward with hope.

Thank you like getting there with understanding that have to talk myself around quite often if you know what I mean!

I'd be in trouble right now with an injury, I need a back up walking sounds like a good one!!

Good for you fail on day 4.

Happy end of 2017, here’s to a happy, sober 2018...

Please take a moment to think about our ‘plans of attack’ for tonight.... it’s a night a traditional overindulgence and encouragement to get pissed/just one/toast the new year...

It may seem like a Herculean task, it may seem impossible... but a little preparation, a thought as to why we are here (on this thread, nothing more philosophical than that), and a plan B....

After the first hours no one will notice you’re still sober.... you can ‘toast’ the new year and promptly put the glass down and walk away or pass it to a partner or supportive friend, or accidentally knock it over.... pour a tonic and claim it’s a gin and tonic, take the car, take imaginary antibiotics, stay home, whatever it takes..... even be prepared to leave if possible, we are the counter culture, and we are awesome, please remember that!!

Tomorrow is another day, another year, but the same old fabulous us.....

Happy New Year BGJ43 Here's hoping a dry 2018 is coming our way.

Luckily we're celebrating at home tonight so no well-meaning hosts offering booze. DH is going to be in charge of drinks for others and I've treated myself to some fancy non-alcoholic fizz for toasting so feel pretty well prepared to start 2018 dry. DH is going to try and do dry 2018 as well so I'm excited that we'll be in it together.

Happy New Year everyone!

Happy new year! My first sober one in I don't know how long.
I'm really excited about the year ahead. Wishing you all a wonderful 2018.

Happy New Year !dona
Day 177 for me and have had a great Christmas and will be going back to work feeling rested instead of crap

Yay! dona same for me. Actually feel good. First 40ish days for af was ill with various bugs and just felt awful. Then Christmas on slaught. Christmas was hard. But feel good today.

Knocked a couple of mins of my 10k personal best today (never would have happened when drinking) so that always leaves me on a high.

Happy New year all xx