February alcohol free/moderation thread - graduates and flunkies of Dry Jan 2023, new members welcome!

[MeinKraft]

Dry January has come to an end (sooner for some of us than others ) but the alcohol free fun doesn't have to stop there!

Whether you're wanting to extend your drought, moderate your drinking on an ongoing basis or are thinking of going dry for Lent and want to prepare why not join us to discuss all things alcohol free!

It can take a couple of weeks when you start drinking again for things to settle down. I got a bit over enthusiastic the first few days after I drank after three weeks of DJ but it quickly settled down. I've now just done almost a full week without a drink and barely noticed.

Having drank for two evenings last weekend (the 3/4) I had a week of shocking anxiety last week. I am wondering if that can be connected although had assumed the effects would wear off after a day or two.

It's very possible it's a known side effect of drinking alcohol.

Me and DH had a home fine in option for valentine's last night and shared some prosecco. We only did it because it's valentine's and I am working on sat so wouldn't drink on Friday night. I actually feel ok and it was a nice night but it felt like a treat I think just a glass of wine wouldnt know

@SeasonsBleatings according to the Huberman podcast, moderate drinkers (7-14 units per week) release increased levels of cortisol (the stress hormone) even on days they don’t drink.

So if you have a couple of glasses of wine twice a week, you’ll have higher levels of cortisol compared to those who don’t drink at all.

Interesting on the cortisol - my anxiety has turned to depression and I'm permanently crying over a work issue, and having mild panic attacks! I wonder if the alcohol kept me at a level of manageable nervous energy? Not had a drink since one day in January.

@OneFrenchEgg I've also found my work resilience drop through the floor. Which makes me question whether if I could only do the job off the back of the promise of wine every night, then either I need a different job or a different attitude towards work.

Not had a drink since 6th January. I’m feeling incredibly stressed as they’ve just confirmed teachers strikes for 8 days over the next 3 weeks. I’m sure drinking a bottle or two of wine wouldn’t help but trying to come up with a plan that juggles children, new job(still in probation period), money (fucked there’s no savings) It’d be quite nice to shut down for an evening and forget my woes, booze has always been my escape to escape and unwind.

DH and I are very late to the party, but we've just started watching Happy Valley. We got so into it that we stayed up watching it until 1am this morning, promising ourselves we would have "just one more"

It's interesting that when engaged in something together, we appear to egg one another on. Admittedly it's a healthier and cheaper pastime than drinking, but I've become somewhat accustomed to my 9pm bedtimes 😆

I was going to post the other day that I have been really struggling with anxiety and panic attacks this week, which I have found frustrating because I've been dry since NYD. For me I wonder if it's because my normal coping mechanism is to block things out and forget about them, but it's so much harder to do that now.

On a more cheerful note I graduated dry this week and didn't feel like drinking, even when holding DH's prosecco for him when he went to get something.

@Stickywhitelovepiss so weird isn't it? Still not had a drink but not loving it.

Hi everyone, haven't posted for a few days, but I'm still here and in control of my 2-nights-per-week dampness!

Shared a bottle of pink fizz with DH for Valentine's Day, but am ill now with some virus or another so I'll likely not drink for a few days.
I used to power on and drink my way through illness during my wetter days.
Also, the anxiety! When I started HRT that helped, but it seems to be less effective now. I've started taking some super duper magnesium that should hopefully help; also the springing of Spring will be good as I'll move more, and the sunlight will improve my mood. Hope this works for others, too.

@Champagneforeveryone Did you start at series 1 of Happy Valley? We're just watching series 3 now, but DH swears he hasn't seen 1&2 (I'm pretty sure I watched at least series 1 with him!) so we'll likely watch 1&2 again. Very enjoyable series.

Congrats on your (dry) graduation @Submariner 👏🎉

Thank you!!!

So this has been helpful in my moderation! I haven't drank at all this weekend - I am frankly terrified of increased anxiety.

How's everyone's dry/moderate weekends going? I'm still here, still dry! Today's day 50 for those of us extending our Dry Jan. I can't actually believe that - definitely the longest I've gone since about age 17.

