Dry January 2020 thread 2... keeping it dry!

[ParanoidGynodroid]

Thread two to help us continue to share the love (and dryness)

Keep going, everyone... good luck

Day 30 (30! My goodness!): A mirror, a reflection.

Look in the mirror, what do you see?
I see me, and I'm still me.
The laughter lines - nothing's that funny!
The worry frowns - never enough money
The past is etched in lines that show
The things I've done, the truths I know
I see my frail humanity
I see me, and I'm still me.

Thanks segregate this has been an interesting challenge of self reflection on my habits.

@AdaKirkby imagine happy to just continue on here. Or would a new thread be inspiring? I like the idea of this non drinking me just continuing in though. No big fanfare.

30 days! Well, nearly. I honestly did not think I could do this and the revelation that it's actually quite easy (apart from the odd very temporary mental wobble) is interesting. If anyone's reading along and doubting if you can do it - I think you can!

Can hardly believe that tomorrow is the "end" although it absolutely is not the end.

I’ve found this thread supportive and full of good ideas, for books, podcasts etc, as well as non alcoholic alternative drinks.

I’m concerned that if I don’t have some kind of accountability / a reminder that I may gradually slip back into bad habits.

I agree with Breathmiller about the thread! Here we are, no fanfare necessary, just a continuation of a now normal life.

Apologies for the many typos upthread. Writing while trying to head out the door.

I agree. No fanfare but I'd like to have this place as a support and for accountability.

Keen to carry on with this thread for accountability and support! I'm also going to carry on with the Try Dry app, as its an incredibly useful way of tracking. My plan for February (and indeed March, yikes) is to not say no to a small amount of social drinking, but not drink at home - expect for a gin & tonic on Saturday 1st. Perhaps. Part of the reason for this is that the weight is, slowly, starting to come off, and I do need that to continue for a bit. Realistically, the 20/30 units I think was drinking most weeks last year was why it went on in the first place!!!!

i was sitting in Sainsbury’s car park a couple of weeks ago finishing my shopping list and I though a bottle of wine mid month won’t hurt, if I get back on the wagon and do another 2 weeks. Having a quick read through this thread reminded me to not buy that bottle of wine.

I am using Try Dry as well but I quite like the companionship of this thread. Drinking too much does have a bit of a stigma attached and I’m unlikely to admit to friends and colleagues that I had been drinking over 14 units a week and have cravings and dreams about alcohol when I don’t drink - I’d be worried about my professional credibility.

I’m delurking to say well done to everyone and how interesting this thread has been through the month.

I’m proud of myself for completing my first full month alcohol free in about 16 years. It has been a lot easier than I expected, but I have been very “in the zone” throughout. To the point that I haven’t taken any nightnurse for my stinking cold because it contains alcohol!

I’ve realised that a lot of my previous drinking behaviour was habit and I’m hoping to start with new habits now. Usual drinking nights were Friday and Saturday, often Thursdays would creep in as well. Always a bottle of wine at least, usually plus a couple of beers beforehand. And obviously Sunday lunch involves a g&t while cooking and a couple of glasses with the meal.

So I have been pleasantly surprised at how easy it has been to stop all that, despite my partner carrying on as usual (well, he has cut down a bit to be fair). We’ve hosted a couple of meals at home where I stuck to my fizzy water. The real challenge was a weekend in London, staying in a hotel and a lovely meal out with friends. But I didn’t crack - helped by the fact that trendy London restaurants now offer a selection of alcohol free cocktails and so on.

In fact, it wasn’t until about two weeks in that I became a bit bored with fizzy water and tried the Brewdog alcohol free ale mentioned on this thread, which I quite liked. I don’t like any sweet drinks at all so there’s a limited choice of alternatives for me.

I have lost a bit of weight (two belt notches’ worth), but sadly my sleeping has been worse if anything - partly due to the menopause. So I can’t report feeling more chipper in the mornings.

My main aim now is to drink considerably less on the occasions when I do drink, which will no longer be all weekend, every weekend. I will be volunteering to drive more too.

Once again, well done to everyone. I think especially to those who slipped but got back on the wagon. I hope this thread does continue as it will be fascinating to see where we all go from here.

I would definitely like the thread to continue.
Like you ComeToKent I never thought I could do it. Was scared to, in case I found I couldnt.
Not drinking has been so enlightening about my own attitude to drinking, why, when. I'm ashamed to say its high lighted my self pity too thinking the days were so hard I needed the wine.the days aren't that hard actually, and everyone's bad mood was not directed at me. Directed to me, perhaps, but people are entitled to emotional support and engagement from their mother/wife/daughter. Within reason of course, and I'm grasping the difference now.
My plan is to finish DJ tomorrow night, drink much more 'mindfully' than before, then stop again for Lent (starts last week in Feb this year).
I'd like to keep checking in here for accountability and encouragement and to see how others are getting on.

