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

Hope everybody is doing ok today. I am looking forward to watching Strictly tonight and actually remembering what the performances were like on Sunday morning!

Hope everyone is doing ok. Day 7 for me, I haven't went this long without a drink in 3-4 years. I walked 10 miles today and now I'm shattered so soft drinks and X factor, then bed!

Today hasn't been great. My mum understands that I just go total cold turkey so has been dishing out a minuscule glass of some weird liquer every 3 or 4 hours because she's under the impression that I've been drinking around 3/4 of a bottle of wine for the last few days which would equate to about 6 or 7 units. I calculated that yesterday, I probably drank about 35 units so obviously the couple of glasses she dished out to me weren't going to the edge off.
At about 3pm, I started shaking absolutely uncontrollably, sweating buckets and feeling really strange mentally. I've never had a seizure but it felt like how I imagined it would feel leading up to one. My mum was on the phone to 111 but just put the phone down and called 999.
My dad had a small supply of Diazepam so I took 6 mgs which took the edge off the shaking. I also vomited 3 times this morning even though I haven't eaten anything.
The paramedics came after about 40 minutes and were absolutely lovely. I asked them if they could speak to the duty doctor and get me some Benzos prescribed
for a few days until I can get home and get some proper help.
She wouldn't do it and basically advised me to carry on drinking at a level just to keep the withdrawal symptoms away. I can see where she was coming from - that I might end up drinking on top of Benzos which is really dangerous.
So, in the last week, I've got picked up a section 136 and spent 8 hours in a padded cell. My DH and children have had the door kicked down by the Police because I made a phone call to them to say that I was going to kill myself and they didn't understand that I was in the town where my parents live and not at my home address. I've taken an overdose and got taken to hospital by ambulance and now I've had DTs and ended up literally lying on the floor shaking.
And the absolute worst thing is that DH told me that my 17 year old son has been crying in school and telling his Head of Year that his mum is an alcoholic.
That's my red line. I am going to put every ounce of strength I possess into beating this. And I will do it. I will take medication, I will go to to every group going, I will read every book and every blog going, I will go running every day, I will get myself a sticker chart. I will fucking beat this.

You WILL do it because you must. And you can.

MsHoolies good for you! Yes, you can do it. Take every ounce of support offered to you, chase it down with as much energy as you hunted out a bottle of vodka. Lean on us, lean on everyone. Only YOU can decide to do it, but you don't have to face it alone. And it is such a relief to find others who have been like you, or worse, and who have found ways to be sober.

I just feel so ashamed. My mum literally is Hyancith Bucket but she's actually been brilliant. The son of my sister's childminder was a heroin addict for years and they were about as posh as you could get but still ended up getting constantly raided by the Police.

I only have 2 cousins born to my dad's sister - one is a pillar of the community, has raised thousands of pounds for charity, has adopted his wife's disabled child while the other one has, until very recently, spent about half his life in jail.
If there is one positive thing for me about this, I really do hope it's made me non judgemental. It drives me mad when I see threads about addiction and there are self satisfied smugheads saying 'Well just stop. Nobody's making you do it'.
If it was that simple, we could just get rid of all the psychiatrists and psychologists and counsellors and nurses that work in addictions and burn all the hundreds of books and journals and articles and papers that have been written about addiction and just say to addicts, 'don't do it, it's bad for you'. There are people who genuinely think that life is that simple.
I take 100 % responsibility for my addiction. I have never tried to blame it on anyone else (although though some of DH's behaviours haven't helped).
But that doesn't make it as easy as saying 'Well just stop'.
I used to have massive issues with food. I realise that, over time, I have transferred the issues I used to have about food onto alcohol e.g. Thinking how I'm only going to eat a
Certain amount or not eat at all or just planning what time of the day I can start eating etc.
I how have have an absolute will of steel about food - I have a BMI of 18 and, if I was challenged to, I know I could go a week without eating. However, I absolutely don't judge people who struggle with food issues because I've been there myself and I am now a total pisshead so not in a good place to judge anyone.
I think the vast majority of us really are trying to do our best.

Cardigan This CAN be your turning point, and it is good that you are accepting help (family and professionals). Have you been discharged from hospital now? Are you going to access any follow-up help? Have you got medication (don't forget to take thiamine as well, if they have not given you some you can get it at any chemist, it's vitamin B1).

I went to a birthday party last night and did not drink. The kombucha is doing it for me, I took two big bottles of it and mixed it with sparkling water all evening, and although it didn't look like wine very few people commented on the different look of my drink. I drove to the party and back (something I have not done in many years!). I was even able to give someone else a lift to their house. I found it harder to make conversation, I suppose, as I am shy and alcohol normally lubricates me, but it was fine.

Off to take my son swimming this morning. Day 8 and today I will not drunk.

Hello can I hop on board the bus please?
I need to know..,How do you do it at the weekend?? Feeling very bad today after a bit of an unexpected bender last night.
God I hate feeling like this 😟

Great post about addiction hoolie.

Hi Oyy I'm not in any place to give advice right now as my life is a total mess due to alcohol but stick around- you will get amazing support on here.

Afternoon! Hope everyone is OK.

How are you feeling today MsHoolie?

Ruby well done on your sober party . I did the same a few weeks ago - it was brilliant not feeling dog rough and having The Fear the next day. Even if I felt a little out of sorts at the party itself to start with.

Oyy. I plan non drinking weekends with the same precision as I planned drinking ones! I change my routine slightly too. So, stock up with nice drinks, snacks etc. Watch something different on the TV. Eat early and if we're having a takeaway I'll go and collect it rather than have it delivered. Hot baths, bit of a pamper session if that is your thing. Basically, don't try and wing it!

If you are going out then drive if you can. Don't be afraid to lie about why you aren't drinking and leave early if you get fed up .

Thanks for the replies Heman & Hoolies ** they are sincerely appreciated. Currently trying hard to stop beating myself up and just go back to not drinking. I will start planing for next weekend now!

Oh I forgot one thing Oyy - when it's Saturday night, you are sober and getting twitchy, just keep thinking about how good you will feel the next day .

Made it to London. Tomorrow I get to meet a certain Royal ginger person. Am very excited

Wow ma

Very jealous! Have a lovely time.

Well today would have been day 7 except I went out to lunch and had one drink with my lunch (not wine though!). I savoured it and came home.

No plans to drink this evening or for the rest of the week - Hope I can manage it! This version of me is much happier (and looking better) than the one of the week before last and I'd quite like her to stick around.

ma. Have a wonderful time! Are you going to use your face mask to titivate yourself before meeting the Ginger One?

Well done on the one drink tonic. I wish I could do that .

I'm still on call and feeling slightly bonkers now. Only 11 hours and 56 mins to go......

Indeed I am. I have hopes I can woo him away from that Markle woman

thanks Herman that's a good idea

Tonic that's so restrained - well done you! 🙌🏽

Oooh yes. Do it ma! DO IT! Report back with every detail . What is the etiquette though? Do you have to curtsy or can you lunge straight in ?

Went for a pub lunch today....

had a coke 😀 Proud of myself.

🙌🏽 @AutomaticSteeple

demented I just wanted to say that you're bloody brilliant. I'm sure that, if we met, we'd get on like a house on fire.

Awww shucks hoolie thanks.
Do you think if I give him a kiss I will get hauled off to the tower?