Old habits DRY hard! It's DRY JANUARY thread #2... newcomers always welcome!

[HPLikecraft]

Here we are, a shiny new thread to help us stay dry.

Thread one has been great and supportive; and thread two will take us through further challenges and milestones. Hop aboard; you're all doing brilliantly!

Tempted today but stuck with it. I would like not to be in my head this evening, but I need to be up at 5 and with my game face on to meet my new manager, so am actually very pleased not to drink.

2 weeks until my holiday, which will mostly be in February. I'll see how I feel about that.

Sorry, been a rubbish OP over the last day or so. Had some problems with autistic DC who is depressed and disturbed... police were alerted after worrying things posted online 😞
However I didn't drink, so that's something.
It seems a few of us are not at our happiest or have had s little boozy slip up. Must be something in the air. Climb back on, we'll get there.

OK, normal OP services have been resumed, so the end of today sees us us 48% of the way through... better still be tomorrow at midday will see us at the 50% stage.

That is very much worth hanging on for. Well done everyone, however dry you managed to be.

pours @HPLikecraft a virtual glass of wine

Dry today and in bed because boiler is being temperamental and house is freezing. Seems we're all in a bit of a slump.
I made flapjacks if anyone would like one?

Thanks @Greatly 😘

And I'd love a flapjack @Hedjwitch ... no longer care if it's not vegan or after 6.30 pm.

Has anyone heard of this "Sentia" alcohol free spirit? It's supposed to make you feel nice and relaxed; the perfect "two drink" feeling apparently. DH has ordered a bottle, so I'm looking forward to trying it when it arrives. I'll report back with my findings.

Sorry to hear so many of us are feeling rubbish. I so nearly caved this afternoon too. I have had a busy but productive day - I have stripped and made up 4 beds (including DS3's cabin bed which is a bugger to make up at the best of times and is full of so many cuddly toys I have no idea how the child fits in), I have gently nagged three DC about university assignment/physics homework/planets project respectively. I have done an hour of gardening. I have researched new lighting for the kitchen, fed the pets and FaceTimed my parents. My reward for all that should be a lovely chilled glass of white and I feel very low about the fact that I need to abstain.

Very thankful for this thread though, it's really helping me not to cave when I want to.

Onwards and upwards....can't believe we're halfway through tomorrow.

Happy belated birthday @Hedjwitch !

Sorry to hear about your phone @Stickywhitelovepiss - what a pain. Well done for not turning to alcohol despite the stress of calling banks, cancelling cards etc.

I'm pleased to say that I got through this weekend's social events alcohol free. It took every ounce of willpower I had not to drink when nearly everyone around me was. I also felt very flat and miserable throughout and I'll be honest, I don't enjoy socialising half as much when I'm sober. It took a real effort.

I'm safely home now and am really looking forward to hitting the halfway point tomorrow - that will be a huge milestone. I'm hoping psychologically things will start getting easier once we're over the "halfway hump", as a previous poster put it.

Thanks @freshstart2023- I'll admit that today was more of a toughie, especially as have a stressy work week lined up. And I can't even register it as a success on my Try Dry app (a big motivator for me).

@HPLikecraft never heard of that, but intrigued! There does seem to be a market in mood-enhancing drinks. Aside from Trip (which I was totally unmoved by), I've not tried any - but these are some of the ones on the market:

joinclubsoda.com/product-category/drinks/mood-enhancers/

Would be really interested to hear others' reviews - most out there seem a bit mixed, whether down to taste or effect (or lack thereof). Sentia though is produced by Professor David Nutt, who clearly knows his stuff when it comes to alcohol, drugs and brain chemistry.

Interestingly Club Soda do tasters of some of these, and we just missed one.

joinclubsoda.com/event/alcohol-free-mood-enhancers-flight/

No more advertised for the moment, but will keep a look out.

Oh, I completely get where you're coming from. Well done on having such a productive day though.

Morning everyone. I slept well again last night but am still feeling totally drained from the weekend. Could it be that using all that willpower has left me exhausted? Or maybe I'm coming down with something - hope not.

