DRY HARD 2 - DRY HARDER! Dry January continued. All welcome.

[HPLikecraft]

Shiny new thread to see us through to end of the month... possibly beyond!

KOKOing everyone.

Morning all ! Well done everyone so far. Nearly there! I may have had a lapse, but am still really pleased with my progress. That was 23 days af. I now know I can go without.
@pointythings, I just checked the fridge. Out of 2 bottles of wine, there was half a bottle left. My OH had a small glass, so I had just under 1.5 bottles. I had 1 cigarette, because that was all I had. I would have had more if I had any, so that was a good thing.

I slept through the night, didn't get up once. I don't understand this. I have a slight headache but dont feel too bad. Don't understand this either.

I am so busy for the next 5 days with work, granddaughter, etc, so definitely will not be drinking. I need a clear head. So, am going to throw myself into it.
I poured the rest of the wine down the sink.

Morning all,

Ah the last stretch. I didn't find this thread until last week but reading through it did really help when I was having my wobble on Friday. DP and I are going to have dinner and nice wine on Saturday 6 th Feb. The reason we are going for a Sat is because of the drinking related to stress issues I think I'm realising I have.

Other than that one planned night, I'm happy to do dry Feb as well (if you'll have me).

I'm not sure that I do drink too much, probably about 14/15 units a week but it's more the unhealthy attitude to drinking - I drink to relax if I'm stressed and that's not healthy. Plus I've really taken on board the comments below about people who don't have a problem with alcohol not noticing when they go without alcohol. Alcohol really does have a grip on my brain as I've had cravings on Friday afternoons and evenings - this isn't healthy either. I need to break this habit and loosen the grip alcohol has on my mind and body.

Well put Sit. Alcohol takes up so much of my head-space too - shall I, shan't I, what shall I drink, I shouldn't have it, it tastes nice, everyone else are, I deserve it, etc etc

This DryJan has been a good re-set, but more time needed. I will be having a glass or two this Friday though...

Interestingly, I know that I need to cut the rest of the crap out of my diet. My face and body were far less puffy 1st two weeks Jan when I wasn't having sugar or crisps. I have slipped, and my eyes & face look as puffy this morning as they do after a few glasses wine.

I'm doing my best to get through this week (until my DM's funeral Friday), will probably go to pot this weekend, but then refocus and re-start again Monday.

Amdone123 23 days without will have benefited you no matter what. Knowing you can go without is a win. So honestly - no big deal.

Had a family meeting with DDs and we have decided we are going to redecorate the living room this half term, so we thought about paint and colour schemes - very satisfying.

We made it to the last week, yay!!!

Well put Sit. Alcohol takes up so much of my head-space too - shall I, shan't I, what shall I drink, I shouldn't have it, it tastes nice, everyone else are, I deserve it, etc etc @buzzofthebumblebee @SittinOnTheDockOfTheBay I agree with you both. Alcohol still takes up space in my head. If I'm strong enough I'd like to stay AF until I realise I'm not thinking about it any more.

@BrassicaBabe @buzzofthebumblebee

People who don't have a problem with alcohol not noticing when they go without alcohol is a point that really hit home. It's not something that occurred to me before but I'm starting to realise that's probably the difference between a problem drinker and a non problem drinker. It isn't necessarily just the amount you drink but how much head space thoughts of alcohol take up.

I know it was discussed in detail below about the different extents of problem drinking, and at 15 units a week I'm probably not obviously a problem drinker to the outside world. However I think I have the potential to slide down that slippery slope, should the right circumstances occur. Also, I'd just like thoughts / cravings for alcohol to just not be something I have to think about.

We can do this 😀.

Morning all. Day 25!

It's a sobering thought (hopefully literally!) to think not noticing if you don't drink defines a problem drinker. I can't even think back to a time when that would have been me. Then again my very first time getting drunk at 13 was alone at home, because I felt horrible, and then vomiting and crying in the loo for ages, so maybe it all started wrong to begin with for me!

I'm planning to batch cook a big pot of ragu, and not sure what to replace the wine with. It's not that I'd mind the wine in the ragu - it simmers for hours anyway, so can't have much alcohol left, surely. I just don't have a pot big enough to cook enough ragu to take an entire bottle, and while I know I could make wine ice cubes for future cooking, I fear that wouldn't happen. I guess just more stock? The internet tells me red wine vinegar or pomegranate juice can be used, but I'm a bit doubtful. Might give alcohol-free wine a go.

Morning, our last week of January, who'd have thunk it?

Just a quick post @InTheseUncertainTimes I use red wine stock pots a lot, I get them from Tesco (we only have a coop or Tesco on our isle). I used to use actual red wine but it meant I'd finish the bottle. Could never 'save' it. Ever.

Ooo, thanks lunklit - I didn't know such a thing existed; will have a look if our Tesco has some!

I can't even think back to a time when that would have been me. Then again my very first time getting drunk at 13 was alone at home, because I felt horrible, and then vomiting and crying in the loo for ages, so maybe it all started wrong to begin with for me!