I'm still here and still dry, actually finding it much less of a big deal than I imagined. In fact I fleetingly considered a walk to the pub last night as I was driving home from work, but very quickly dismissed it as a) too cold b) too expensive c) not worth the hangover. This was inconceivable two months ago, when DH and I would have battled through hell and high water to get there.

We're away in mid March which will be a challenge, but I feel reasonably confident I can moderate as I fear missing out the next day. More concerning is DM will be visiting for a few days prior to this. I find our relationship tense (to say the least) and have generally coped by remaining mildly tipsy throughout her visit, so that will definitely be a challenge.

I’m so impressed by those of you carrying on with dry Jan. However it’s really scary as NewYears feels a life time ago. 50 days is only 10 more than Lent which is when I am stopping . Really hoping I can manage it.
40 days sounds fine; a week of February all of March and a week and a bit of April sounds loooonnggg.

I've order Nosecco for tonight - I'm having a small party for older relatives and figured I would be the only one drinking (maybe dh) so why bother. Had an AF beer yesterday and it was fine. I'm thinking less about not drinking.

Moderation going OK here - stuck to 2 days a week - had 2 gins on Friday and 1/2 bottle of fizz on sat - actually wish only had a bit less of fizz as sleep wasn't great last night - feel fine this morning though

Moderation didn't go so well for me this week. DH and I had a valentine's night date and we both had too much prosecco but it was nice. Then on Fri night I had prosecco and on sat night some wine. Though I didn't have much last night. I think I need to avoid opening prosecco and stick with white wine spritzers at the weekends.

Actually onefrenchegg that's quite valid what you said,
I'm thinking less about not drinking

My mindset seems to have changed to when I will drink, rather than ruminating over not drinking. Almost like not drinking is now the default rather than an unusual event or catastrophe.

Still here and going well
I had a bottle of white over the weekend of the 11th /12th , making a bottle last 2 nights is not something I was able to do , before now

No wine last weekend , having made the decision to not actually buy any wine this month
This is working well , as I still really want a glass of wine , and if it’s not in the fridge then I can’t have any , living rurally it’s a 5 mile drive to the nearest town or a miles walk to the village pub
The credit card bill is much lower on the food shop than normal , I can’t think why ? 😀

I’m feeling so much better , more alert , less of the foggy , fuzzy brain that was mentioned upthread

No weight loss to show though , I have replaced wine with biscuits and chocolate, though I had none today ( for once ! ) it’s just the something to do ! You know , have a sip of wine , put it down. Finish it , pop out to the fridge …

I saw that a local boutique was running a learn to crochet in a day , so I decided to sign up for that , sadly it’s the weekend we’re going away …next time

How is everyone getting on? It is interesting to read about all the different experiences. It seems Dry Jan has helped reset and moderation is working for some, but a bit trickier for others.
So tomorrow is the first day of Lent. Anyone considering abstaining from alcohol?
For me this period of not drinking has been good. The urge to drink has mostly faded. Sleep is good some nights, shorter sometimes but, even then, refreshing. Life has been quite a challenge for some months and I have had to focus on supporting family over my own commitments. However, things are improving for DH and I am regaining some time to get back in the groove of my work.
What I do know is that if I do have 'just the one' at some point later in the year, in reality it won't stay at just that one. Moderation will swiftly give way to over indulgence that brings on poor sleep, anxiety and generally feeling less well. So I am just leaving the 'just one' for some point over the horizon. I will focus on Lent for now and the 100 days dry 'marker'.
So next week is a big 0 birthday for me and small celebration and then, DH being well, a holiday at the end of March.
If you are doing Dry Feb - that's 75% completed.
Dry Jan and Feb/60 days sober - 87% of the way there.
Dry Jan/Feb and Lent/100 days - over half way already.

Thank you - just now at like 10pm I realised I could tick another day off on the app. I haven't thought about not having a drink for a few days now.

@pollyannaperspective interesting post. I'm in the aiming not to drink in the house camp at the moment.