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Original poster

I’ve drank like a b%$tard for a lot of 2018, going to do my first complete dry January as of tomorrow. Join me?

646 replies

Exisonfire · 31/12/2018 09:20

As it says in the title.

2018 hasn’t been kind to me, and the drink has been relied upon far too much.

I’m fed up of moping, and want to kick start a better year with my first ever complete dry January tomorrow.

Who’s in?

OP posts:
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5
namechangedyetagain · 07/01/2019 19:41

I usually love Christmas but found it incredibly hard this year. Back to work today so day 3 of no alcoholSmile.
I think by the time Friday comes around I'll be tempted though. So I'm aiming for a dryish Jan with maybe some dry weekends as well, though next sat I'm catching up with my sil and going to her and dbs fave restaurant so there's bound to be wine and tears then.
Wish I was as strong as everyone else - you're doing so well not giving in.

namechange2117 · 07/01/2019 20:14

Evening ladies. I’m posting on here as I’m really struggling tonight! To update - I’m aiming to moderate my drinking rather than go completely dry for January. I had Tuesday to Thursday last week booze free, drank way more than I should have on Friday and spent Saturday feeling half cut. I then had just over half a bottle of wine and a G&T on Saturday night (a very modest amount for me) and abstained yesterday.

I’m now planning to have Monday to Thursday off but am finding it so difficult tonight for some reason. I’m on the non-alcoholic beers but I feel like I’m really physically craving the booze! I feel really irritable and fidgety, like I just need a drink.

Has anyone got any tips on how to get through this?

HolyMountain · 07/01/2019 20:20

Have you got some chocolate or ice cream , something sugary to take the edge off?

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MrsGrindah · 07/01/2019 20:37

I think AF beers/ wines actually don’t help but that’s just my personal taste.So chuffed Ive done the first week.Keeping busy and distracted is my tip...most of the time I drink out of routine.

namechange2117 · 07/01/2019 20:38

No I haven’t - to be honest I’m not really a chocolate eater! I’m trying to distract myself by watching some good TV and will then have an early bath and bed. If you can’t join ‘em, beat ‘em I suppose (think that works - sort of).

I’ve got that dangerous voice in my head where I’m like, maybe drinking isn’t so bad - one or two won’t hurt...! This is so tough.

erm12345 · 07/01/2019 20:49

I’m about 9 days in - haven’t noticed any changes 😫

Not finding it hard as I just focus on the hell that have become my hangovers (looking 20 years older, hellishly bad mood). So I suppose the lack of hangovers is good.

But I thought they’d be more...

HolyMountain · 07/01/2019 20:51

Yes to the dangerous voice , it’s like a wine witch sitting on my shoulder saying ‘ you’ll be ok in a few weeks’.

Telly, bath and early night sound nice, I’m actually in bed myself relaxing, back at work tomorrowSad.

I’ve felt myself getting a bit tense about going back , this week will be my big test.

jessstan2 · 07/01/2019 20:51

I'm joining you!

erm12345 · 07/01/2019 20:56

Namechange - how do you feel the next morning after drinking?

I increasingly feel TERRIBLE. Sad, shamed, I look horrific (turning 37 has seemingly aged me a decade in a few months). Focusing on the morning after has made going dry easy so far...

namechange2117 · 07/01/2019 21:12

Good point Erm - I feel utterly horrendous the morning after a “session”. Exhausted from waking up wide awake in the early hours due to drink, dry mouth, banging head, nausea, dizziness and terrible anxiety about what I might have said/done and how much money I spent the night before. Also guilt knowing the rest of the day will be a total write-off. Okay, that’s made me feel a bit more motivated!

FetchezLaVache · 07/01/2019 21:19

@Japanesejazz I hope you managed to get through your shitty anniversary OK. Flowers

Day 6 for me and it's going pretty well, I think. I feel like I had a bit of an epiphany at the weekend - it turns out it IS possible to sit watching TV with DP on a weekend evening without getting half cut! However, it's brought it home to me just how hooked I was getting on booze, and how much I'd been using it as a crutch.

