BRAVE BABES - the bus keeps trundling on...

[venusandmars]

We filled up the last thread, but never fear, we're always here!

Whatever your issue with drinking, whether you just want some encouragement with dry January or whether you've reached your rock bottom and need to quit. Everyone is welcome. You'll find support, encouragement, help. You'll find lots of understanding folks, who won't minimise your problem but who will never judge you. 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 almost 11 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.

Thanks Ruby I have an inner critic too, I'd never thought of naming it/her.
I'm on estrogen & ugesterone (1 tablet). Tried patches but I'm allergic to them/ the glue. Back at Dr's next week, hoping to be able to increase the ugesterone, as been told by a friend that could be why I'm still so tired.
I hoped I'd be bouncing round when I stopped drinking but I don't feel any different physically. Tons better mentally though.

Ugghhh menopause. I keep forgetting to take my HRT so I'm up and down all over the place and dear god, the weight gain 🙈
One good thing to come out of sobriety is my new found love of running. I have a whole rack of medals now so very proud of myself. It will be 5 years AF this Christmas Day!!! Never would have believed it back when I joined the bus.

Wow Mint that's brilliant. Well done. I took up running in 2016 & loved it (mostly). It tailed off this year; probably averaged 1 small run a month. Haven't got the energy to go anywhere let aline run there. Oh yes the weight gain, what fun. I hoped I might lose a couple of pounds when I stopped drinking, but no such luck.

@MintToBee well done you! So much in life over the past years which might have created temptation but you have stuck to it. Be pleased with yourself.

not getting the running thing though

Is this the most up to date BB thread? Anyone doing Dry January?

Hi @Hedjwitch yes think it is and yes I'm doing dry January. Currently reading Alcohol Lied to Me.

I'm with you all on dry January.

I've been on this bus forever but under a different name. I have a triangle and I'm.not afraid to use it!

Glad you've got the triangle @Hedjwitch. So it's a small but perfectly formed group- who's driving? I will if needed but where we going? Any ideas?

I think it's time this here bus dusted off the cobwebs and got back on the road. How about a trip to the coast this fine wintry day?

Glorious idea @Hedjwitch I'll wave to you across the water To be honest when it's a day like this - crisp, cold, sunny - everything seems possible and it seems unfathomable that a glass of sour grape juice would hold any attraction. My challenge is that as night falls, the soup is warming and the cheese and biscuits are set out, that glass feels very tempting.

But tonight, I will push those thoughts away. I might just stick with the soup and some fruit since it's the cheese/wine combo that gets in my brain.

Hey venus hows things? Back to work for me on Wednesday. As my name change suggests have got seriously into herbalism and looking forward to a summer of planting,growing and using healing herbs.

Yayy to the babes. I've been here from time to time, and great to see the bus back on the road. I've got no idea of previous names, but was only a Dry January kind of gal. Which is what brings me back. I'm in, just downloaded the Change App but already feeling patronised so back here with you lovely lot! I'm feeling pretty crap after a Xmas of drinking way way too much, including yesterday. But tonight is a good time to reawaken some kind of self-control. Back to work tomorrow and I've got that horrible feeling of anxiety. For no big reason, just a 2week hangover! It really sucks, and I just can't deal with it ANYMORE.

I promise I'll be far more positive after today 🙄Good luck everyone whatever your January holds xxx

Hi Emnet. The bus was a huge part of my life for many many years and I made a lot of good friends. It must be one of the longest running threads on MN.
Hopefully more old and new travellers will glag us down and hop aboard.

Or even flag us down!

As long as they don't glug us down!

What do you find helps you the most? I'm currently sitting with my favourite N&T (a nothing and tonic). It's in a crystal glass, fresh ice-cold tonic, a couple of ice cubes, and a slice of lime. It feels good and clean and 'special'.

Sounds lovely. I do tend to reach for a Zero beer. The brewdog AF is really good. Otherwise, like today, it's just water. I think I'll go back to Cider vinegar with lemon and water, hot or cold. Gives that dry feel, and you don't want too much of it - unlike White Waaaiiiinnnneee.

lyres.co.uk/virtual-sampling-acuk?utm_source=ACUK&utm_medium=app

Just got a link to win a free bottle of Lyres AF spirit, so thought I'd share if anyone feels like trying something different! Let me know if you get one!

Can I join please? Started dry January a bit early so I am day 5.
Its good to know I’m not alone in this.

Hi MusicLover. Welcome.
Lots of room on the bus.

I find I have to go with hot drinks and move away completely from the cold glass of something. So lots of herbal teas or even hot juice...a childhood treat.
If I'm at an event or something though, a tonic and lime is very refreshing

Just to say hello and happy new year to the lovely bus and its lovely crew.

And to anyone doing dry Jan and wondering about continuing thereafter - just take it day by day. I did years of dry Jans, and then for no particular reason last year it ‘stuck’, taking it slowly and calmly, and I’m now 1y AF. I never ever thought I would write that. Still very much ODAAT and always accompanied by my trusty San Miguel 0 (a surfeit of Becks Blue turned me right off it in about June last year). feel very much better.

Whether you’re moderating or thinking about stopping, do it your way, don’t feel you have to follow a particular path - but the bus is here, even if rather camouflaged at times, for all who need her quirky non-judgmental support along the way. (Is she a ‘her’? I’ve always rather assumed so). We’ve got this, babes x

Hey small good to see you again here. I am the MNer formerly known as DementedMa. Well done on a whole year. Bloody hell. Am on Day 6 which is the longest dry in a very long time!
Its quiet on here butbthe DJ thread is busy and chatty.

Hi everyone. I've been a long time reader of this thread since it started and feel I now need to join.

I've been a heavy wine drinker for about 15 years but the last year has gotten worse. The last 3 months I've been totally out of control.

I'm making myself ill.

I drink to blot out all the bad thoughts in my head. I was so happy until 2 years ago when things in my life started crashing down on me.

Hi Traveller, and welcome. I’m sorry to hear about the last couple of years - really hope things are on a better path now. Are you trying to cut down or stop drinking? Good luck with whatever you decide.

Hedj - Ma!!!!! Fab to see you. Sounds like you have been doing some interesting stuff, really hope you are ok.

Im interested by how I’m feeling now a year has gone by - last year I fudged it and just told people ‘oh, I did dry jan and just sort of carried on’. Now I think I’m ready just to say ‘I don’t drink’. Which feels huge, for some reason. Don’t want to be too overwhelmed and squash the one day at a time approach. But cautiously positive.

Hi @SmallFox
Well done on a year AF. How has that been? Have you seen benefits? If so what are they? I'm really interested in hearing about it