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!

Well done @Hedjwitch!

Is anyone else having much weirder and more vivid dreams than usual? I reckon at least half the DJ nights I have had some weird shit going on.

I've never actually read any quit lit nor listened to any podcasts etc. I've just thought "Hey alcohol is really bad for me and I need to stop drinking far too much of it" and just got on with it.

I am, however, interested in what David Nutt says, so let us know how you find his book, @Stickywhitelovepiss

I wouldn't say my dreams are weirder (that would be hard!) but they're certainly more vivid when I'm dry. I like that though ☺️

Sorry, me again. I just looked up the David Nutt book on Amazon, and one of the pics from the book was the attached. I thought it was worth sharing! 😲

I find all the quit lit to be the exact opposite of helpful. I like to just get on with life and not be thinking about alcohol all the time. I know my sibling who is an alcoholc did find some of it comforting when she was going AF.

I don't do quit lit either, but maybe that's because I'm already comfortable with my relationship with alcohol. I know some people in my support group are doing DJ and benefiting from their reading.

I feel the same on the quit lit - I don't need to be reminded of the effect alcohol has on me, I know full well the damage it can do.

Morning everyone. I am currently reading a book which is the first in a while. The house is quiet as the DC's are in school.The housework is done and it's so quiet. I think even the cats are enjoying the peace lol. Anyway I am a proud mum at the moment dc1 who has ASD and ADHD was awarded a maths award recently in school and now DC2 has been awarded a literacy award. Me and DH are delighted as they worked hard and I spend a lot of time with them doing fun but learning activities. We have also spent the last few years been told by MIL how much smarter, brighter, more beautiful and better her favourite grandchild is so is quite lovely for the school to recognise how well the boys are doing.

Is anyone else having much weirder and more vivid dreams than usual? I reckon at least half the DJ nights I have had some weird shit going on

Yes. And nearly every night! I don't mind though. It makes bedtime more like a cinema visit

I have also been having vivid dreams which TBH I've found faintly unsettling. While drinking I barely remembered any of my dreams.

I agree re the quit lit. It serves a purpose but it would just make me more focused on alcohol.
@Fundays12 congrats to you and your DC 🙂it's so nice when their effort is rewarded.
I ended up calling 111 re my painful side yesterday. To be fair, all super quick and efficient and they had me in seeing the GP within the hour! I've pulled a muscle apparently, probably from coughing. It's making it hard to sleep though. So feeling a bit fed up today.

Thanks we are pleased.

I hope you feel better soon. I have pulled a muscle from coughing a few years ago and it's so sore.

I think the quit lit may be good if undecided whether periodic dryness and/or sobriety is for you. Once decided, I personally see it as less useful, unless its focus is on distraction techniques or drink alternatives. But others may think differently, and if it helps, it helps.

Just checking in. I am really struggling because I absolutely cannot sleep since quitting the wine! Last night I was actually lying awake at 2am crying, knowing I had to be up shortly and do a full day at work. It’s so weird because I haven’t been fussed about drinking really, but my body feels like it is giving up on me. I have tried Nytol, Sominex, Magnesium and various pillow sprays, and I am quite an active person who usually sleeps well. I understand why sleep deprivation is used as torture.

My aim always was only to go through until Friday this week so I will see that out, then see how I do with four days off each week.

I’m struggling a bit tonight - not desperately, but I’ve had a busy day at work and just feel like a glass of wine to switch off.

I am not sleeping well either. Getting up groggy is no better than getting up feeling a bit hungover.

I am also eating too many biscuits.
It's been a grouchy month.

I’m tired of DJ, fed-up and feel like giving up but I will be so annoyed with myself if I crack now, with only 7.5 days to go.

I feel as though DJ has really taken it out of me mentally. I’m drained and exhausted and am struggling to cling on.

Can anyone else relate?

Yes
I feel totally tired and fed up with it all today

@freshstart2023 yes, I totally can. Had to travel for work today - it was a long and tiring one, and really want a glass of red. You are on the final stretch now - you can do it!

I have quite possibly OD'd on quit lit. It's certainly been a revelation, that's for sure - but it's actually starting to make me feel quite pressurised and anxious now, as to whether I "should" try to give up totally or not. But it's not what I deep down want or feel I can commit to - and that in itself makes me feel shit about myself.

Thanks for the replies. I really feel I’m running on empty. I will grit my teeth and try to cling on.

I know I will be immensely proud of myself if I get to the end of this - and I hardly ever say that. It’s been such a challenge.

Time to quit the quit lit... It's us who get to decide, not the books. You can do it, not long now. You can always reevaluate in 6 months or so and make a more robust change if you feel moderation isn't working.