Day 16 and 49.3% of the way there - wow. I remember being excited to reach 6% so this feels massive.

Sorry that so many of you are feeling rubbish.

I hope it’s not too insensitive, but I had a really positive day yesterday- and although it wasn’t the most exciting day ever, I had a bit of a sliding doors moment comparing my sober self to how I would normally be.

I had some work to catch up on for a deadline this week. I could have done it over Christmas, but in all honesty when I wasn’t busy I was too tired and hungover to even contemplate working. So I did it this weekend. The level of focus and drive I had was SO different to my usually weekend work efforts. I actually enjoyed myself (ok I’d probably have preferred not to have had to work but still…). I did a good thorough job and only left one small bit I couldn’t finish at home. Had I been drinking this weekend I’ve have done the bare minimum grumpily (and probably not very well) in front of the tv or similar.

Whilst I was working DH took DD to activity. At the venue there was a dramatic and serious accident. Dd was taken to a different area, and DH stayed to offer help - although he was very much on the periphery. He was a bit shaken up when they got home, and used this as a reason to have wine with lunch. Normally when he drinks I do too and I would have been rushing to finish my work asap so I could join him in ‘relaxing’ with a wine. It felt SO SO liberating not be in this trap. It was the best feeling if I’m honest.

Id been out on the guest list for a show yesterday evening. On a drinking weekend there is no way I would have considered going at all. I’d have been too tired, Too stressed and anxious about Monday and work, and, as I’d have joined DH on the wine I’d also be a bit tipsy and probably planning as early a night as I could get a way with in order to be as ok as possible for work in the morning. Anyway I wasn’t any of these things so at a time I’d usually be sat on my sofa I got on the tube to central london by myself instead. I wandered around a bit enjoying looking at the buildings whilst drinking a herbal tea(!) before watching a very entertaining show. It was a fab evening!

it just felt so stark - the difference between how relaxed and enjoyable my sober Sunday had been - even though I had quite a lot of work to do - and how ‘nothingy’ my drinking Sunday would have been. A real turning point for me I think.

Happy half way day to everyone. Well done for getting through the weekend.

@FlightDeckBuckarooo the London walk sounds bliss! Very lovely to read your positive post!

@freshstart2023 I'm also feeling exhausted and on Saturday I was really blue. I'm low carbing as well as determined to lose the 10lb I put on.

Did anyone see the John Snow how to live to 100 programme? It was very inspirational with lots of fit healthy 80/90 year olds. I missed the beginning so not sure if alcohol was mentioned at all. Certainly daily exercise seemed key.

@FlightDeckBuckarooo that all sounds so positive for you , I love. Walks round London , all the landmarks and scenery

I realise I like the way not drinking feels , I feel so much better , and I’d like to think I look better ….but I do still hanker after a glass of wine !

That's fantastic @FlightDeckBuckarooo - a very inspiring read. I was having similar thoughts last week - I hope I get back to that bright and positive mentality soon.

The phone / bank card thing yesterday has really thrown me. Messed up my 'to do' list for Sunday afternoon (which included some email catch up, which is now into today), I couldn't concentrate on anything (not even a TV show) and had very fitful sleep. Until I have new SIM and new bank card I'm out of action for a lot of things - online payments, Fitbit updates, Try Dry updates, access to Whatsapp (all of which require MFA linked to my phone to complete / access / install on spare device). Plus I'm supposed to be having a smart meter fitted today (couldn't cancel on a Sunday) so can't tether my work laptop to my phone while he's round as planned, as without phone no wifi without the modem being on (which it won't be during install).

It is all very petty and first-world, I know, but feeling really irritable, raw and just now able to focus - which is the complete opposite of my usual highly productive self! But didn't crack yesterday and won't today.

I'm feeling good today. It's been a harder weekend than the last one, I've had the odd craving for a drink, but have stayed resolute and it's paid off as I feel positive and more energised this morning.
Sending positive vibes to everyone who is struggling, hopefully the fact we're about halfway through will give us a boost.

