The Brave Babes Battle Bus - Step Into Our Christmas Thread!

[Mouseface]

Hello, I'm Mouse

A HUGE welcome to the Bus!

This is the one and only Gerald. Over the years, we've travelled far and wide gathering some truly remarkable Babes along the way, all of whom have been (and remain to be) at different stages of their own personal journey to sobriety or controlled drinking, depending on what it is that they want to achieve.

We have those who drink daily, those who drink occasionally, and also those who have been sober for some time. The one thing that you won't find here, is any judgey knickers! We're ALL here because at one point or another, we've hit our own "rock bottom" and then smashed the shit out of the FUCK IT button! (makes a note to order a new FUCK IT button)

This is without doubt one of the hardest times of the year for many of us, what with Christmas parties, alcohol on tap, supermarkets who have offers galore of various tipples stacked from floor to ceiling, and EVERY advert on TV shows you what an amazingly cool person you can be if you were drinking whatever brand of alcohol they're flogging! Even Christmas puddings and Brandy creams are tempting fate because as soon as you digest even a small amount of alcohol, it makes your body crave more, just like smoking, medication and recreational drugs................

Then there's the gifts that you're given! Champagne Truffles, Liquors, wines, spirits, you name it! So unless you've told people about your planned journey, people assume that buying gifts like that completely acceptable. So, some may feel obliged to consume such gifts and why not? It's Christmas after all. Then we have the New Year festivities..... parties, friends and family over to have drinks because you'll stop drinking after New Years' Day won't you?

It's so damn hard not to drink if that's what you've been doing all year anyway before you even reach this time of year!! How will you cope with your Great Aunt who will check for dust by running finger over ever surface, or Uncle knobhead who will be there in his cream suit, with that suspicious stain on it and his burgundy shirt asking for a Babycham! Also, let's not forget the in-laws/out-laws! We can sometimes put so much pressure on ourselves that we convince ourselves that we DESERVE that glass or seven of wine etc.

At the end of the day, if you want to drink, then you will. I appreciate that doesn't sound supportive but it's certainly true in my case. As I have said before, the most amazing thing about this Bus and those who travel along with it, is the fact that every single one on board has a story, a reason why they're here, and we all need support in one form or another. Yes, alcohol may be the one thing that we ALL have in common but it goes way deeper than that doesn't it? Life, love and laundry for a start!

Even if you're not ready to stop or cut down on your drinking yet, that's fine! You're still welcome to hop aboard the marvellous Gerald. We're a very varied bunch of Babes but we welcome anyone in need of support, even if you're not ready to say everything that you want to yet, or you feel the need to name change, that's fine! Just know that we're here for YOU for as long as you need to be.

Mouse xxx

THIS IS THE PREVIOUS THREAD IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CATCH UP FROM WHERE WE LEFT OFF

@craftycorvid how long have you been dry for. You sound an inspiration. @venusandmars oh I tried that a while ago too when trying to ‘moderate’ before. It’s delicious. That is a trick to keep nice AF drinks in handy. I can’t stand sugary drinks. These are expensive but definitely worth it especially saving so much on bottles of wine.

Stopped drinking just shy of 11 months ago, Heyelp. No big crisis or moment of awareness. I’d been having a lot of arguments with myself about my drinking and I think I just finally got bored with the circular narrative (guilt, drink, guilt, repeat). I didn’t tell anyone for ages, just quietly stopped. I think I worried that the pressure of others knowing would jinx it. I realised people don’t notice as much as you think they will. I do have a couple of friends who make an issue of it but most are cool.

Hello everyone, long time no post for me!

I wondered has anyone tried Naltrexone long term?

@craftycorvid wow 11 months is amazing! Well well done! So tonight after nearly 4 days dry I had one glass of red wine. I had a really heavy day at work (was flying in and out of somewhere in a day) and had a glass on the way home on the plane. But.....then I stopped! I got home and had a seedlip and tonic and now about to sleep. That is very rare indeed but I am also aware that that is not normal for me and had another glass been readily available I would have had it. So I am back dry again and back vigilant.

Hey Loubilou nice to see you back.

I have no experience of medication for addiction. A long time ago there was a poster who was (with the full support of a medical team / counsellor / etc) on a Naltrexone programme. From her posts it seemed to go well... but who knows what next?

did she not post because it had gone great and an online drink forum was the last thing on her mind?
did she not post because it hadn't been so fab and she didn't want to discourage others?
did she just continue with her drinking and die an alcoholic death?

We are all on our own journey, and we all have to do what makes the most sense to us, to respond to what calls us, to reject what overwhelms us.

Heyelp what great insight. That kind of observation of your drinking 'pulls' is invaluable.

• if it had been available
• if I'd not had an alternative (seedlip)
• if I'd had another drink on the plane...

All of this is a great experiment in what works for US i.e. what works for YOU.

