DRY JANUARY 2023! Been overindulging? Drinking crept up? Want to begin a healthy new you? This way please. All welcome!

[HPLikecraft]

It’s that time of year again... the late Christmas present to our livers!
You may be thinking of doing Dry January to:

*detox a little after seasonal overindulgence, or
*help you cut down a bit generally, or
*help you start to get out of a harmful alcohol habit, or
*just be a bit healthier for a month...

It’s good for all of those things!

I find the MN DJ threads excellent for support, encouragement, sharing info, ‘we’re in this together’ camaraderie, suggestions for grown up drinks, aversion techniques and just fun.

This is my sixth year of DJ and I swear it may have saved my life; it was so hard first time, but having succeeded I did dry June and October after that, and do so most years. It has broken my habit, banished much of the craving and reset my relationship with booze. I imagine it's added years to my life.

I won’t be finding DJ too difficult this year, but some will. Hopefully this thread will help.

Throw your hat in the ring, pull up a chair and let's do this together. Everyone welcome 🙂☕️🧃

The DJ2022 Wagon creaks to a start in just 4 days, but always stops for latecomers 🙂

Bit late to the party but I'm going to join you all if that's okay.
Noticed lately that instead of the odd glass of something here and there over the month, it's a nightly ritual once the little ones in bed.
I only ever have one but it is most evenings so I'd like to change that habit and revert back to getting the odd drink in a weekly shop.

Well, yesterday was easy thanks to a dodgy tum. However, many of my alcohol free goodies didn't arrive in the grocery delivery (could be we're not the only onesdoing this?) so I'll have to venture out today to get something that feels a bit special while DH has a cocktail. Good luck everyone!

I also have disrupted sleep when Ive done DJ in the past. I think it takes a while for your brain to adjust to not being sedated with alcohol.

That said I slept like a log last night

Good luck for Day 2

It's so interesting to hear that lots of us slept badly last night - I was exactly the same. It took me ages to nod off, even though I was exhausted. I then woke several times in the night and couldn't get back to sleep.

I almost feel a little anxious at the thought of going to sleep without alcohol in my system - it's like I've forgotten how to do it or something.

Anyway, I'm really proud of myself for getting past day 1 - that's the first AF day I've had in months. I'm feeling far better physically today, though still not 100%. I'm also feeling a bit more positive mentally.

I've started my spring cleaning early so might crack on with that today - it keeps me busy and distracted and having a tidy, clutter free house is good for my mental health.

Sending everyone lots of strength and good wishes for day 2. One down, 30 to go!

I slept better last night (night2) than I did on night 1. My dreams were less weird and intense and although I woke up quite a few times there were less ‘big’ wakes and I could doze back to sleep quicker. I find it helps me drift back to sleep by listening to (familiar) audiobooks or radio programmes very quietly on my phone under my pillow. The danger of this is obviously that you have to look at your phone to put them on and if you’re too awake it’s all to easy to check a message etc…

When drinking I tend to conk out quickly and be in very deep, dreamless sleep for the first half of the night, but often wake up between 2 and 3 and have huge difficulty getting back to sleep. And then I’m shattered in the morning.

Well done everyone for completing day 1!

Good morning everyone!

Hope you're feeling fresh and well rested. Good to see some new "faces" here; welcome aboard this very dry wagon, we always stop for new friends.

Well. I hope last night wasn't too difficult for anyone. Well done if you got through it; stay with us and try again if you didn't.

It's interesting to read about everyone's sleep experiences. I think any sleep disturbances or difficulties are purely temporary whilst detoxing or getting used to being AF. I managed 3.5 months off the booze a few years ago, and sleep became so much better than during boozing days.

Please remember to check in with your progress, ideas, recommendations, pleas for help. We want to know how you're doing!

OK, so as of 9am this morning, we have completed 4.4% of DJ! Yay!

I slept like a log last night !
Had a really late NYE though , so went to bed after call the midwife (9pm ) DH came to bed at 10 and I didn’t wake til nearly 7-30 am
We’re contemplating buying a Soda Stream does anyone have one ? ( with all the money I save on wine , versus all the money I’ll spend on soft drinks )

That's day 1 done - 3.2% of the way there!

Did not sleep at all well though. Took a long time to drop off, and kept waking up feeling very anxious. I don't remember that a year ago, but I was post COVID and completely knackered.

What do people drink instead? I like Guinness 0.0% or Brewdog Punk AF. Have not found an AF wine that I like. Recommendations?

Also, not a fan of chamomile tea - what caffeine free hot drink is on your list?

I slept well as usual, but then in a normal month I have 4 AF days anyway, which keeps my sleep on an even keel. I know it took my late husband a long time to get his sleep back when he was in rehab (and then he lost it again when he started drinking again 2 weeks after finishing, ho-hum).

Well done everyone who made it through day 1! I have the extra motivation of wanting to bring my blood pressure down so I'm trying to eat more healthily generally and I want to cut out crisps as well as booze.

@sleekitbeastie my drink of choice is hot honey and lemon because it tastes lovely and you get the feel good blast of vitamin c.

Morning All

Yep I also slept badly, it took me ages to drop off, my pyjamas were bugging me and felt uncomfortable so I ended up stripping off at some point, and I was up twice for a wee which never usually happens.

Anxiety has ramped up a little today, I’m going to sort out my work room as I’m back at it tomorrow so I’m putting it down to that. I tend to be like this about work after some time off.

