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Fucked up dry january

15 replies

kitty96 · 21/01/2022 11:57

I'm so sad about this.

OP posts:
PurpleDaisies · 21/01/2022 12:01

Is it just one setback? Think of all the drinks you didn’t have, not the ones you did. January isn’t over. You can pick up and carry on to the end of the month. This doesn’t have to be the end.

kitty96 · 21/01/2022 12:03

Yeah just 1 setback. It's made me even more determined to stop drinking. I'm gutted I caved though.

OP posts:
SmellyOldOwls · 21/01/2022 12:04

Learning to drink in moderation is much better than having one totally dry month so don't worry. It's good to have a restart every now and then to stop drinking creeping into weeknights.

PurpleDaisies · 21/01/2022 12:12

I would try and think about what led to you drinking when you’d planned not to. Was it Peter pressure? Boredom? Stress? If you’ve got strategies to deal with that next time, you’ll be in a better position to say no.

InThePresenceOfWeevil · 21/01/2022 12:14

@PurpleDaisies

I would try and think about what led to you drinking when you’d planned not to. Was it Peter pressure? Boredom? Stress? If you’ve got strategies to deal with that next time, you’ll be in a better position to say no.
Agree.

It will help you to identify you triggers and help you crystallise why you want to stop/cut back on drinking and how you feel when you don't.

Think of it as a helpful exercise, not something you've fucked up!

Youdoyoutoday · 21/01/2022 12:31

I have even started it!

Youdoyoutoday · 21/01/2022 12:31

Haven't

KStockHERO · 21/01/2022 12:39

@SmellyOldOwls

Learning to drink in moderation is much better than having one totally dry month so don't worry. It's good to have a restart every now and then to stop drinking creeping into weeknights.
I agree that cutting-down is a much better approach than cutting-out. If you try and cut-out you're much more likely to fall off the wagon, as you have done OP.

I heard some great advice recently - 10% approach.
Identify the stuff you want to cut-out then start off by cutting-down 10% at a time until you're at 0, or at a level you're happy with. So, have 10% fewer drinks over the course of a fortnight (week, month, whatever). Then the next block of time, have another 10% fewer. And so on.

Then for stuff you want to do more of, do the same thing but add 10% each time. So, 10% more exercise this month, 10% more exercise on top of that next month and so on.

I'm finding it works really well in both directions (taking 10% off bad stuff, adding 10% to the good stuff).

Don't beat yourself up, OP. Start again Smile

kitty96 · 21/01/2022 13:14

I don't think I can moderate. I'm a binge drinker. I really need to quit completely.

OP posts:
PurpleDaisies · 21/01/2022 13:26

That sounds like a positive change to make.

There are threads on here with other posters giving up alcohol which I’ve heard are really supportive. Definitely worth seeking them out.

kitty96 · 21/01/2022 17:42

I think I'm so gutted because I know I have a problem.

OP posts:
PurpleDaisies · 21/01/2022 17:48

What happened to make you drink?

Recognising you have a problem is a massive step. Now you know, you can seek help and support. Flowers

TeenPlusCat · 21/01/2022 18:08

Tomorrow is another day.
If you normally drink 5 times a week and get through January only having drunk say 3 times, you'd still have done a massive achievement.

Don't let perfect be the enemy of good.

LilOnline · 21/01/2022 18:19

@kitty96

I don't think I can moderate. I'm a binge drinker. I really need to quit completely.
Just start again. Don't think of it as Dry January, think of it as a 30-day no alcohol streak.

Did you manage to keep it to less drinks when you had a drink? If so, thats still an achievement. Or did you binge?

I'm also doing dry January (and hoping it will carry forward after that). If I cave, I'm not going to beat myself up if I only have 1 glass (much better than my usual 2-3 glasses Smile). And even if I had more than one I'll just re-start not drinking again.

Good luck x. It may take a while but we'll get there!

kitty96 · 21/01/2022 18:56

Thanks guys. Smile

Nothing really triggered it, I wasn't stressed or angry. I just fancied a gin, which turned into 4. I'm so cross with myself.

Back on the wagon today.

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