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.

Took me ages to find this bloody bus! Where have you all been?
Been at this bus stop for ages! hauls self aboard muttering and casting dark glances at passengers

I actually managed to get away for 5 days to the Trossachs and also a rather special wedding spot in Glencoe. Back to reality tomorrow though. Got some mountains in too.

Hi, Mint, hi ma! . Hi all the lads!

It would have been my mum’s birthday on 7th September. So that’s been a strange one. Otherwise I feel I’m slowly coming back to the world, work and everything else.

Morning @Craftycorvid Its my Mums birthday today. Its an odd feeling not being able to talk to them isn't it.
And so begins another ridiculous set of rules. Don't go visit your family but pubs are OK 🤦‍♀️

Hi Babes, took a while to find you! I'm having a Becks blue tonight, pleasantly surprised by it. Had a snooty week at work & have drank 3 nights this week. Need to claw back some A F days.

Predictive text Had a shitty week not a snooty one

Hey, babes! Just coming to the end of a holiday break - self-catering and in the UK as the safest option. Autumn has arrived though. Back to what passes for normality!

Hello lovely Babes! It took a bit of finding you again as i havent been on mumsnet for ages. How are y'all?
I am day 10 today which is the first time I've managed to hit double figures in feckin' years! Unfortunatley i also have a knackered knee after falling over (sober I might add) and am in a bit of pain and having to silence a voice that says half a bottle of gin would take the pain away which it might, only to be replaced with paranoia, anxiety and self-loathing a few hours later so i am sticking with the Ibroprofen

I hope everyone is ok and looking forward to a good week.
I have managed to make it through to 'proper-sleep-stage' and am loving the feeling of waking up rested. Love to all xx

Hi everyone

I was here around 2012-13 and cut down from 1-2 bottles of wine every night.
My issue now is the occasional binge. Went months at the end of last year AF.
Had managed 27 days but drank last night- the impending lockdown was my excuse. But it’s stupid and I am so much happier AF.

So day 1 for me.

Oh my, I found you!

Truth is I am drinking every night, a bottle of red and I can’t muster any motivation to stop. It is the highlight of my day...wine time.

I was on the bus years ago, on and off, as heavy drinking is not a new thing. The last few years I have been better, I have tracked on dry days and managed to drink for only half of the days each year. This year, since March, wine time is daily. We are in Canada, in an area with really low COVID cases but obviously the fear of what is happening in the world and the worry for family does surround us. I lost my job in sept, I am peri menopausal, have two teenage sons. I am temporarily employed, covering for someone, so have 6 weeks work, but I just keep thinking that giving up drinking will make everything more miserable than ever. I know that it makes the anxiety worse, I am all too familiar with the drinkers dawn but the advantages seem more appealing at the time.

I am not sure why I am posting apart from a really annoying internal voice that keeps telling me it is a bad decision each time I pick up. I know there are babes out there who relate. What the hell do I do? Sober life seems so raw, when do I get a mental break? How did you get to a different way of thinking? I could do with some help to see the benefits again.

I may not post again for a while but I really want the brave babes to remain on page 1. I am sure there are many, many people out there using alcohol as a band aid, who could do with a place to write down how they are coping....drinking, moderating, abstaining....just getting through.

Life is hard or at least, I find it hard. Sending a little bit of love and support to anyone who is struggling

Hi Beaches so glad you posted! I thought I’d lost everyone on here. It’s been a beast of a year, for sure. Just saying hello to you and everyone.

And sending solidarity. When we go through rough times, it’s so tempting to be drawn where we know will soothe us temporarily.

Thanks for posting Beaches and Crafty. Hope everyone out there is doing ok. Bring on 2021....

Hey crafty and marlu, good to hear from you! I think Gerald needs to stay on page 1, especially if there are any babes hoping to begin 2021 with another dry January. I usually start the year that way and am planning to do it again. I realize it lets me off the hook for now but it also gives me a goal.

In the meantime, let’s just get this year finished, it has indeed been a beast.

Ahhh here we all are!
Thought I'd lost the thread.

