Brave babes are still here: sping / summer / autumn / winter There is always someone around

[venusandmars]

This topic had being going for years and years and years. Maybe almost as long as some people have been struggling with drinking.

We are still here. Supporting, encouraging, helping. Never judging, never minimising our problems.

If you want to catch up, our last thread is HERE

And if you want to follow everything from the start, the very first thread from 9 years ago is RIGHT HERE

You can join in anytime. Everyone is welcome. Whether you are trying to cut down, abstain completely , or are simply acknowledging that you might have a problem... Post what you want.

*so funny

Another night AF here. Got a good night sleep. Still woken up feeling tired and rubbish! However I did notice my mood was very positive yesterday so hopefully that’s a change due to not drinking so much

Woken up not too bad this morning with a decent night’s sleep after a night back on the lime and soda and camomile tea 😍.

Angostura bitters you say ? I always thought that was alcoholic! I’m in the supermarket later, are they in the booze or mixers aisle? I have no idea what I’m looking for!

Angostura bitters are alcohol but you use one or two drops only so not really

I’ve just googled, it is alcoholic?

Cross post @deadliest. I’ll have a look later then 😁

Angostura bitters does contain alcohol, but estimates are that your drink with 'a dash' of bitters will probably contain about the equivalent of a teaspoon of lager.

Some alcoholics wouldn't go near it, but if it's changing your habit from a bottle of wine a night, and doesn't trigger you, then go for it.

Day 9: well, I had a proper wobble before dinner yesterday, felt so low and knew that a couple of drinks would quickly fix the horribleness.

Told myself it was too early for a drink , stayed with the feelings, drank a huge mug of fruit tea and - once I'd eaten - was still subdued but OK. Twanged my wrist elastic a few times for a dopamine effect.

Thankful that the caffeine in Pepsi Max doesn't stop me sleeping.

Also thankful for health and strength, a loving DH, family, and lots to look forward to in 2020.

Bent but not broken
Strength to all Braves

Well done @turnstone. A drink may have made you feel temporarily better but worse in the long term so well done for putting yourself first!

well done turnstone
Am already thinking ahead to tonight. A Friday night with DH at work would normally be a bottle of wine and a book. Going to stick to the Tonic and Bitters.
Noticing a difference in my mood now. Feeling more energetic (not that that is setting the bar very high, I have the energy levels of a sloth), and not groggy and sluggish in the mornings. Well, not as much

Thanks for your kind thoughts, Deadliest and ma .

The support here is really making a difference and I feel you buoying me up on the journey.

all round. We can do this ( whatever your this may be ... )

Ok so I bought the bitters! Lush! It’s like drinking the spicy version of Seedlip but for less ££! Thanks @dementedma!

So that’s my Friday night sorted! I’m home alone tonight but will be with my partner all weekend after this, I have no social plans at all.

The bitters have been a godsend. Tonight I had tonic, splash of lime, dash of bitters....lovely. Another day done

Well I’m through Friday night and onto my next day 3. Good sleep last night!

But wary of it being Saturday, the Tv is shite and me and DP will be lazing around the living room. We invariably drink on a Saturday night.

Now I do have some tv shows to catch up with so there is that, it just seems a weird and alien concept to not drink on. Saturday night!

I am telling myself how nice it will be to not wake up with a massive hangover tomorrow, needing a nap and being productive!

@2020newme - Good luck with being social tonight! What’s your plans?

My plan wasn’t total abstinence so I had some wine at a friends. Then I came home and made a cup of tea which is big progress, usually I’d have drunk more wine!

Hello Babes

Today is day 14 and yes, it's the night I am going out with my hardest drinking mates. Two of them (there's nine of us) know I am "doing Dry Jan" and I know I am not the only one, there will be at least two of us. This gives me hope I will feel less of an outcast and experience less pressure.

Isn't it weird how we are pressured to take this drug? Would never happen with cigarettes, not at our age anyway.

So my plan is to order soft drinks and drink water. I may have to leave before the end - we are having a meal and they will undoubtedly want to move on to pubs, at which point I may bail.

This probably sounds awful but I am also a bit worried about the bill. They/we drink a lot of good wine. We usually just split the bill evenly between however many are there. I will feel really miserly piping up suggesting I pay less but I will have to do it or my bill will be £60 - £80 instead of £30ish.

I bought the book "Quit Like a Woman" by Holly Whitaker and so far I am LOVING IT!! It's so relatable to my life. Best sober lit I have read so far.

Hello!!!! Just catching up from the hairdressers and being reminded of this wonderful day further up the thread made me grin like a Cheshire cat 😺

Lovely photo mint! I think I remember your wedding being discussed last time I was on the thread. How lovely!

Lads, I am doing a bit of a digital detox, so might not be around on the thread so much. Didn't want to ghost as it's such a wonderful thread and I'm sure I'll be back soon!

That was a great day,Mint. I had such lovely time. I think we got a whole thread trending at one point on MN

@2020newme if you can I’d suck up the extra cost. If it’s your first night not drinking and you feel self conscious it might be easier

Have a good time tonight @2020newme! Try bit to stress or go into autopilot like I did the other day.

Can someone summarise the wedding story? How lovely 😍

Blearyeyes20
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/3601627-To-be-excited-that-two-MNetters

OMG @MintToBee

What an absolutely lovely thread (I did see it back in June but it was great to revisit it and a very welcome distraction!!)

After patting myself on the back yesterday for doing so well and finding it so easy, I've had a major wobble today.

• Saturday is a drinking day. Regardless of what the rest of the week had been like (often I would be completely dry, other weeks I'd have drunk every day...) Saturday is a day I'd allow myself to drink
• its typical 'opening up time' and I'm really missing it.
• DP is out and that is always a green light for me to drink (I drink when he is home anyway but if he is out I usually have wine and a mini party with all my shit music)
• I've ordered a take away that is synonymous - for me - with drinking.

I think it's a combination of the above as I've honestly had a good 10 days in terms of not thinking about drinking.

I'm not going to drink as I've made a choice not to but I'm glad I dont have any of my poison in the house. We have plenty of booze in but I only drink one brand of wine another way of kidding myself I don't have alcohol issues as I won't drink any old alcohol don't you know

So many positives from my dry 11 days, not least that I've lost 5lb - I have a massive amount to loose though!! I won't allow that stupid voice in my head to fuck it up for me.

does anyone else have the voice? The voice that bargains with you? go on have a drink tonight and you can do dry February as well as dry January*
The voice that cajoles you go on you deserve it, you've been good all week
The voice that tells you what a failure you are you know you are going to drink eventually, why not now

I read about the voice in 'The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober' [which I never finished] but it really resonated.

Aw that’s amazing! Thanks for sharing!