DRY HARD 2: DRY HARDER! Dry January 2024, Thread#2 🧃🧋

[HPLikecraft]

Thread#2...

Let's keep going!

Night everyone.
Well done if you got through Friday night. We're now 38.7% of the way through DJ, but I think I may as well just round that up to

39%

Just sounds nicer. 🤷‍♀️

Have a good and healthy weekend ☕

Yesterday was day 15 for me and I almost thought why not have one glass when DH poured one for himself but then not achieving DJ put me off and I ended up with flavoured tonic water in my wine glass.

Noticing my resolve is wavering the last couple of days but trying to push through it.

I went bed at 20:30 last night as I was so bored and cold. Did a bit of reading then dropped off. I’ve just woken up!! That’s the first decent nights sleep I’ve had in months! Hopefully the benefits of DJ are starting to kick in 🙂

Well, I'm not sure how I managed not to order wine with my meal last night but I did and I'm still here on the wagon! After a very tough day yesterday, I could have really enjoyed a large glass but just noticed the stories in my head instead. I started by thinking 'It's been a tough day, I want to enjoy my life, I'm not an alcoholic/at rock bottom/affecting any one or anything with my drinking etc. In fact if I can't have a drink it puts me in with people who really have a problem, which I don't etc etc.' I then thought of this group and others staying firm going through tough times. I played it forward to the morning when I knew I'd feel prouder to have abstained and kept it to just abstaining for the night. And I did. Huzzah! Im feeling very smug this morning, my first real challenge beaten.

Brilliant, well done!!!

Day 13. Wow 39% already! Thanks @HPLikecraft the % really helps.

Last night was fine,no twitching- I had my 0% Freixenet and I also had some apple crumble and custard which I found very comforting (although I don't want to get into a dessert habit instead!)

Yes to whoever mentioned sleep. It won't get old waking up rested and fresh as a daisy the next morning.

Oh and I have changed my name from "Iwanttheraintostop" as it was too negative for the 2024 me but based on my last post re dessert i might need to change my name again 🤣

I'm sorry there were so many others struggling last night, but as @hydratedsusan said, it really helped to think of others in the [alcohol] Resistance on here last night while I was trying to avoid the open bottle of red on the mantelpiece! I've attempted DJ before without mumsnet support (I can never get DH to join me), and never made it this far. THANKYOU EVERYONE!

Yesterday was hard. I had my first craving at around 3:30pm and they came and went all evening. Never felt tempted just reminded. Felt better after I had pizza and a Leffe zero.
I am so hungry though - I don't normally feel hunger if I'm drinking so it's a bit distracting and irritating to have this deep gnawing hunger and I'm having to eat a lot more than usual to satisfy it.

Checking in!
I'm not going to lie, yesterday between 5-8pm I really wanted a glass of wine - but I think I'm too stubborn not to complete DJ so I managed to stay strong and I'm still AF.

As soon as DC was asleep I put myself to bed with an AF beer and the real housewives of Beverly Hills.

As we're nearing the half way mark
I'm starting to contemplate what my healthier attitude to alcohol will look like February onwards. Has anyone else decided on their approach?

I still haven't had any real alcohol cravings (v surprised by this) but I had two Goodrays last night which will tell you a lot! 😂 DH was out (and planned to drink, though apart from this is doing DJ) and the DCs were playing up well past bedtime whilst he was out, it's also my time of the month, so was feeling a bit harassed/rubbish all round, and drinking at home in the evenings is definitely my issue.

Can see clearly how I drink to 'take the edge off', deal with stresses, so lots to think about.

The Goodrays are tasty (to me) but do have an unpleasant (presumably cbd oil) aftertaste, but nonetheless I do enjoy them. Prefer the flavours to Trip. I do love fizzy drinks though. They're my emergency for now but don't intend for them to be a frequent thing. They have a somewhat calming effect but certainly not akin to alcohol buzz by any means. Sticking with kombucha generally.

Seriously considering carrying on after DJ as the difference in sleep despite my toddler's best endeavours and general well being is too good to ignore. I don't think I can moderate well.

