Dry January 2020. A new relationship with alcohol. Who’s joining me?

[ParanoidGynodroid]

It’s that time again!
I did my first dry January around 5 years ago, having seen it on here. It was a great thing to do: really helped my get control of my drinking. Since then I’ve done it every year, along with at least one or two other dry months.

DJ may help you:
Lose weight. ...
Get better skin. ...
Make healthier food choices. ...
Save money. ...
Sleep better. ...
Have more energy. ...
Improve your mood. ...
Improve your general health

and make you feel virtuous!

It’s not necessarily easy though, so it’s good to have support; especially if you’re feeling week and like you may give up. We can support each other here.

Join me!

Also, this thread has been really helpful for keeping me on track, I think part of the reason I had a harder day yesterday was because I'd read a twitter thread about how pointless dry January is and it sowed seeds in my mind about whether I should really bother. Feeling good today though.

Is it too late to join? I'm day seven

We've had guests for a couple of nights, who are drinking wine, which made me long to be sociable. But hung in there with cranberry juice and lots of fizzy water!

I think everybody has had a bad day today! Work was hectic and stressful, all my co-workers seemed to be in a bad mood, myself included. Was energised and motivated on Monday, this feeling seems to have evaporated. Still quietly not drinking. I want to do 6 weeks sober, so still another 5 to go, but happy I've done a week so far

I bought some zero alcohol beers and they’ve been in the fridge a couple of nights and I haven’t had one which I’m surprised about. I definitely have nearly crumbled a couple of times mostly for a glass of red in the evening which is why I bought the “beers” but 25% of the way through. We can do this!

DH and I asked DS1 (19) if he’d noticed any difference in us now we’re not drinking alcohol in the evenings. After a thoughtful pause he said,
‘You seem a lot more knackered.’ Wasn’t expecting that!

Go the skinny floppy liver club!

Day 8.

I slept all night! Sooo happy!

Dammit, another shocking night and a banging headache, despite today being Day 8. Today is my birthday and I'd usually be looking forward to fizz. Going to try to skip it this year - I know DH has bought a fizz-a-like, but I'm not sure if it's 0% or just low-alcohol. May have to re-shop later.

Wow, Willow, alcohol free birthday, that's impressive!

Day 8 on the DJ-vent calendar - behind the door is a picture of a beautifully tidy knicker drawer, Marie-Kondo-ed to within an inch of its life.

The next 2 nights will be a challenge for me - DH is away, and I'd normally boogie around the kitchen, cooking and drinking and listening to whatever I like. I'm still planning on a bit of a cooking session tonight, and will find something naice to sip on.

I'm avoiding the AF drinks as I think they'll just make me crave the real stuff more.
Going to buy berocca today, so tired and not sleeping well so hoping it helps. My ex had that B vitamin deficiency alcoholics can get, although it wasn't the official cause of death I am pretty sure it contributed.

happy birthday @IWillWearTheGreenWillow!!

@SleightOfMind maybe he just meant you’re more relaxed and chilled which comes across as knackered?!

I slept like a log but bloody hell dropping off is a problem. I don’t drink in the week so I’m sure this is something purely psychological, but I turn the light off and for the last 3 days it’s been at least 2 hours before I’m actually dropping off. Then when the alarm goes off at 6.30 I am exhausted. I’ll try again tonight.

I take berocca. I do think that taken consistently it helps (despite the alarming neon pee) but it makes me nauseous on an empty stomach and i forget to take it at supper. I am so sure I have a B vitamin issue - alcohol - plus vegetarian. Constantly tired and have had thinning hair for years. I really should take it religiously.

Already contemplating this weekend. I’m actually not too worried about Friday (home alone with the DC so routine with DH isn’t there) but Saturday could be tricky as he’s back from his trip. Doing this before I seem to recall that the first weekend is hard and the subsequent ones just get more and more irritating and boring!

Finding this thread really supportive and helping keep on track. Actually slept through the night. Thank goodness. Not bounding with energy yet and seem to have come out in a nice crop of facial spots (age 56) but am getting more things done during the day, which is an achievement. I sort of doing ok with not drinking alcohol, though odd urges but big test on 28th. Have a night away in naice hotel - I know I shall want a naice glass of wine to go with dinner. Dilemma is do I decide it’s near enough the end of the month and reward myself? Or do I stick out till after 31st?

