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Original poster

Dry Another Day! February beckons. Dry January (and beyond?) Thread 2. All welcome.

319 replies

HPLikecraft · 28/01/2022 09:20

Ah, there you are little dry pingywings. 🐧🐧🐧

Shiny new thread. I've swept the berg and we're good to go. Hop on.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
blackteaplease · 01/02/2022 08:38

Thanks for the trophy.

The support on here has been invaluable, both as a place to check in and be accountable and to share insights and learn from them.

DavetheCat2001 · 01/02/2022 09:10

Thanks for the thread @HPLikecraft and well done everyone.

Hoping to stay AF for a bit longer as just cannot handle the hangovers anymore + pointless being a long term anti- depressant user and tgen drinking myself sad again.

🌷

HotWaterAndLemon · 01/02/2022 09:21

Just popped back to grab my fish like the greedy penguin I am 🐟 🐧 🏆

vinoandbrie · 01/02/2022 09:33

Way hey, we did it!

So pleased to have got through January, and feeling positive about remaining AF for February as well.

Original poster
HPLikecraft · 01/02/2022 09:47

Ah yes, sure feels good doesn't it?

Nice to see some penguin graduates enrolling on the post-grad M.A. (Master of Alcoholfree-ness) program for February. Those going for the 100 day will attain the lofty heights of PhD (Penguin of higher Dryness). Well done you fishy scholars!

As I said before, I am going to have a drink of wine tonight before staying AF until the end of February, so joining the MA class tomorrow.

You're all looking very well, by the way!

OP posts:
Flower1976 · 01/02/2022 16:55

Just checking in, well done everyone! 30 days AF days managed. Thank you to @HPLikecraft for the thread. It has been great to read everyone’s journeys. I will be carrying on in February and still checking in, as this helps me a lot, but I will have some alcohol at times. I just need to stay focused and not slip back to old ways.

AmysBeehive · 01/02/2022 18:55

Thank you for the encouragement. I am undecided about having alcohol tonight. Might see if I can keep going for a bit longer. AB AF xxx

hivemindneeded · 01/02/2022 20:28

Those going for the 100 day will attain the lofty heights of PhD (Penguin of higher Dryness). Well done you fishy scholars!

LOL!

hivemindneeded · 01/02/2022 20:29

I had a sherry glass of white wine - so, about 80ml. It made me feel a bit sick. Didn't want a second and had water instead.

HotWaterAndLemon · 01/02/2022 21:46

What do people eat in the evening if anything?
I’m trying to stop eating a heap of sweets/chocolate/crisps in the hour before bed. Yesterday I had a small bowl of dried nuts. Tonight a small plate of cheese and crackers. Tomorrow I think I’ll have a yoghurt.
I’m still spending a good chunk of time in the evening trying not to think of food.

spellingtest · 01/02/2022 23:04

Well done everyone!

Think I'm going to carry on a bit longer. I have no inclination to drink at the moment and want that to continue and worried if I have a drink I will spoil all that.

ColouringPencils · 02/02/2022 07:22

Is anyone going for the 100 day PhD?? I am kind of considering it. On the one hand I think it is sooo long, but then I realised we are almost a third of the way there. If we had to start any other time, it would probably be harder than now.

lunklitdays · 02/02/2022 07:58

@ColouringPencils in my head I'd like to get the PhD (think Dr. Days has a ring to it) but like you it feels such a long time so I'm going to go for February now and reassess at the end of the month.

I have read a lot that says doing 100 days helps change your mindset which is what I think I need. I'm almost scared to drink again. But I do accept I have a pretty unhealthy relationship with alcohol which isn't the same for everyone here. The last time I drank I can't remember getting home, I was so ashamed the next day (and so ill). I'm not like that every time I drink, just sometimes but I really, really don't want to do that anymore. I still feel shame a month after it happened. I'm 50 years old, it's dreadful to get in that state at my age. Even writing that makes me feel awful about myself so I'm going to carry on being dry for a while.

ColouringPencils · 02/02/2022 08:10

@lunklitdays don't feel awful about yourself. I imagine most of us on this thread have been in that state more times than we care to remember. The shame I feel the next day - even if I know I haven't done anything (guess it must be chemicals as well as genuine embarrassment) - is the thing that is keeping me going too. Also, the anxiety. Nobody needs that shame and anxiety in their lives, especially not in the name of 'fun'!

Peridot1 · 02/02/2022 08:22

Well I decided to celebrate 1 Feb by having a drink.