I also thought I wouldn't be able to do it so didn't tell people I was doing it as I was so sure I'd fall at the first hurdle. It's been a pleasant surprise to find how relatively easy it was, and although I do miss the taste and feeling of drinking I think I will find it much easier now to just say nah, not tonight/this week/whatever and have a cup of tea instead. Going to order some more herbal teas so I have a nice selection to choose from - my main issue in the evenings is that I feel the need to be drinking something (well and all day as well but that's always been covered by cups of black tea) but it doesn't have to be booze.

Luckily I've never enjoyed drinking anything other than water with food so good food isn't a trigger.

I don’t think there are support groups for people who drink a bit too much but don’t want to go tee total. Up to 14 units a week is healthy, over 30 is hazardous. I’m in the middle somewhere at about 20 per week and I’d like to get this down substantially. I’m a long way from AA but drinking at the level I have been will have an impact on my health, if it continues.

I say I don’t want to mention it to colleagues but I suspect some are similar - the middle aged, middle class wine drinkers. No one is likely to admit it, due to the stigma though. We’re not binge drinking and going out getting in fights but slipping under the radar as we’re just getting quietly sozzled at home.

Ada you've made a great start on getting those units down.

I hope this thread does continue, it's great.

Last night I kissed my dh, who'd been out for dinner. That was the closest I've been to alcohol for a month!

Day 30 here too. Not quite my not pregnant / breastfeeding record of 41 days.

I want to aim for 100 days. Then decide.... although hopefully by then I won't want to drink any more.

I can't quite believe we are nearly at the end of the month
I can't quite believe I have had a 32 day period without drinking - the first since pregnancy so been 11 years
Am really grateful to all on this thread for keeping me going and would be fab to keep it up for us - whether we're trying for 200 or 300 days free or whatever. I feel completely confident it will be a hell of a lot less than last year!

Is anyone else a bit scared that Dry January is coming to an end?
I want to be able to have the odd drink now and then but am scared if I start It will just creep up to a bottle a night again.
Not sure what to do

dementedma that’s exactly how I feel. I know how easily it goes up from a glass to 2 to a bottle.
I’ve had time to think how I’d like to be able to drink going forward & only want to have a glass on a Friday or Saturday, but I know how quickly that changes. I’m nervous about Saturday and opening the floodgates.

Day 30, I ate a hotel chocolat champagne truffle at work without thinking, does this mean I've broken dry january? . I'm proud I've made it this far and will be celebrating with a few cocktails this weekend, but then only drinking on saturdays from now on, not 5 nights a week like before x

Just popping in. Hanging on still.

And a reminder that the alcodroid app is really good as well as the trydry, especially for ‘reducers’ it’s a bit more detailed in terms of your units, calories, habits and so on. It’s more specific and very accountable as it tells you how long the booze stays in your system. Not sure it’s on IOS but def on android.

Anyway, bed and book for me. Waking up clean is not a novelty any more it’s just nice!

I was planning on a drink tomorrow night (31st) as going to a long standing "do" but I don't want to spoil my run! Seems a shame to not complete the whole month so I'm going to try and stick to zero alcohol.

I'm scared too. I want to drink sometimes, I think I do anyway? It's that constant argument in my head I hate. Shall I? Shan't I? Maybe it would be easier if I just didn't at all. Ever. But then I do enjoy a glass (or three) but need to reduce and regulate. Grr.

Like a few PP I'm looking forward to some wine on Saturday but a bit apprehensive at discovering whether I really can cut down in the way I've planned (only drinking at weekends bar special occasions). Or will it creep back up. I so want to enjoy wine in a sensible way.

Very impressed at the number of people on this thread carrying on into Feb and beyond!

Day 31: January is named for Janus, the god of beginnings, gates, transitions, time, duality, doorways, passages, and endings. He is usually depicted as having two faces, since he looks to the future and to the past.

Great thought Bev. And so reflective of where many of us are right now. I came into this process just wanting to get a grip on my drinking but a month now, I feel I have gained so much more. This thread has helped so much - I feel a wiser person for being here and reading your stories and advice. Thank you! 😘

Bev If I met you in real life I’d give you the biggest bunch of gorgeous flowers to say how much I’ve appreciated these daily pictures and the thoughtfulness and kindness of the posts that go with them.

And everyone else, thank you too for being strong, honest, and as Elsie says, wise. Here’s to us

Yes, thanks Bev, the daily pictures have been an extra part of this - something to look forward to and think about, rather than just counting units not drunk. I don't suppose you'd like to continue into February...?

I realised yesterday I've stopped counting. I can calculate how many dry days I've had if I want to (the date -3), but knowing the number isn't so important anymore. I just, don't drink. Today is Friday. I'm concerned about political events this evening. I will go to bed early with a cup of tea and DH and I will go to Lidl early tomorrow morning because we can. Alcohol need not feature.

Well done everyone, we can all be hugely proud of our efforts whether we've been completely dry since the stroke of midnight on December 31st, or fallen off / climbed off and then got back on again. I'm keeping going, certainly til Valentine's Day, probably longer.

See you all in February!