Tell me what happened when you kicked the booze?

[LotteryWinPlease]

I'm doing Dry January... in fact I think I'll go whole hog and do Dry 2023. I calmed down a bit last year but in 2021 I went through a series of personal matters and really, really hit it hard. I'm not talking a few extra beers. At my very worst I did 17 bottles of wine in one week. It was terrible.

Last year I was better as I say and I started knowing the lovely feeling of waking up fresh as a daisy on a Saturday morning. It felt great. But I still drank somewhat. I still regularly experienced The Fear. Oh, The Fear. It's crippling.

This year I've snapped. I just don't want it anymore. I've been reading all about clearer skin, thicker hair, brighter eyes all that shit. But for me mainly the biggest positive would be less anxiety and less bowel issues. I've just bought a book called "The Unexpected Joy Of Being Sober" and will spend tomorrow night getting stuck into that instead of drinking something that will only make me feel euphoric for an hour, two tops.

I'm only a couple of weeks in but already feeling relieved.

So tell me - what's it like on the Other Side?

No advice here on what it's like on the other side, but just commenting to say I'm joining you only 6 days in to dry jan but I already feel so much better, looking forward to feeling healthier (hopefully) and not spending my weekends being hungover and suffering with hanxiety!!

I would only drink a bottle or two of wine a week, but I just decided I wanted a break for a couple of weeks, due to it affecting my sleep and making me tired next day.
Ive just not had any really, except for two glasses on NYE , and I wish I hadn’t bothered with those . I honestly just don’t want it now, never get that thought at about 9pm of having a glass.
So much better without.

Yes did exactly what your doing 4 years ago and haven't looked back. I really am not sure I will ever drink again now I love the clear head and ability to drive at any time. I found, in the first year, it probably took me 6 months to get to the point of it feeling normal not to drink, especially for special occasions like holidays and birthdays, but just like the rest of my life these events were improved by the absence of alcohol.
My mental health and anxiety has improved exponentially I no longer wake up at 3 in the morning obsessing and worrying about stuff. And yes skin hair/nails etc all improved, but honestly that, for me, is the fringe benefit, the mental wellbeing benefit has to be the most important and biggest reason never to go back.

mental health definitely and you save a fortune

The realisation that alcohol is not compulsory to enjoying a night out was a huge milestone. I'm four years sober. Yes I do end up doing the driving but I'm not worried about being close to the limit, I know I'm clear. I find it amusing that if I'm having a meal at the home of certain friends they won't drink wine with the meal somehow believing that the sight of others indulging will prove to be too great a temptation for me. I don't concern myself about it. I'm happy with my relationship to alcohol and don't worry about what others think. It was a relief to make the decision and a bigger relief to have the will power to stick to my principles.

Im going for the year too. Most I’ve ever managed is 3 months. Not finding it hard...yet. Suspect I will come April!

I was drinking every night and I just don’t want to anymore.

Four years sober in April!
I was drinking one to 2 bottles of wine per night for 20+ years ... I just got to a point like you where I had had enough. The first few weeks, months were hard. I'd say it took six months to start seeing some real benefits for things like quality of sleep, more energy, clear skin, bright eyes. For me, the best thing has been the mental focus and clarity. I've also manage to go off my anti-anxiety and depression medication. I will never go back. It's truly awesome on the other side and it's well worth the journey.. my first book was also unexpected joy of being sober, but there's plenty of others as well. Such is the sober diaries, drinking: a love story and many others- I found listening to them as audiobooks to be a really good distraction and very very helpful. Also check out an app called Daybreak which is an online form for support for people hoping to get sober. Best of luck!

I chucked it last year.

1. NO headache (unless period time)
2. Better skin (dark circles not as pronounced)
3. Clothes not as tight
4. Less anxiety
5. More productive
6. Less impulsive (no silly purchases). We've booked holidays when pissed before 🙄
7. More sex with DH and less arguements

I still have to have a drink in my hand but it's coke or Chardonnay grape sparkling juice etc.

much better sleep
much happier
much less anxiety
better skin

I went for a run at 10am and now I've just had a bike ride and am going to do some of that adult art therapy 🎨. A couple of months ago I'd be two beers down and getting ready to go down the OTHER off license (because you don't go to the same one twice) for 2 bottles of wine tonight. I'd also be hiding them in a rucksack so my neighbours wouldn't see. How shameful 😞

I used to know a lady who worked in Spar and she told me how she always felt sorry for the guys who shuffled in at about 9pm wearing their slippers, coming in for their daily bottle of wine.