I had a blip on Saturday night. DH and I went away for a very spontaneous night away and although we are both doing DJ, we gave ourselves a a pass. I really enjoyed the wine we shared (just a bottle which is less than we would usually have) but I slept badly and felt delicate yesterday. A good reminder as to why I'm doing DJ! Back on it from yesterday and slept like a baby last night. Definitely feeling a bit meh today though and have loads of admin and housework to do but at least I'm not tired or hungover. Well done to everyone who stuck with it despite challenges and it's great to think we are about halfway through.

Morning everyone! That was a rubbish weekend...skint and sober. Glad it's Monday again, back into routine and a day closer to payday. Hope I stop having weird dreams soon!

Well done everyone we're 50% through January. Halfway there. Whether you've achieved perfect dryness or not you done well. We've all identified a need to make a change in our lives, and have done something about it.
The worst is behind us, and there is less to do than we've already done; so if we could do that, we can do the rest!

However AF you've been, here is your silver award. You deserve it!

Day 14 for me today and feeling fine but still look crap. Never mind, it'll get better I'm sure. Well done everyone.

Delurking here to say hello all and how helpful I've found all the input here since the start of thread one.
This is my 2nd DJ, the first one being a few years ago. Me and my partner are both doing it. We don't live together but spend lots of time in each other's house including every weekend. I think I would really struggle if he wasn't doing it as well.
My experience has followed a similar pattern to others here. My sleep is gradually improving and I've had a couple of really.good nights. My anxiety is generally much reduced and it's been great not to have hangovers or the 'day after dread' with racing heart and misery about what I might have said or done the night before.
I was surprised to find the first 2 weeks relatively easy. I'd had a vile cold before Christmas and was almost forcing myself to drink even though not really enjoying it, so it was a relief to have a break at first. I had the occasional craving but nothing too troublesome.
This weekend has been a challenge though. I've felt fed up and have really missed socialising with friends, which I've realised mostly centres around pub/alcohol, often in large amounts.We've not been out at all since NYE. Not sure how I'm going to manage this post-January. Spritzers with just a small glass of wine? I was shocked to read that one large glass of sauv blanc is 3 units 😳 Really wanted a glass of wine at home this weekend but managed without, though neither of us was in a very good mood.
I think this experience is forcing me to reevaluate what constitutes having a good time, and to think of ways of taking alcohol out of the equation. It's not easy though.
I'm aware also that I fall back on alcohol to get me through stressful times, especially when I'm at home on my own, which is not a good thing. Pleased to say that I think I've made progress on this, though may have substituted somewhat with toast and butter, so weight has sadly remained static.
Onwards into the 2nd half! Planning for our 1st drink to be Friday 3rd Feb to avoid mid-week drinking on a work night.

Woop for the silver award @HPLikecraft!

And obvs my post should read that we've not been out since NYE

Good to hear your about your DJ, @WTF99
I've been exactly the same with toast and (vegan) butter! Loads of it. It's so.... comfy!

Well I didn't do great on Friday me and DH had a home date night (no babysitters so once the kids go to bed we try once a week to have a meal and prosecco and spend some quality time together). I had a couple of glasses and a gin with loads of tonic. Though I am definitely changing my habits so is DH around alcohol as on sat I would normally have a wine because it's sat but I had no desire too so instead had nosecco and enjoyed it a lot. I felt pretty rubbish sat morning but that was partly because of a late night the night before. Sun I was up bright and fresh. I don't feel bad about having alcohol on Fri night as my aim was to change my alcohol habits so they didn't become problematic and that's happened. We have a lot to deal with due to ds1 disabilities so getting some quality time together once a week helps our marriage stay strong and is together so it's important for us to do. Alcohol isn't a huge factor in it but we enjoy a champagne or processco and chat over it for ages. I actually love the food. We normally get Tesco done in option or occasionally a takeaway. I worked out I have now saved about £44 this month by not buying wine. If you include me not having picked up beers for Dh it's probably about £55.