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

268 replies

MeinKraft · 01/02/2023 13:49

Dry January has come to an end (sooner for some of us than others Blush) 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!

OP posts:
SeasonsBleatings · 21/02/2023 22:40

That's really helpful for me too thanks - I have drunk on four days this month but only once - the first day - in the house. My perspective has really changed and I feel I'm not making plans around when I'll be drinking/counting down to wine-o-clock any more.

FlyingPandas · 21/02/2023 22:58

Good to catch up on people's news.

I am now back in the dry camp after attempting moderation during half term and failing miserably. Ended up drinking every day, because in my mind half term felt like being on holiday (I work in a school, so am off during school holiday periods, and we were away for some of the week as well) and I'd officially broken dry January, so was 'allowed' to drink.

The problem is that for me it's just too easy to go back to drinking up to a bottle of wine a day. I wish I could be like my Dsis who will have a single glass of wine on a Friday night and then not really think about it for the rest of the week. But I don't seem to have that kind of off switch. If I have a glass, I want a second, and a third, and so on. And then the next night I want to do the same and off the vicious cycle goes.

Interestingly I didn't see much of an increase in anxiety levels last week but I did feel tired and dehydrated a lot of the time and my eyes felt really weary and gritty during the day. Was also cross and frustrated with myself for my lack of willpower. I haven't drunk the past two nights and the tired eyes feeling has already gone and I feel much better in myself again.

I am now planning to stay dry for Lent, possibly longer. I do wonder whether remaining permanently AF is the way to go for me.

OneFrenchEgg · 21/02/2023 22:59

Yes my count down has stopped, which is positive. I definitely am not hankering for a drink anymore. I wonder how much is habit or actual cravings which have lessened. I'm glad for these threads, I would probably not have been motivated without them.

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General food
Champagneforeveryone · 22/02/2023 07:21

Well I've had a shocker of a night at work due to an exceptionally incompetent colleague. Its so bad that I have genuinely been left speechless. It's the first time in a long time I've really wanted a drink.

However I remain strong (it helps that it's not yet 7.30 and that seems a slippery slope too far)

<sips decaf tea>

Onehappymam · 22/02/2023 12:00

@FlyingPandas exactly the same situation here.

Managed 5 weeks AF in Jan. Then I broke DJ with a few glasses of wine. Fine. Then mid-term break hit and I was in full on holiday mode. I’d wake up with no firm recollection of going to bed, only a hazy memory. Then I’d have to face the glasses, empty bottles, tubs of dip and crisp bags that were strewn everywhere. Not good.

So it’s back on the dry wagon for me.

Submariner · 27/02/2023 16:57

How is everyone? I'm nearly at the end of my 60 days. Having a stressful time at work so thinking wistfully about the first glass but undecided whether to drink on Thursday or Friday.

Fundays12 · 27/02/2023 18:40

It's interesting others are saying they drunk at half term. My kids were off last week and I drunk on Tues night. I realised the next day it was because they had stressed me out and drinking didn't help at all. It was quite an eye opener and helpful to realise that.

OneFrenchEgg · 27/02/2023 19:14

I'm kind of forgetting that I could have a drink. It's weird but I am quite habit forming. So if I adopt a new way of doing something I hate it initially but then it sort of takes over. Haven't thought about not drinking for a while now.

SeasonsBleatings · 27/02/2023 20:15

Just checking in! So far I've had drinks on 5 days in February, a total of 11 drinks. So pleased with that! Am thinking less of drinking too, and managing to stop myself before I drink too much.

Veryfishy · 27/02/2023 20:59

Doing well , I’ve had a few drinks - a bottle of wine over 2 nights at the weekend , one weekend alcohol free ( considering I could quite easily put away a bottle of wine a night , that’s a tremendous improvement)

It would be very easy for me to get back into that habit , I don’t want too so I’m having to be very mindful

I do feel much better though , not drinking just need to kick the biscuit , cake and chocolate habit that I seem to have acquired instead 🍫🍪🧁🙀

Stickywhitelovepiss · 27/02/2023 21:09

Still dry here, going to take it to 12 weeks - which is when I go in holiday.

Still feeling flat.

Submariner · 28/02/2023 05:53

12 weeks will be a great achievement @Stickywhitelovepiss. Sorry to hear you're feeling flat. Do you want to moan about it here?

HPLikecraft · 28/02/2023 11:02

Hi everyone! I haven't checked in for a while, but I'm still doing my damp thing and managing fine. It's taken years, but I'm finally finding dampness much easier to control; I used to be dry or drenched!