Hi op I haven't had a drink since 23 August and just had my first sober Christmas since I was a teenager.
The first month was difficult and used any distraction I could think of.
It does get easier, honestly. I feel so much better with better mental health and skin. I have lost 30 pounds in weight and saved so much money.
I really enjoyed Christmas and hoping to stay on track.

You can do it and wish you all the best.

It's been 3 years now. I'm almost post-menopausal and any sort of alcohol was making me feel horribly nauseated. In the year after I gave up I lost 3 stone and felt much better.

I’m two and a half years sober. I kicked it in August 2020.

The upsides are no hangovers, no post-booze anxiety, better skin, weight loss, restless legs much improved, better sleep, steadier mood, not having to do the constant back-and-forth ‘shall I drink tonight?’ thinking, not making a prat of myself at events, being able to drive everywhere so no dicking about with taxis, more hours in the day to do interesting things, clarity of thought, being present in every moment, no post-booze binges, being present in my own life, no pissed arguments, no worrying about long-term alcohol-related damage.

There are no downsides.

William Porter Alcohol Explained is a superb book. If you don't fancy reading just put his name into your podcast search bar. Awesome explanation of why we drink too much, crave and use booze.

Just to say, This Naked Mind and the 30 Day Challenge, both by Annie Grace, were my lifesavers.

The book you mentioned is really good, and was a real inspiration to me.

Is this just aimed at men?

@ICanHideButICantRun not at all it's for anyone who wants to understand the effect alcohol has on the brain. You can read the first five chapters here: alcoholexplained.com/1st-5-chapters/

Well I've just had another 4 mile walk and now I'm actually looking forward to getting outside again in the morning after a nice breakfast. Tomorrow night... will be the REAL challenge. Tomorrow night is wine night. If I crack, I'll be devastated on Sunday and too ashamed to speak to my Mum who is rooting for me. I've made plans on a Sunday morning before but always cancelled. I just have to keep asking myself what would I prefer? Two hours of feeling buzzed or 24 hours of feeling fresh? It shouldn't be that hard should it?! I still have bad anxiety (what if this, what if that, what if I lose my job, what if I lose my house, everyone hates me, what is my future etc etc, remember that awful memory let's torture myself over it again, doom and gloom.) I am praying going tee total (whilst won't cure completely) will reduce all this shit!!

Feel much better, skin, hair, nails etc. better.
Financial bonus that we have put towards an investment property, so savings did not get absorbed into normal household budget. ( takes extra input from normal budget but worth it, also less impulse buys as PP has mentioned)

I stopped drinking because it was really my only outlet, but it wasn’t benefiting my life. It made me really depressed. Stopped May 2020.
I recently had a couple of drinks at a wedding, and 2 before a gig. Whilst I used to be a big wine drinker, I can’t stomach the thought of it now.
I’d say overall I was happier, felt better, had less anxiety - until I fell pregnant and hormones took over.
I did however lose ‘friends’. And my best friend of 12 years barley makes time for me but has plenty to go out drinking. I guess that’s just life.

Oh, I did delete all social media too which seemed to help how I was feeling.
Hope it provides you the outcomes you want & you manage to kick it! X

It won’t change anything if you do have a drink tomorrow. All it will do is make you feel negative about yourself and that’ll make you want to drink more to escape that feeling.

Can you get an alternate fizzy drink in? I like Coke Zero or cordial in sparkling water. Maybe buy yourself a new book and get in the bath after tea. Try and change your evening routine and pamper yourself a bit.

Haribos are your friend. Sour ones. You’ll get massive sugar cravings (wine is very high in sugar) so they’ll take the edge off.

Nice hot bath, paint your nails, go for a walk round the garden/street/house, anything to distract yourself. And play it forward. Think about the whole effect of having that wine, not just the buzzy bit.

The worst of the cravings will past after ten minutes, and the first ten days are the worst. Think in tens, and ride it out. You absolutely can do it.

I bought an Apple and Elderflower vitamin drink thingy from Aldi. It was LOVELY. I think I'll buy another one for tomorrow night 🌙