I take skinaid daily. It's not cheap (think price of a posh coffee) but it's packed with skin, hair and nail loving goodies (and yes you get glow in dark pee too). It also lessens a hangover - not that is an issue in January.

Re problems sleeping. I've rediscovered my love of bedtime reading. Devouring a book at bedtime proves soporific for me and as I shamelessly boasted up thread I had a great nights sleep. Taken a week to get here but it was bliss.

I also think I was retiring too early in the beginning (avoiding the cravings) but last night bed at 10:30, read till after 11 and woke at 6:45. I couldn't quite believe it.

We will be a tribe of sleeping beauties before long.

Have a great day everyone.

I’ve been in a really dry environment for a few days, electric heating and coal fires, and I feel absolutely parched in my mouth and in my skin. Trying to drink as much water as possible so no doubt that’s helping somewhere but I still feel that alcohol-dry-skin on waking.

Interesting about B vitamins, I’ll start with a daily Berocca and see if I feel bouncy. I feel ok but I’ve always been a sitter instead of a doer so nothing’s different there.

Had precisely no cravings but I know from experience that next week will be my crunch point and it’s more boredom than anything!

winecheesesleep well fuck Twitter!

I fail to see why giving your liver a rest for 4 weeks is pointless, why consuming X amount of nutritionally void calories is unhelpful and why not waking up with a hangover/with an alcohol fug is something to be scoffed at.

Some people just like to piss on whatever parade is passing them by.

#ignore

Happy birthday @IWillWearTheGreenWillow

I will celebrate your AF birthday by Marie Kondoing the shit out of my knicker drawer. All over the country people will have tidy knicker drawers in your honour.

Day 11 here and I feel a difference in my skin in my face especially. My face doesn't feel bloated and the skin red and dry. I can really see a difference.

I've not been brave enough to weigh myself since way before Christmas but I can feel a difference even though I don't feel I'm doing massively well in the not eating. I didn't eat in the evening last night and that always helps me feel less bloated in the morning. When I drink wine I constantly graze on crisps and salty snacks. So that's another win.

Good luck today everyone heading into their 2nd week.

Can’t believe that’s a week!

Definitely missing wine sometimes, but don’t find one glass of the de-alcoholised wine from Sainsbury’s too bad with food. The second glass is noticeably sugary and I haven’t finished them. I’ve only had it on two days - and it’s preferable (for my liver) to drinking proper wine. I think I might stick to that for ‘wine’ during the week after January.
Otherwise it’s mainly sparkling water and tea/ coffee that I’m drinking.

Definitely enjoying having more time in the evening, and have lost a few pounds.

The support on this thread is really helping. X

Unusually on mumsnet, I feel I want to post because I feel it’s helping each other to be all in it together.

I agree. The sense of community is making this much easier for me. Go us.

Yes. Definitely finding this support a massive help.
Go us indeed

Haven't found this week difficult so far - but Thursday evening was always my kick off point and am feeling twitchy about it already. Have planned ahead and have Becks Blue, sparkly water and the Robinsons Crushed Lime and Mint in so I feel prepared. Realised that I'm not looking forward to the weekend as much as I usually do which feels a bit pathetic really.

Sleep still not great, face still puffy and have developed an eye infection so not looking or feeling bright eyed and bushy tailed! Will press on knowing that I'm not doing it alone. Thanks to all that post - it does help!

I’m a bit concerned about Thurs/Fri/Sat too. Although, if I am still feeling headachy then I won’t feel like drinking anyway.

Have a stash of aranciata, elderflower and sparkling water ready.

@KindaEnjoySchoolHolidays

Yes, mildly surprised that no one has been along to point out that we’re all alcoholics because we drink more than a small glass of sherry per year...

Drinkers Like Me - Adrian Chiles: www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0bhkc8b via @bbciplayer

I don’t know if anyone saw this last year but it’s quite an interesting watch.