@venusandmars yes you are right. And the other interesting thing is. I think alcohol has become all or nothing for me. And that is what scares me that I will never be a moderator. One glass of wine really felt like it was not worth it tonight. Why bother if you aren’t going to have a ‘get out of it’. Why bother having one glass at all. That is my attitude. Who has one glass of wine and why? What’s the point?

Morning . I have that thought as well .. what the hell is the point of 1 drink?? I’d rather have none . Not drank now since last Friday . Mood not stabilised yet . Still feel tired . Need to fight tonight not to press the button .

Heyelp
I am the same. I'll never be a one drink gal. I'm envious of friends who can do that. I'm also sick of people who try and encourage me to "have just one as it wont hurt". Umm yes it will which is why I work hard to stay AF!
laurely Hang on in there. It will get a bit easier to distract yourself when the cravings start.

Oh God, Mint me too with ‘just one won’t kill you’. 😡. Not helpful, usually about the person who says it and if people are pushy, can lead to an awkward conversation. I’d like to say ‘you seem very threatened by my not drinking.’ (Hard stare). ‘Would you like to talk about it?’ I’m getting better at saying ‘no, one drink in my case will lead to a lot more. I can’t drink.’ (Polite smile). Only a few people have made an issue of it; one friend who decided to quiz me as to whether I thought I had an alcohol problem - in the middle of dinner! Cue awkward moment as I went ‘yes, I do. Pass the salt....’ . Anyone else got any ways to deal with this sort of situation? Joking apart, it’s not pleasant and I don’t always feel like talking about my choices!

Crafty I’ve battled on and off for years and when I’m not drinking and people question me I’m very blunt about it . “ no thankyou I’m not drinking .” Hard stare . Subject changed . I don’t engage further but that’s just me as I’ve found I get tied in knots if I try to explain further . So Friday I drank a bottle of wine . Im not going to drink today . Happy Sunday everybody! Btw im still reading the old threads . On thread 6 now. Totally inspiring .

Hello everyone. How’s it going?

@laurely are you back on the midweek bus? I am back on with my seedlip. Did you drink alone on Friday? Only asking because this is exactly what I would do. Sink a bottle alone with not a second thought. I am doing drink aware app and am shocked that even with my mid week drinking and what I am thinking was a minimal weekend - I am still well over the recommend limit of 14 units a week. And this is when I think I am making a massive effort. Just goes to show how abnormal my drinking was.

Totally sympathise with @mint and @crafty about the ‘friends’ comments. Fancy bringing it up over dinner. That is so insensitive. Like the response tho. Hopefully that stopped them dead in their tracks.

Just wanted to reach out anyway to say hi! Sips her seedlip :-)

Ps when I say ‘mid week drinking’ I mean as in nothing eg AF

Heyelp my ideal would be wine on Friday then nothing all week . So I tried it and failed . Again . I’ve drank every night since . I’m so mad at myself for thinking “ this time” will be different . I’m angry upset and hungover today . It’s such a waste . I’ve got a day off . I have plans which should make me happy . Instead I feel tired hungover and depressed . Sorry for the pity party but I need to get it down . Today I won’t drink .

@laurely take it easy on yourself. Today is day 1. Brush yourself down, drink some water and have a lovely day. We are together tonight on the bus :-)

Thankyou . I’m just so frustrated! Going out shortly with the dog to a national trust place . Will blow the cobwebs I hope .

laurely see it all as part of this great experiment: you tried something, it didn't work. So you have a choice - you can try the same experiment again (and find out once again that it doesn't work) or you can try a different experiment.

It doesn't really matter what you experiment with next - buy only 2 mini bottles of wine to last you through the weekend; buy nothing and go completely alcohol free, drink only on days that have 'W' in the word, or 'U' in the word or 'X' in the word (some give you one drink, some give you 4, some give you none....)

Evening! How is everyone?

Hi all! On a train betwixt Devon and home at the moment. Travelling a lot lately it seems. One of those ‘a large glass of wine would make this journey better’ moments. But I’m trying to think a lovely cuppa tea when I get home is just as good . Do not beat yourself up for trying something and finding that ‘something’ didn’t work out. I think it could have been Einstein who said ‘Try. Fail. Try again. Fail better.’

@crafty indeed travel is an issue. I travel quite a bit with work and that is where the wine kicks in. The number of airports I have seen drunk is shameful. Yes a train journey is made just that bit more bearable getting drunk. So well done on the cuppa! I have a member of my family staying tonight and it’s going to take all my willpower not to open a bottle.

Craftycorvid
Now you've just made me homesick for Devon.

Ahhh.. trains and plane and automobiles Yup that was me. I would order champagne, in the mistaken belief that anyone observing would think I was celebrating, rather than just being a drunk!

Have spent more than one train journey placidly getting hammered. It doesn’t help that they always seem to have ‘special offers’ the more booze you buy from the trolley of delights.

How is everyone doing? winning? struggling? just curled up waiting for summer to arrive.....?

Hello, hello, is the bus asleep?