The Brave Babes Battle Bus - Go Sober For October?

[Mouseface]

Hello, 'tis me, Mouseface, welcome to the Bus, aka Gerarld.

We're a bus full of various Babes, from those who are as dry the Sahara, those who drink in moderation, those who binge drink and can go for weeks without a drop and then fall arse over tit (pardon the french!) straight off the bus and into the sidecar, and then we have Babes who try every single day to give up.

The thing is, we all do 'this' ONE DAY AT A TIME and with passion too. You have to WANT to stop with every fibre of your being.

And that's what this bus is about. We support each other. No matter how many times you fall of the Bus, we'll always be here to scoop you back up and listen.

So, come and join us. Lurk, or grab a seat, make sure you're comfy and enjoy the journey as we talk about the dreaded drink, plus everything from how expensive Tena Lady's are, to what's in the slow cooker!

We don't judge, this isn't a competition, it's our lives.

And if you'd like to read the last thread, HERE IT IS

Plus, if you'd like to see where the Bus started out, you can RIGHT HERE

Hope to see you soon xx

You are absolutely NOT pathetic MsHooliesCardigan. Please don't think that . You are in the grip of something and you need support to get through it. Please find some RL support.

How are you today cardigan. Are there any other supportive groups nearby if you dont want to go to AA?
In the interests of honesty I confess to one gin and tonic at my hotel last night. It s just so nice to be away from home and relaxing that I cracked. Back on it today. Am off to do some ogling - airmen today just to make a change from soldiers.

Cardigan you are not in the least pathetic, alcohol is addictive and it is extremely difficult to quit.
I know several people on the bus have been helped by their GP, so would you consider booking an appointment for a chat?

The very fact that you are being honest gives you a headstart. Keep posting for support but do consider seeing your doctor.

Hope everyone else is OK, Ma airmen - oh Lordy.

Mint Also a big Tom Petty fan and saw him at Wembley, very sad indeed.

MsHooliesCardigan
We're all here for you for hand holding, straight talking if you need it and general understanding of what you are going through.
Ma
I love a uniform. I think your job is almost as good as mine!
Lux
I read his Rolling Stone interview where he said it was to be the last tour as he wanted to spend time with his kids and grandkids. Teared me right up.
Hope everyone else is ok.
It's blowing a gale here with torrential rain. Winter is definitely back with a vengeance. The heating is up and both fires built for tonight.
I've been given more hours at work again. I'm loving it. I don't want to come home at night! And it's stopping me drinking as I can't be hungover. So day 4 AF is now starting. My sleep pattern is getting a little better. My skin is breaking out but that's just the alcohol leaving my system I think. But omg, I'm so fed up of drinking water at work! (I'm trying no sugar this month too).

Morning

Sorry to hear about the tough time you are having cardigan hope you find the support you need.

Start of Day 3 for me - hope I can stick at this as I'm feeling more positive already.

Ooh Mint am I right in thinking you work with animals?

Cardigan, I am in a similar situation to you. I have had to send my kids to go and live with their dads while I attend AA every night. I see my son every day bur my daughter isn't so keen. I've lost my job. Split up with my partner. I have no desire to drink, I am so depressed with how much I've managed to fuck up. I have to say though AA has helped me so much. Every person in there will be. Able to identify with you in some way. You will be amazing at how warm and helpful people are it's peaceful at the meetings. I was too proud to go when I knew I had a problem. Now I wish I had swallowed that pride before I lost so much. Keep in there, if you don't take the first drink you can't get drunk. It's one day at time. Yesterday is gone, tomorrow might never come for anyone of us but today don't pick up a drink. One person in AA said to me the world record for an alcoholic being sober is 24 hours. That's it that's all you have to do. I go every night, I'm lucky to have that option in my area.t life is by far from ideal and some days i stirrer not to hate myself. I'm just holding on for the days that people trust me again. Take of yourself and be kind to yourself x

Sorry just to add, the group I go to is more of a spiritual group rather than a God group. Although God is mentioned in the steps but we use it as a loose term and concentrate on finding a higher power, which is what ever you believe in. Is their any different groups you could try? I get what you mean about admitting you are powerless but once you do you with find some peace. I do believe the steps are working for me although it is early days yet x

HemanOrSheRa
I do Indeed 😁

TonicandLime
Well done my lovely. I'm starting day 4. The weekend is going to be hard but I've actually drawn myself up a rota of stuff I have to do which pretty much fills my time up during the day and I'm going to download some films for the evenings.

EastMeetsWestBay
If you don't take the first drink you can't get drunk.
Wise words indeed. I should stick this to my wine rack!

Mini thank you and congratulations on getting to day 4! Agree the weekend is going to be tough - I have a pub lunch planned for Sunday !!

Just been for a run and done loads this morning already so feeling positive at the moment.

Sorry Mint !! Need to put my glasses on!

Cardigan, I can't add anymore to what's been said but I hope you find the support you need. I think you're already incredibly brave for facing up to the problem.

Niccceee ma, partial to men in uniforms myself. Given my parent's occupation, Freud would have had a field day with that

Well done everyone still keeping on the bus through October!