Had a gin and tonic and then shared a bottle of red with DH. That would be a light night for me in the past.

Woke up in the night with headache and felt rubbish and couldn’t get back to sleep for hours.

A good lesson! Won’t be tempted to do that again for a while!

Back on the berg for me now.

lunklitdays · 02/02/2022 08:26

Thanks @ColouringPencils, as you say I didn't do anything wrong, I was told I was 'brilliant fun' but I've absolutely no memory for at least the last two hours of the night, I decided I just can't keep doing it to myself. I read somewhere that alcohol affects the area of your brain that makes memories and when youve had too much it just stops working, causing black outs. Most 'normal' drinkers stop before the point they are that drunk. Obviously not me.
It's by no way every time I drink, but it happens and really, really don't want it to happen any more.

So onwards and upwards for me, take each day as it comes and hope for the bloody best!

lunklitdays · 02/02/2022 08:30

Sorry you had a poor night @Peridot1, that wouldn't have been much for me to drink in a night either.

I hope today is okay.

HotWaterAndLemon · 02/02/2022 10:25

@ColouringPencils I’m thinking of going for 100 days. I have a work event this weekend which would normally end in the pub but I plan to stay dry.
@lunklitdays I hear you! I hate that feeling of being ‘told’ how the night went. Even when I have wine at home with DH I’m nervous the following morning about what I did or said. I haven’t missed that feeling at all.
@Peridot1 I hope you’re feeling ok today. Sleep is my primary motivator to stay dry. I don’t ever feel like I get enough with my DC waking me frequently but it’s even worse when I wake early or can’t sleep because of wine.
Something I have noticed in Jan is that my patience levels with the DC are much higher. I know that will partly be because I haven’t had a hangover to contend with but I’m also sure it’s because my quality of sleep has improved, even if the quantity hasn’t!

Original poster
HPLikecraft · 02/02/2022 10:53

Well I drank last night. What an anticlimax. The posh wine I had wasn't as nice as expected and it was a bit of a chore. I did get that nice, warm relaxed feeling, but do I really need that when I'm just sitting watching Green Planet with DH? I probably fancied David Attenborough more than I would have if sober (i.e. not at all if sober) but that was the only enhancement I felt it gave to an already excellent programme.
I suppose it was good to have a bite of that forbidden fruit because it reminded me that it ain't all that.
I will revert back to dryness now. For a while.

@lunklitdays I remember well that feeling of "I can't remember what I did last night but I'm pretty sure it was something embarrassing and shameful." It's awful, isn't it? That stomach churning, regretful feeling.

@HotWaterAndLemon I'd been good at the beginning of January with not too much eating in the evening, but recently the snacking has crept up again. Had 3 packets of crisps last night. Felt crap. Need to get on top of that, too.

Onwards and drywards, penguins!

OP posts:
Peridot1 · 02/02/2022 11:52

I’m feeling ok today - thanks all.

Was starving when I got up though so had breakfast. Was supposed to be fasting.

Funny isn’t it @HPLikecraft? I enjoyed the wine I had but as you say it wasn’t all that. And I was just watching tv with DH.

@HotWaterAndLemon - I was mightily pissed off at myself in the night when I couldn’t get back to sleep!

With regards to eating at night we had cheese and crackers last night. Actually I also had a packet of crisps. I have bought some fruit to have though. I’m having mango tonight. Ready chopped. I know it’s expensive to buy it that way but it’s cheaper than wine!

hivemindneeded · 02/02/2022 12:21

I suppose it was good to have a bite of that forbidden fruit because it reminded me that it ain't all that.

That's how I felt. Even when having champagne at my friend's birthday lunch. Normally I LOVE champagne, but it tasted a bit acidic.

SpiritofEdna · 02/02/2022 13:00

I'm in for Feb. I didn't have a drink (school night) yesterday. My sleep has been so good in January I didn't want to be lying awake dehydrated in the middle of the night; plus I am doing a lot of exercise and don't want to creep into a 'cant be bothered I've got a hangover' zone.

Onwards!

TiffanyAchingsHatFullofSky · 02/02/2022 18:53

I've just counted that 100 days takes me to 8th April.
That doesn't actually feel that too far away.

ColouringPencils · 02/02/2022 19:18

Pre-chopped mango is the only prepared fruit that is worth it!

Peridot1 · 02/02/2022 21:51

@ColouringPencils - agreed. Although I ended up having a mini Mars bar instead! Grin

No alcohol though!