...and for those of you who have been following my attempts to find an alcohol-free drink that tastes like the real thing, I has some success last night. I put some of the fruity M&S AF wine that tastes like apple juice into a tall glass with ice, added a good squirt of lemon juice, topped it up with tonic water and a wedge of lime, then added half a dozen crushed juniper berries. Not bloody bad as a G&T substitute! Am going to try infusing some juniper berries and other botanicals in a sugar syrup to make a cordial ready for the weekend.

leaveby10 · 07/01/2019 21:23

I rarely feel hungover even when I really should - after one and a half bottles of wine, I can still jump out of bed and go for a run or to an exercise class - at least if I'd a hangover I might feel more like giving up - I am simply giving up this month because I drink too much and I'm worried my body will be secretly plotting against me with cancer or liver disease. Dry Jan is my best chance at changing the habit, reset my relationship with booze - I'm not even missing drinking despite having a bit of a crap day. I fear I have no moderation switch - it's either all or nothing and if I can't find the key to moderation, I'm going to have to quit for good and I really don't want to do that. I'm lucky because dh and I do this together and we have committed to helping each other get a better grip on this.

erm12345 · 07/01/2019 21:24

Namechange - I’m not generally a happy chapped getting up and going to work on a morning, but the thought of doing it with even a slight hangover now terrifies me. I focus on that too.

The long days at work are bad enough - with a whiff of a hangover it’s INTOLERABLE.

Screamqueenz · 07/01/2019 21:24

Hi Jess Thanks

erm12345 · 07/01/2019 21:29

Leaveby - do you mind me asking how old you are?

I’m mesmerised by people who don’t feel the ill effects of alcohol the day after.

I’ve wasted so much of my life to hangovers. Shameful.

erm12345 · 07/01/2019 21:29

Totally get the all or nothing thing btw.

namechange2117 · 07/01/2019 21:33

I fear I have no moderation switch - it's either all or nothing and if I can't find the key to moderation, I'm going to have to quit for good and I really don't want to do that.

I’m exactly the same Leaveby. I desperately need to learn how to moderate myself. I’m thinking alternating wine with soft drinks could really work - I might test that approach on Friday. In the Adrian Chiles programme he touched on “mindful drinking”, which I thought sounded interesting...

namechange2117 · 07/01/2019 21:34

The long days at work are bad enough - with a whiff of a hangover it’s INTOLERABLE.

Totally Erm. Thanks for helping me remember that!

Screamqueenz · 07/01/2019 21:39

Yes, I have a problem with the moderation switch as well, very much all or nothing.

I'm hoping the next 3 weeks will enable me to reset my relationship with alcohol, but DH is keen for us to give up altogether in the house.

I didn't get hangovers until I hit my late 30s, but they seem to be getting increasingly bad, and the hangxiety is getting worse as well, I spend the following day feeling ill and being worried that I upset people we were with.

leaveby10 · 07/01/2019 22:04

@erm12345 I'm late 40s, I have to drink bucket loads before I get a hangover - dh has never had one. Teens think we drink too much - but their concern is about health too - we have asked them how they feel our drinking has affected them and they say it hasn't and they are pretty honest with us but the health thing won't go away, dh's liver was showing signs of stress at his last medical - that's a first for him and I love the old bugger too much to allow him to jeopardise his health - the temptation to drink is tempered by the need to keep dh alive and kicking.

erm12345 · 07/01/2019 22:08

Do you not feel even a bit grotty though?!

ColouringPencils · 07/01/2019 22:17

Just checking in for the day. I have had a really lovely, chilled last day off school with DS (DD went back today). He is like a different child when they are apart and so calm. I am feeling a bit trepidatious about my own first day back at work tomorrow in over 2 weeks but had a nice dinner, bath, put the kids to bed, then yoga with Adriene on YouTube, so feel quite chilled now. I haven't really thought about drinking today TBH. Cake and Brew to everyone struggling today xx

leaveby10 · 07/01/2019 22:42

I feel perfectly fine the next morning after a bottle of red. It would take probably another half bottle and a few gins to make me feel rough the next morning. The worst dh gets is a bit tired.

Orlandointhewilderness · 07/01/2019 23:39

I'm the same leave - I normally drink a bottle of 14% red and a pint of Weston's 8.2% cider. It's worrying how it doesn't affect me.
I don't want to drink anymore - the risk to my health isn't worth it and I don't want my DD growing up with that as the normal way things are. She is 7 and starting to notice it I think.

Day 2 licked - no wobbles as of yet! It will be Friday and sat night I will be on here asking you lot to distract me!

Sadbuttrue19 · 07/01/2019 23:47

Alcohol tolerance is progressive. Same as any other drug, nicotine, sugar, heroin.
It's a drug, which is scary, losing that control, but I think mostly it's habit. Habits can be really strong too. We just need to break the habit, they say 3 weeks to break a habit.
I say this as after last night I had 23 units and no hangover...well I felt a bit off kilter.
Keep going, I really think it's just getting enough dry days behind you, and replacing the habit of having a drink with something else.

Ue5