DRY JANUARY 2025! Join us for a healthier start to the year! All welcome 🥤☕️🧋

[HPLikecraft]

It’s that time of year again!
If you need a detox, to lose weight, to be healthier, to undo some seasonal overindulgence, to sleep better, to look better, to have healthier skin, to save money, boost liver function, improve your memory, or to decrease your likelihood of dying earlier of various nasty illnesses (sorry for the sudden hard ball!) then you’ve come to the right place!

The MN DJ2025 Chat thread is for anyone who wants to reset their relationship with alcohol; whether you’re a weekend tippler or a problem heavier drinker.
This is a friendly, non-judgmental thread where we support and encourage each other, exchange ideas and information, share alcohol-free drinks recommendations etc.

Hopefully we’ll have some fun along the way. Please hop aboard the good ship DJ 2025, everyone welcome!

Thank you @FraidSo - I might actually screenshot that as it’s extremely motivating!

Hmmm am starting to feel a cold coming on. That will make staying dry easier.

The liver thing intrigues me. Some people seem to get away with really abusing their liver and it forgives them and others can’t. I think I remember on that panorama documentary this one woman who had a liver transplant because she had such bad damage - seemed to be a social drinker, still had a job, holding down responsibilities with kids etc and was told she would die without a transplant in her late 30s. Others like my aunt who are terribly far down the road and have been for decades (definitely not functioning) her liver is kicking on fine and she’s in her 60s. I don’t think it helps people like us as it makes it hard to believe that too much damage is actually being done, really. I get blood tests every year for work medicals and liver function comes back normal every time - but I only rarely drink less than 14 units a week.

Anyway enough rambling ….

I'm on my 21 day mark today and I'm honestly delighted! I'm sleeping great, skin looks great, bags under my eyes are just almost non existent (I thought they were age related, it appears they were booze related), more energy, I'm bouncing out of the bed at 6am. I've saved about £140 pounds which is absolutely mortifying to admit. I've lost 4lbs.

I gave away all the leftover Xmas alcohol yesterday, not because I was tempted by it at all tbh, more because I genuinely think I've turned a corner with my drinking. I cant justify drinking when I'm seeing such benefits.

Really hoping this is the start of a new way of living and a complete reset of my relationship with alcohol, or maybe the end of it completely. It's been a long time coming and I hope it lasts. I'm actually feeling quite emotional about it this evening, in a good way I think.

Congrats @MistletoeAndWine123!

I’m struggling on - I’ve had an emotional day for reasons I won’t go into, but it’s so tempting to reach for the wine when that happens. I’ve got nothing but sheer willpower keeping me going - can’t lie, it is F-ing tough. I was drinking a bottle of wine a day and I think I have come to rely on it enormously as an emotional crutch. When you suddenly dont have that anymore it’s hard.

I am excited to have got this far 🎉

I haven't got many positives except the joy of just proving I can do it. My skin seems nicer but tbh that could be because each evening I'm washing and moisturising it instead of tumbling into bed
Feel like I've put on weight as I have chocs about now each night when a glass of wine with a TV show would be the norm for me.
Feel very 'wholesome' and even do housework and shit that a decent adult should do but I avoided. But also quite bored and have basically avoided social situations for 22 days

I've also got to admit I'm worried about what's ahead. @Fordian what sort of plan are you looking at for Damp Feb? I'm worried I'll be so thrilled to have a drink again that I'll go wild for all of Feb.

@mynamechangemyrules I'm the same as you in regard to DJ is that although I KNOW it's good for me and my wallet, but I'm not really feeling much in myself. In fact, I feel tired, headachey and a bit flat. And I'm quite bored. Like you, I am avoiding social situations where I might normally drink as I suspect I'd feel deprived and bored! 22 days hasn't changed that!

Re: Damp Feb, I've not thought it through enormously, but I'd say I'll decide on which day I'll drink and how much. Then attempt to stick to it. If I can't, I will then know I may have to quit altogether.

I know it is a heresy to celebrate a successful DJ with a drink, but it'll be a Saturday and I think I'll probably have half of a nice bottle of white that evening. But before 1/2, I will have formulated what days I will drink (if I feel like it, but if I decide not to, I can't play it forward), and which ones I definitely won't. And will monitor myself carefully.

My goal is moderation. I can't imagine never drinking again, but all respect for those who can.

Evening all. It’s about time I gave you a progress report!
The end of today will see us…

71%

of the way through DJ2025! And I have to say, you’re looking really well and healthy!

It’s great to come and read all your tales, struggles, observations, slip ups and successes. Well done for staying here.

I wanted to mention anxiety and depression today.

The greater the amount of alcohol you consume and the more regular the intake, the more likely you are to develop temporary anxiety and depressive symptoms. As consumption increases though, these symptoms also are likely to intensify and become more frequent.

https://www2.hse.ie/living-well/alcohol/health/effects-on-your-body/depression/#:~:text=Alcohol%20is%20a%20depressant&text=This%20is%20because%20alcohol%20changes,to%20drink%20more%20to%20cope

If you are prone to depression, anxiety or other mental ill health, booze is best avoided. Unfortunately it’s at trying times that it seems most attractive. 😔

I’ll start a new thread 1st thing tomorrow!!

Single digits to finish the month. We can do this!

Hurrah!

Thanks @newme2025

I'm particularly happy because I would drink to a similar level as you, probably getting through 8 bottles of wine a week or so. So to be able to abstain relatively easily is such a relief as I know I have a terrible relationship with alcohol, I'm what people would call a problem drinker and I've always been afraid of becoming a full blown alcoholic.

I'm determined for it to be no more. The downsides are just too much. Not sure if I will try and go completely sober, for the moment I couldn't even imagine having a drink. I'm interested to see what the Damp February plans will be, maybe I'll jump on that bandwagon as well, this thread has been super helpful.

Morning all.

Thread 2 here:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5258677-dry-another-day-dry-january-2025-thread-2

See you there!

Day 25 and I am still going. My birthday is beginning of February so will probably end it on my birthday!