@Veryfishy I was looking at soda streams last night and comparing them to how much we spend on wine. I much prefer sparkling water to still, so I think it may be worth it.

I don't feel any better. But then I don't normally. If I recall I normally feel worse for the first 5 days / week.

Didn't get to sleep till after 1.30am in the end - which is hours later than I would do with a glass or two of wine, though am admittedly a light / restless sleeper at the best of times. Hopefully that will stabilise a bit.

Oooh Call the Midwife! That definitely lends itself to cosy, hot chocolate accompanied viewing - will watch tonight! Am off to the same spa retreat that kicked off my ditching smoking 3 months ago - the place is alcohol free, caffeine free, sugar free and vegan, so ridiculously healthy - but a nice pool, yoga and mindfulness classes, and a massage in the mix, so should help smooth me on my way over the next day days. Then back to work / reality after that - which is the real test!

I am jealous of the people on this thread who want to give up as they are having (shock horror!) all of one glass of wine a night... I know DJ - and this thread - are inclusive, and there's no minimum for 'how much is too much' - but I wish I 'just' had that problem! Unfair of me, I realise.

Another tip: Tea Twist teas. I ordered a sample set online of multiple different tea types (herbal and otherwise), and that's been nice to start working my way through. Again mixing it up a bit in the evenings.

Just popping in to say to Stickywhite and other pps struggling to sleep that yes you probably are in withdrawals: it takes 7 DAYS for all the alcohol to leave your body. Some notice more than others.

Give yourselves a chance to reset. All will be well. Good luck.

That's day 1 done - 3.2% of the way there!

3.2% doesn't sound a lot, but if we get through today we'll be 6.4%, which does sound quite significant! Something to hold onto today.

I didn't realize it took 7 days for the alcohol to leave your system - that's a long time. Do you feel noticeably better after day 7 then?

I can't believe I was drinking 70-90 units a week until now - that's actually very scary when you consider the recommended level is 14. I think because I've mostly been able to function while drinking to excess (albeit at a much reduced level and feeling like crap) I've been deluding myself that it's okay and I can handle it.

I got a good sleep last night, woke up feeling refreshed and ready for another day. Popped to the shop and got some Trip - bloody hell it is expensive! But I figure there are 4 cans, one a day during dinner prep will last me 4 days. As opposed to a bottle of wine only lasting a day with me and DH sharing it. He's not keen on Trip so I got him some ginger ale.

Well done everyone 💪🏻

Just found this in case anyone's interested....

Alcohol Withdrawal Timeline

The first symptoms can begin to occur within a few hours of your last drink and withdrawal symptoms tend to be at their worst for the first 48 hours.

Early symptoms may be mild, such as headaches and hand tremors, with alcohol cravings and feelings of depression also building. For some, severe symptoms like DTs may begin after 12-24 hours.

After 48 hours, symptoms for most will begin to subside as your body will start to adjust to being without alcohol. The entire withdrawal process usually takes three to seven days from the time of your last drink.

www.priorygroup.com/addiction-treatment/alcohol-rehab/alcohol-addiction-withdrawal

Hello all,
I'm in, my wine intake has crept up since covid and I know I feel better without it. I just get to the end of a long shift or day with the kids and use it as an excuse to unwind.

I over indulged on the 30th with an old friend so it has been easy to be sworn off alcohol since.

DJ will help me carry this on and reset myself a bit I think.

Besides on top of working long shifts I have an MSc essay due in which will be easier without a pickled brain.

Good luck everyone. Day 2 already!!

Hi. Did eventually get to sleep at about 1.30am. Despite the broken sleep, I’ve woke about 6.30am and feel good. I’ve been washing loads, clearing up. Hopefully though, as the month progresses, I’ll get a good sleep routine going. That list of withdrawal symptoms struck a chord. I had quite a few of the common ones.

Day 1 managed. I would have had an excellent night's sleep but DD had a nightmare and joined us in the middle of the night. Still, I slept better than I would have done if I'd been drinking!

Lots of chores to do today.

I slept very well last night but I think that’s because I was so exhausted from NYE. There was a brief moment where dh and I contemplated starting today (and drinking yesterday 🤦‍♀️) and I think we would have easily swayed the tiger to drink if either of us had been up for it. But no, we resisted, and felt so glad this morning that we hadn’t cracked! Went to the supermarket this morning, got lots of fresh healthy food and ready to get on it!

Everyone's different in how soon they feel better, most feel better a couple of days in but alcohol is still traceable in our urine up to 5 days after stopping. So it's generally rounded off to a week before it's considered to have totally left our bodies.

Saying that it still can be detected/traced in our hair roughly 90 days later (!)

Slept well last night as I was up until 2:30am NYE and that is hellishly late for me.

Up bright and early to go to a spin class this morning so feeling accomplished and much less anxious than I’d feel if I’d have finished off the open NYE booze with my partner last night and inevitably slept in this morning :)

I went to bed with a headache last night and was worried I wouldn't sleep. However, I did drift off with an audiobook. Woke at 2am for a wee and realised I'd been having a mad, vivid and exhausting dream. Can't remember the last time I dreamed properly. Feel much better this morning, but still a bit low in motivation. I really need to get dressed and out in the fresh air as its sunny here.

I'm in the slept like a log camp, as with others I'd been up until 2am on NYE. I woke with a banging headache which was a disappointment, I thought I'd be as fresh as a daisy! Don't think it's alcohol related though, more my sinuses :(

But not cranky or tired which is a big bonus!