Hey Mint! Monday is done and the rest of the week looks that little bit easier. Keep on trucking babes xx

Hello - I've lurked here for ever (since Mouse started thread 3 or something... that long!) I have posted occasionally but never consistently (story of my life) I will post the entire story of my giving up the hard stuff one day (maybe, no-one enjoys a drunkalogue) but anyway I'd been on/off the wagon for years, and then, here we are - my sobervesary is 3 years on the 18th December. I don't know how that happened. One day I was reading all about how sober Mint and Beaches were and now I did it.

Guys, hope you are well and it's possible not to drink, today. Just today.

Hey louiseaaa, thanks for "coming out" on this thread and well done to you on your 3 year soberversary. That is one hell of an achievement! Well done!! I look forward to reading about your story, when you get a chance to post.
I'm still plodding along down here. I made a major breakthrough this year when I decided to tackle my drinking from an OCD perspective, as I think there are commonalities between obsessive drinking and OCD, and yet there is far more support/helpful suggestions/treatment for OCD than there is for problem drinking. I also looked at suggestions for those with bipolar disorder as I have been keeping a faithful record of my drinking patterns (over the last 18 months) and can now see my pattern of drinking for what it is.
As a result, I have largely been able to manage my drinking before it gets out of control. Over the counter supplements have also helped me, but I'm not sure if I am allowed to post the names of these here. Drinking is now becoming less and less part of my life, and I don't feel as though it has the same control over me, but the price I pay is constant vigilance. I look forward to the day when I can abstain completely, but I just don't feel ready for that yet.
Thanks louisaaa for reminding me that total abstinence is possible.

Hi louiseaaa! I remember seeing you on the bus before. 3 years....that is incredible, really impressive, well done! Proof that new habits can be formed, even when the on/off wagon routine seems embedded. I look forward to hearing your story too.

Marlu the OCD connection is really interesting. I love tracking and watching for patterns and it sounds like you have found a way to prevent the control it used to have over you. Well done you. Knowing yourself and you responses is the best tool to sidestep triggers. I know this but don’t always listen to my common sense voice. Thank you for reminding me.

I had a job interview this morning, online. I won’t know for ages as it is a government job and with Christmas.... I do feel better now that it is behind me. I seem to turn into a nattering ninny though, when faced with an interview panel - just hope I didn’t seem too batshit!

Take care babes x

The tree is up in the beaches household . It is a year like no other for sure but some normal things like decorating the tree are reassuring.

Who normally decorates the bus? The opal fruit wrappers are really not very glamorous!

I get tinsilitus when Christmas approaches, the tree gets decorated in the 24th December and not a day before - Bah Humbug

I can do a quick zone clean of the bus however ......

louiseaaa There is something very magical about putting up the tree on Christmas Eve, makes me think of a Wonderful Life.

Wrappers are gone, lights are on soft glow, seats are spacious and comfortable and we are on our way.....

I gave up smoking after 35 years in September. (I did stoptober but I stopped a week early so I could get the worst over with/relapse before stoptober so I could do the whole month properly) Apart from the fact that giving up a whole week early because is completely addictive behaviour and bonkers it reminded me of the early part of giving up drinking, the hard bloody cravings and whine o'clock...... spelling deliberate, it was whine o'clock for a long time afterwards.

Anyway I was just sat here mus8ng about all the tops and tricks I needed to employ to dodge the gasper gaffer (smoking equivelant of the wine witch).

I think halt was very important .... I tried to make sure I wasn't hungry, angry, lonely or tired. I also did huge amouhts of baking, anything to keep my hands busy and it was really busy at work so we were all flat out. I ate loads of sweets, too. What works to keep you distracted and stopped? If that's what you're aiming for?

louiseaaa Bloody well done!!! 3 years, fantastic achievement 👏 💐🎉
Its my birthday tomorrow and I have a bottle of Nocesso chilling in the fridge and have booked the day off.
I'm off for a run in the morning. I'm training for a half marathon in April 😱

Happy Birthday Mint!!