Morning all.
last night was not good.
i am so bloody exhausted all the time. What is that all about?
had AF fizz in a wine glass which help take the edge off.
DP not doing DJ but has cut down a lot so he had some red wine.
i have decided that I am getting annoyed by the quit lit.
i haven’t found anything that discusses how hard it is to do these first few weeks. I haven’t read anywhere about the physical symptoms like tiredness , carb cravings etc once the actual alcohol withdrawal has happened. It’s all just roses and how wonderful being AF is. They clearly have a strong bias- but I was hoping for something that I could relate to. It’s all I had a problem with drink, then I stopped and now I feel better.
i am tired and grumpy today- can you tell😂

Am I the only one finding it easier to do this without substitutes? I’ve tried in the past to generally moderate and drink AF beer or trip drinks but it never lasts long. For me it’s like these drinks shine a light on what I’m not having and so I think about it more. I find it easier to have small snack (for the sugar hit) and/or a cup of decaf or herbal tea (for the restless hands and comfort) in the evening.
I also find it helpful to schedule in a small task that needs to be done sober for my danger hours (6-7pm).
Its a very personal journey isn’t it

@Chocolatecoatedkettlebell yes, I’m the same. I’ve been drinking a lot less af alternatives this year. Sometimes have an af beer or a bottle of nozecco over a few nights, but I’m mainly sticking to water and ginger tea. Im certainly not drinking the af mocktails I had on my first attempt. I don’t want to replace one bad habit (alcohol) with another (sugar).

Yes mine feels much smoother and softer! Still looks like shit though

Realised when I went to bed last night that I hadn't give my Friday night tipple a thought and hadn't missed it at all.

I don't like most of the AF drinks.
I never drink gin, tonic, beer, or white wine, so that's me pretty much out. AF red wine is awful and spirit wise, I only drink vodka, and only if I'm out.

I have no interest in getting involved with CBD or other stimulants/relaxants to replace alcohol.

I'm not addicted to alcohol but I do drink too much and need to sort that so I need to retrain myself to drink less.

For the first time since DJ started I craved a drink last night but found an AF beer in the fridge and then ate loads of chocolate . But still, stuck to DJ.

I feel that way about AF wine and spirits. But AF beers like Brooklyn are so refreshing and savoury. I don't really enjoy sweet drinks, so loads of sticky fruit juices and cordials depress me more.

OP - I love this thread title.

Welcome to Day 13 everyone... The past two weeks have gone really quickly for me, even though I've suffered from some tiredness and lack of energy at times; I can't believe we're not far off halfway through.

@december2020 , like you I have been thinking about what happens in February. The general plan is to drink less, not give up. (Like @BigButtons , I'm also getting fed up with the Quit Lit, where moderation is seen as an impossibility and sobriety the answer to all of our problems - it isn't.) I've been ticking off the days on a spreadsheet which also notes exercise and sleep patterns, so I think I will continue to do that, as I find it motivating, and perhaps set myself a target of 50% AF days for February, and review again for March. I'm fortunate in that I do have an off switch when it comes to alcohol - I haven't drunk enough to get a hangover for many years, so it's about introducing short breaks of a few days or a couple of weeks, rather than drinking every day as I was last year. I don't rule out doing an extra couple of weeks AF to increase the benefits for my liver.

Going out for a walk later and hopefully finding the energy to tidy the house!

Morning all. Still dragging myself through the days at the moment - no sign of any mythical pink cloud on the horizon for me as yet... Getting a lot out of writing the blog though (my way of killing time in the evenings...), so at least there's that!

Today's post is all about alcohol and the brain - the first of a two-parter, given that it's a pretty hefty subject!

https://wellitywellness.com/2024/01/13/dry-january-13-alcohol-and-the-brain/

“TheAlcoholResistance”

I love that!

I’m going to change my user name,

Thanks @wellitywellness , that took me right back to my college days, before I even knew what boundaries were 🤐!

The effect on brain chemistry is fascinating - no wonder alcohol is so appealing, and that it is a slippery slope for so many. Also a great reminder that DJ isn't just about our livers - brains need detoxing too. I suffer from anxiety generally (on medication for it) so it's hard to tell whether mine has been reset yet, which is another incentive to extend DJ a little if I can.

I have been thinking about my approach going forward. My weakness is getting stuck into a delicious bottle of red wine and after a couple of glasses I tend to want more, but rarely get up to a bottle a day.

I think my plan will be to schedule in 2 consecutive alcohol free days a week, probably Monday and Tuesday. Then avoiding the wine on some of the other days, maybe allowing myself just one G and T instead. I would like to get down to 2 bottles of wine a week and aim for better/nicer wine so I can really enjoy it.

Don’t know how that sounds or if it will work but it’s a start! Oh, and like some others have said, do some breaks of a week or so now and again.