Well, I will be drinking tonight as it's my birthday 😃 and thereafter I'll be trying to stick with my twice a week thing.
I'll be checking out for now, but will start a Dry January 2024 thread at the end of December if no one beats me to it (they usually don't!)

It's been great hearing everyone's stories, struggles, successes and advice over the dry/damp threads, and I wish you all good healthy relationships with booze going forward, whatever that means for you. 😌

Stickywhitelovepiss · 28/02/2023 16:08

Thanks @Submariner - nothing to moan at per se. No highs, no lows - just been feeling blah since the very beginning. Still waiting for pink cloud syndrome to kick in, but equally haven't been climbing the walls either - which in itself is a bit of a relief....

OneFrenchEgg · 28/02/2023 20:35

Happy birthday 🎂 @HPLikecraft hope it's fun

HPLikecraft · 01/03/2023 00:50

Thanks @OneFrenchEgg it's been lovely as DD has been here visiting from European City where she lives.
I had 5 glasses of wine which is ridiculous, but I think I won't be doing that again for a while!

@Stickywhitelovepiss you should not be feeling flat, but proud of yourself; all these weeks of self discipline. Youve done so well!

OneFrenchEgg · 01/03/2023 06:03

Five, blimey I'd be on the floor - not had a drink since Jan when I had a one off. Glad your dad could make it, how lovely.

OneFrenchEgg · 01/03/2023 06:04

OneFrenchEgg · 01/03/2023 06:03

Five, blimey I'd be on the floor - not had a drink since Jan when I had a one off. Glad your dad could make it, how lovely.

Dd sorry not dad

Submariner · 01/03/2023 07:15

Stickywhitelovepiss · 28/02/2023 16:08

Thanks @Submariner - nothing to moan at per se. No highs, no lows - just been feeling blah since the very beginning. Still waiting for pink cloud syndrome to kick in, but equally haven't been climbing the walls either - which in itself is a bit of a relief....

Ah, I get you. I think we've talked before about how being sober means reality unfiltered, and that can be boring/stressful/anxious.

Happy birthday @HPLikecraft ! Thank you again for setting us on the straight and narrow this year. I'm jumping off the wagon tomorrow but hoping to keep sight of what I've learnt so far and will definitely be back next year.

SeasonsBleatings · 01/03/2023 18:26

I'm also so grateful for being supported in this journey. It really has made a difference. Went out with DD to an event last night and a couple of hours in a pub would usually mean a couple of glasses of wine. I had a tea and a smoothie and was so proud and clear headed this morning.

Champagneforeveryone · 03/03/2023 14:29

Congratulations seasonsbleatings, it feels such an achievement doesn't it?

DM arrives for a few days on Monday, an experience I normally cope with by remaining in a mild alcoholic haze. I've been dreading it (more than usual!) but suddenly had a realisation that I won't allow her or her bizarre behaviour to be the thing that makes me drink again. There's a bleak irony in that statement 🙄

Anyway DH and I are going away for a few days the following week, so I will have a couple of drinks then. I'm happy with this decision as it's on my own terms. I'm also keen to moderate heavily as I don't want my days away to be ruined by feeling ropey.

OneFrenchEgg · 04/03/2023 22:54

7 weeks dry I think. Amazing. Bought some alcohol free beers today. Not really thinking about not drinking. Have an event soon and I'm wondering if my new persona is teetotal.

chatelai · 04/03/2023 23:14

Did 5 weeks dry, then last 3 weeks have had couple of drinks on one night of week. This is a massive drop for me! During lockdown drinking rose to 3 bottles of wine a week and stayed there, so I decided to take control before it became a problem.

Like some of you are saying, I was surprised how easy it's been! I'm sitting here on a Saturday night, sober and have just had good evening catching up with last week's Great British Menu... Last night I had half a bottle of red, and although I really enjoyed it, I felt like arse this morning.

I've been moderately moist all my adult life, so it's a relief to find that being dry is relatively easy, and that being damp is interesting, and that I don't go mad and float off!

chatelai · 04/03/2023 23:17

Also, have any of you found that being dry has done anything for...you know...sexy time?

I'd always liked a couple of glasses to relax me. Turns out it's all quite good without, but that I'm get really embarrassed when it comes to asking whether they are in the mood!

OneFrenchEgg · 06/03/2023 21:12

chatelai · 04/03/2023 23:17

Also, have any of you found that being dry has done anything for...you know...sexy time?

I'd always liked a couple of glasses to relax me. Turns out it's all quite good without, but that I'm get really embarrassed when it comes to asking whether they are in the mood!

No! Hahaha not giving dh any ideas there, loving the clear head at bedtime so I can read.

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