I didn't even like alcohol when I first tried it. I had to force myself to drink it because my friends were drinking. It wasn't until I was earning a salary in the noughties that I discovered cocktails (I blame sex and the city) that I started drinking enough to get blotto (on fruity cocktails that don't taste of alcohol). I think that's something else to consider - the glamour that advertising attaches to alcohol versus the reality of waking up with a headache, puffiness and eyebags.

Hello, I'm still here just not had time to post recently. Day 25! Can you believe it? I am so proud and absolutely determined to see this out. We can do it!

Hello! Day 25, how did that happen?!
I keep seeing memes saying things like "it's the 257th of January " "31 days have November (etc) .... except January, which has 1500" etc but I don't feel like that at all, I think it's flown by.

Feeling ok, still having sleepless nights, was nearly 4am when I finally got to sleep last night. Which I think is a new record! It's down to stress, my marriage is about to implode, I've come to terms with it now but fear of the unknown and practicalities are keeping me awake.

Attack of the kitchen appliances continues, yesterday my iron blew and this morning the kettle blew (and took the kitchen fuses with it!)
I have it on good authority that these things come in threes so I'm on the lookout for what's going to blow next 👀

I'm in two minds about whether January has flown or not. It's all been a bit Groundhog Day, with not much to differentiate the week from the weekend (thanks lockdown!). I am currently feeling pretty pleased with myself but not sure what to do going forwards.

I completely get what you are saying about not letting alcohol have the space in your head. It's a bastard to get rid of though, like fleas😂.

Well done on getting this far.

I've finally managed to read the article @HPLikecraft kindly posted yesterday. It was very interesting and I wonder how long it takes for the GAMA receptors to fully repair.

Day 25 here (well tonight), £206 and over 10.4K calories saved. Wowzer to the calories

Apart from 5pm on Saturday when I fancied a glass of wine, I didn't miss or think about alcohol at all this weekend. DH is referring to me as oh pious one as he opens bottle after bottle of vino.

I've said I'll have a glass of wine this weekend (February starts Monday and I hate drinking on a Monday) and then one next week to celebrate my birthday, but right now the way I feel I don't know if I will.

I felt that the first few weeks really dragged but now here I am on day 25 and only 6 days to go. I don't usually drink during the week though so prob won't have any thing till the next weekend and will take it easy. I know DH gave up drinking for a few months when he had a kidney issue a few years ago and then when he started drinking again he felt really squiffy on just a few beers!

Just wanted to share a small win, today is the first day that I can remember this month where I haven’t wanted a drink.
How cool is that!!
Even know I don’t crave it at allllll

Hoping it lasts till the end of the week!

Evening all. The last week! Doesn't feel much different to all the weeks before.

Went for a nice walk after work today and remembered the last time I walked that particular route I was feeling really miserable thinking about how badly I was looking after my health when I should have been boosting my immunity.

Very sunny and crisp day. Have been enjoying watching birds and a field mouse (tell me it wasn't a baby rat) eating from my Xmas present bird table. No appliance disasters to report.

KOKO all - it's the final countdown - am sporting flowing lockdown locks and humming duh neh nah nah duh neh nah nah nah nah .....

you are oozing positivity @CrystalE long may it last!

Sorry to hear about your marriage on top of your kitchen appliances @Plonque. Hope you can relax and get a better sleep tonight.

Thanks Buzz, I'm absolutely knackered so I'm hoping I'm out like a light.

@buzzofthebumblebee - the only way is up baby.

Have turned into an 80s song title generator

So. I might be about to do a 180 on my Dry plans.

I've been diagnosed with ADHD. I started meds yesterday and had a "revelation" moment.

I rely on alcohol in the evening because I cannot switch off. Cannot relax. And that's why DJ has remained hard sodding work.

Last night, with meds, I just did not feel the need for wine! Such a relief in this and many other areas.

I am over the moon.

So, I'm going to complete DJ. But then I'm going to have some planned drinks. I'm going to see if my "off button " works differently. I'm going to see if moderation is more achievable. I'm going to see if once having had a drink if abstinence the following evening might be possible.

That sounds really great Brassica - very promising start with the meds.

Day 26 check in. I've done my strength training and had a rainy walk, and dared Tesco. Happily found the red wine stock pots, and also bought some 0.0% Merlot just to try it. All positive. I have also polished off a big bar of chocolate with lunch, though, so I guess I can only do a certain amount of healthy in a day! We're both still a bit grumpy and tense - probably because of the stressful uncertainty re. work and finances - but it's nothing too bad so far.

Oh wow @BrassicaBabe I've been reading up on ADHD in adults recently. Apparently lots of people with substance issues like booze or drugs have undiagnosed ADHD.

Did you have any particular reason to get yourself diagnosed?

Procrastination has been a massive topic throughout my life @UsernameFail and ADHD gradually came into focus until someone in my extended circle got diagnosed. I thought "what's the point of perusing diagnosis, what difference would it make to me at 47". Then speaking to this friend she said that diagnosis and medication had been a total game changer for her. That's when I decided to press the button. Only then did I understand more about not being able to relax, then off and that I was using alcohol for that function.