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?

[Exisonfire]

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?

I’m in. Had a god awful hangover today and feel so unwell.

Can anyone recommend an app. I looked on the App Store but they didn’t have good reviews.

I’m in, haven’t had a drink since the 29th felt absolutely hungover to hell the next day. Had enough of feeling fuzzy and drinking more than I meant to. If I open a bottle I finish it . Aiming a for a day/week/month approach.
Got to mid jan last year, did a dry month in June. I know I can do it!

I'm in. I need this for my general physical and mental health.

JamieOliver I know what you mean. Worried about how I'll manage to be upbeat at all rather than what I'll replace the booze with to drink. It's become about the destination of being drunk rather than the journey (eg, red wine with roast beef as another poster mentioned) and that's why I really need to stop.

Joining you here Last night was my first wine free night in... well I can't remember when. I have a couple of glasses every evening and it has been my sleep aid for years. I would call myself a functional alcoholic...never get hammered, carry out my job and life normally but the dependency is there. I come from a long line of us :(

Im not promising myself anything more than, every drink I don't have is a bonus.

I didn't sleep well, but I did sleep eventually... so hoping to break the pattern before I'm back at work next week.
Good luck everyone.

Oh, oh, can I join in?
I’ve done dry January for the last few years and it has totally reset my relationship with alcohol. After the first year I went on to add dry June, then year after I did October, too. In 2018 I managed 3 and a bit months dry (started again for Christmas ). So glad I did that first one.

I think complete abstinence is far easier than careful moderation.

Me please!

@ihatethecold
I've downloaded both the Dry January app and the Dry Days app. I'm using both at the moment & will probably drop one.
So far they're good for recording what you drink or marking the calendar as a dry day.
They both have info on units of alcohol saved, money saved, calories saved etc for dry days compared to drinking days.
I slightly prefer the Dry Jan app so far & it has a link to the Dry Jan blog which has loads of info x

I'm joining today. I might need a few words of encouragement!

Hope everyone had a better night sleep last night? I actually slept very deeply so much so trying to tear head off pillow this morning was not easy!

I agree with Lowbrow , I think,for me at least , complete abstinence will be easier than limiting my weekly units . I don’t ever have just the one glass, it’s always the bottle once it’s opened.

I slept very well and marking off that date on the DY app is quite satisfying.

I’ve got a birthday party to go to on Saturday where it’ll be hard work to avoid bring poured wine but I can’t duck out of that, I need to summon all of my resolve that day!

Anyone else feeling really low?

Can't say I am (yet anyway) Jamie.

In what way are you feeling low?

Just remember that alcohol won't fix it.

I'm trying to think of the benefits: no foggy head the next morning, I'll have more money, I'll lose weight (I'm more likely to binge eat or eat rubbish while I'm drinking)

I feel like I'll be a better mum to the DC - I won't be rushing them off to bed, won't be distracted by thoughts of wine, will have a clearer head and feel less irritable the next day

I slept well last night, (up until the alarm went at 7am). I got almost 7 hours according to the fitbit app which is unheard of for me!
Jamie, what's making you feel down, is it the thought of not having a drink or something else.
I always feel more able to deal with things when I haven't had a drink the night before. I think I get hangxiety.

Another dry day. I had a gall bladder attack last night so barely any sleep and a lots of vomiting. Drinking alcohol really doesn’t help with gall stones so another good reason to stay dry.
Spent the entire day in pj’s feeling sorry for myself!

Its the reality of life without being drunk. Its shit. Drink made it bearable and a better place i miss pouring it in the class, the burn as it goes down, the face flush and relaxed feeling, having emotions blunted.
Dont see the point in anything, am futureless

Jamie I’m giving you a virtual internet hug.

I know what you mean about the enjoyment you get from pouring that drink and the taste but that feeling doesn’t last does it?

Anyone you can rl support from?

Have you got any hobbies? I’ve bought a big jigsaw to do in the evenings and I’m going to start knitting again. I’ve also stopped smoking (day 2). I have to get a handle on how much money I am wasting and the negative effects on me and me dd.

I also enjoy smoking, I enjoy drinking. But I’m trying to break it down to small chunks of time. So I’m not going to smoke or drink today but I am going to do xyz instead. If I look at the long term view I’ll be down the shops in my pj’s buying a bottle of red and a pack of 20! Just take it one step at a time.

Yes I enjoyed smoking, I managed to knock that on the head 14 years ago.
I'm a binge drinker and binge smoker and will probably become a binge eater. I'm not sure what to do first, think probably doing alcohol free for a month then looking at diet in February. Today I ate 2 chocolate bars
No close friends
Bipolar
Just lost job
No hobbies
Single parent no help with kids
Could give up. But can't but only because of the kids.

I do dry January every year. I like to be able to prove to myself that I don’t need alcohol. I admit I find it a struggle and I do miss my Friday night wine but that is all the more reason to do it!

Oh you poor thing! I got sacked in August and lost most of my friends as they were work mates. I’ve been depressed too and used drink and smokes to mask the symptoms.
Only thing I can advise is try to set a small achievable goal. For me it was to declutter room by room (still a work on progress but getting there!).
And I took all the advice I could get about job hunting. I’m now working on a school, massive pay cut but fits better with my dd.
I’m also a single parent and it sucks at times. It’s very lonely in the evenings. I read and surf MN which helps.
I think just telling someone even on a forum like this that you feel like shit can help. But also maybe see if your GP can offer some help if you feel your mood is impacting on your ability to do everyday tasks.

I tend to do things to excess also, except I starve myself rather than binge. I also do emotional spending so have to keep a really tight rein on that.

Thanks, I wish I could starve myself for a while.
I had a very well paid job, and am looking at bloody crap stuff to fit in with school. I'm stuck. I've noticed over time I'm reluctant to get rid of clutter, almost a fear. Like hoarding but nowhere near that bad.
Some of it's financial, ie we could use those clothes in 5 year for the younger child. But that's 5 years of storage, same with fancy dress, etc etc. I just don't have the room and the clutter makes me feel awful.

I'm sorry about your job.