I haven't been counting days but totted up there and in the double figures of 11. It's been a good 6 months since I got anywhere near that. I am feeling a lot more settled patience wise but the last week I have been plagued a lot with thoughts of all the shitty things, minor indiscretions and people I may have unintentionally hurt along the way. Not just when drinking either. Horrendous amounts of guilt and 'you are a bad person' going through my brain. I know I do have esteem issues and a lot of negative self talk to the point I considered counselling a while back and those traits probably do have a part to play with my drinking as it numbs it. Then I'm wondering is this that addictive voice trying to trick me into thinking you may as well take a drink then? Any thoughts how to change this?

Day 4 here, and I am feeling ratty and irritable, anyone else get that a few days in? But today I will not drink.

SilverandRuby
Ratty, yes and I'm pre-menstral so craving cake, chocolate, you name it. Rah!!! a

So this morning i hit my car. No one hurt and no one else involved thankfully but this is a massive trigger for me. Not because of the accident per se but because i am going to have to deal with "people" ie the insurance company. This causes masses of anxiety because i am always afraid of saying the wrong thing and making things worse. And this wants me to self medicate to block it all out. Sometimes I really hate myself and how far I have fallen. I think i need to get to my gp but i dont even have the balls for that.

Sorry to bring the tone down, i just need to get this out.

MsHoolie

Cardigan my heart goes out to you as we are all on this bus, either because we have been in your shoes or because we are on our way into them. Such a brave step to post about it here and some wonderful advice from others.

RealHousewifeOfLapland
I hear you on the anxiety. I got badly into debt as I refused to open any post during a THREE year period with my abusive ExH.
Please go to your GP. They will have seen it all before.

Thank you all so much. Today hasn't been great TBH but I'm still here. You're a wonderful bunch of people. I've been lurking on these threads since JWN first posted. I'm determined to do this. Demented how is your brother doing?

EastMeets Your situation sounds really hard. I wish you all the best. I wish all of you can get free of this. But it's so fucking hard.

real glad you are okay after car accident.
cardigan how strange you should ask after Richard. I was thinking of his story when I read yours, and today he posted a lovely photo of himself in China where he is now living nd working as a language teacher. He looks so well and happy that I w s actually contemplating posting it on the thread to show everyone who supported me and him through his battle with alcoholism. He is doing well and looks great. It can be done, it can! You wouldnt believe he isis the same man who I thought would die before we could get him help!(scuse typos, keyboard is gubbed)
Today I was with fighter pilots....what a crap job I have
Do you know a Typhoon could fly from London to Edinburgh in less than 30 minutes and the pilots wear compression trousers to stop all the blood pooling in their feet?

Day 25 here, chugging away...

Sorry to see so many people feeling at their wits' end - that really is how I felt a few weeks ago.

I am still feeling positive about not drinking as I approach 1 month. I keep having to remind myself that, while a month will feel like (and is) a huge achievement, in the grand scheme of things I am only just beginning my journey to long-term sobriety.

I do keep having dreams. In my last one I had had the mythical 'one drink' at a meal out and was on my home. I knew as surely as I know my own name I would buy a bottle of wine on the way home.

I hope I keep having these dreams, I think they are warning me off my usual weak spots: thinking I can moderate, feeling proud of myself for moderating and then letting my guard down etc.!

Adulting is so hard sometimes, isn't it Real? Glad you aren't hurt though (or anyone else). That's the main thing.

I'm off to bed in a bit. This sober lark is exhausting . I'm not needing a nanna nap in the afternoon, I'm just getting on with stuff. I'm shattered!

Mint you have the best job in the world - do you get to cuddle kittens and puppies? And ma gets to flirt outrageously with men in uniform . I get shouted out by disgruntled old people. Pffft.

I am off to slather my poor haggard face with my new skin serumy things which arrived today. Last Chance Saloon before I seriously consider botox and fillers .

Thank you all again. I have had a drink today but only 3 glasses of wine rather than the bottle of vodka I've been necking for the last couple of months.
It would actually be dangerous for me to just stop. I'm 50 next year. This has been going on for half my life. They did blood tests when I was in hospital and my liver function was fine.
My children deserve better than this.Thank you all again for your kind words. Mumsnet is amazing sometimes x

ma
waves hand in air I knew!!!
I loved the Typhoon at the Ayr Show. Amazing piece of kit.

Cardigan

Apologies if you've been down this route but have you looked into accessing a medical detox through your local DAAT service, if you have one or something similar?

I've hopped on the bus having tried many, many times before and lurked for literally years.

This time is is so important though. My husband's job relocated abroad which has been a massive opportunity for us but has also meant I haven't been working and I have shamefully started to let my self drink morning onward. It depressing, it's hideously disgusting and it has the potential to get us deported and my husband sacked. And it absolutely has to stop. My triglycerides are off the scale but I'm terrified some days at the way I feel and that I will die. Dreadful, stupid, compulsive, selfish behaviour.

So, that's me. 3 days sober tonight.

Hello to everyone and good luck to us all!