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Alcohol support

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Anyone doing Dry January 2021?

999 replies

MyGhastIsFlabbered · 28/12/2020 17:39

I was going to go sober this year...but for various reasons (excuses) it didn't happen. DP and I have agreed to try Dry January as we are both drinking too much. Anyone else fancy coming along for the ride?

OP posts:
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mrsnibblesisahero · 03/01/2021 18:14

What will you drink @Haggisfish?

TSBelliot · 03/01/2021 18:34

Candylebon- yes very thirsty too! Mind you still clearing the eves and the dust doesn’t help!

Daisy it’s great that you are ready to make the change although I also wonder whether you should be lowering your consumption more gradually - that’s a big change for your body.

That’s hard Myghast... school stuff is a nightmare as a parent or teacher. Am both so also have my secondary and primary kids home whilst I go in. Mine are old enough to leave in charge but it can get Lord of the Flies quite quickly too. Hope you find a solution ans good luck

TessApricot · 03/01/2021 18:39

@MyGhastIsFlabbered I’m starting a new job tomorrow too. I’m a little anxious but I’m certain it’d be worse if I’d drunk wine last night or today with our roast.
Good luck for tomorrow - be kind to yourself.

MoonBaby1 · 03/01/2021 18:41

Everyone is doing so well! I’ve eaten which takes the cravings away.

TeaRose29 · 03/01/2021 19:01

Well I slept much better last night, after being wide awake most of the night before. Feeling that I am already seeing some benefits, both mentally (less brain fog) and physically (brighter eyes, skin looks a bit better).

I didn't find it toooo difficult not having a drink last night. After DJ I'd like to be able to drink only when we go out - usually (in normal times) for a meal once a week, and to the pub once a week - and to train myself not to drink at home at all, because that really is the slippery slope for me, and I've been much worse during lockdown.

I've been taking CBD oil and that definitely makes me feel a bit more chilled. I'll monitor this and report back.

@SilverRing I do feel for you. My DH is a regular but annoyingly moderate drinker and he would never do DJ, he doesn't see the point and it would make him miserable. He has regular nights AF, and will sometimes sit nursing one glass of red wine or whisky all night - or he might drink a whole bottle of wine! I have far less of an off switch than him, and once I've started I'm always itching for more, and then have to deploy a lot of willpower, which is, frankly, exhausting. I'm really enjoying the simplicity of just knowing that I can't drink! DH will say things like, "why don't you just have one glass of wine?" because he doesn't get how hard that is for me - I would usually have at least two, most nights of the week. The saving grace for me is that I don't drink the same things as him - I like white wine and fizz - so his continuing to drink during DJ doesn't really bother me. If he cracked open a Chablis, that would be really tricky Blush. It would also be difficult if we were going out - I know he would feel weird without his drinking buddy in a pub or restaurant (and I'd be struggling as well), so I am relieved that this isn't an option.

Perhaps you could just frame this to yourself as a time-limited situation? Also, it's only Day 3 and you are adapting and detoxing. It may be easier in a few days' time. Good luck and hang in there!

CandyLeBonBon · 03/01/2021 19:01

I'm not craving yet. Although I easily put away a bottle a night if I'm not careful, it's a lazy indulgent habit and a stress coping strategy.

I am slightly stressed nis though as I'm trying to set my daughter up on google classroom
And I've not used it for her before so no idea how to access it for her and she's got to start online classes tomorrow morning! 😱

Els1e · 03/01/2021 19:24

Ahhh, fallen already. Have drunk bottle of wine with a friend. Reasons why but don’t want to start making excuses. Have realised I need to think around emotions. 😶

thekaratekid · 03/01/2021 19:36

Can I join in too? Smile Day 3 for me. Found my drinking creeping up this year due to all the general crap surrounding 2020, add in the stress of a house move (ongoing) and a job promotion as well.

Truthfully....my drinking has probably slowly crept up over the last 5 years or so (coinciding with a bout of bad mental health). Before the mental health issue I used to have 2 small bottles of beer on a Friday night and half a bottle of wine on a Saturday. Fast forward to this year... and it is more like half a bottle of wine and a G&T on Thursday to Sunday...and maybe Monday as well. Confused

Basically use alcohol as a wind down/reward after a stressful day. However, I have had far too many hangovers this year and frankly I am fed up of thinking about bloody wine during the witching hour (6pm - 8pm). I also have no off switch and can never just have the mumsnet thimble of wine and stop.

I tried DJ before and got 9 days in before giving up. Hoping I can do better this year! Basically taking one day at a time and would ideally like to either reset my brain (if possible) or give up altogether, but I know that is ambitious. Also have definitely gained weight which doesn't seem to shift easily....so any weight loss will be an added bonus! Grin

TessApricot · 03/01/2021 19:37

@Els1e I would find it hard if I was seeing friends too so I emphasise. Not being allowed to socialise this month is actually a good thing for me for dry January! Start again tomorrow. 😊

Youngatheart00 · 03/01/2021 19:39

So many of us dealing with stress and anxiety at the moment relating to the current situation. I’ve got major dread about returning to work (well, home office) tomorrow and would usually turn to wine, every time.

Sipping an appletiser and will have an early night with my book, maybe do a calm app meditation.

@Els1e you can start again tomorrow? But curious where you are where you can share a bottle of wine with a friend. That’s what I miss, so so much.

PeacheyPeach · 03/01/2021 19:48

Day 3 for me - went for a lovely walk this afternoon and came home to a gorgeous roast cooked by DH. Usually a Sunday night has me finishing off a bottle of wine followed by a vodka nightcap but I'm feeling really good about not drinking , my DH has had a couple of lagers but I've not even felt bothered . I can't wait to start healthy eating tomorrow and start feeling better soon x

Els1e · 03/01/2021 20:06

I’m in tier 3 and we are in south west. Friend is solo and part of our family support bubble. Sat outside around fire pit. But yes, will start again! as there’s always a reason to drink and I need to move on from that emotion.

CandyLeBonBon · 03/01/2021 20:21

Haha @thekaratekid I'm actually watching the karate kid 3 right now - and binge watched all of cobra Kai season 3 on Friday!

goldpendant · 03/01/2021 20:25

Hi everyone, can I join please? Day 3 AF for me, following a year of pretty much daily drinking. Lockdown, homeschool etc etc has led us to drinking way too much and way too often. I'd also like to quit long term which I appreciate means becoming tee total I think, or to just be able to share a bottle with DH if we go out for di net when this is all over.

Anyway, well done to everyone so far for starting. I'm feeling better in the mornings for it but probably eating more junk to compensate. Made myself a big thick green smoothie earlier with loads of mint and lime which was a lovely distraction. I too get itchy for a wine between about 5-8pm, usually coincides with kids tea/bath/bedtime!

MyGhastIsFlabbered · 03/01/2021 20:29

Hi and welcome all newcomers, everyone is welcome, wherever you are on your journey.

@Els1e are you planning on hopping back on the wagon tomorrow? Well done for admitting a fall. I'd struggle if offered wine so I'm very glad we don't have any here.

Though I'd almost welcome DP falling - he'd be a lot less stressed if he had a glass of wine. But he's determined not to.

OP posts:
Herdwick · 03/01/2021 20:33

I've started doing the new 30 day yoga programme with Adrienne at the same time as dry January (free on YouTube).

I do it at exactly the time I would usually be looking for excuses to nip to the shop (bread, milk etc so I can get a bottle of wine at the same time) The endorphin kick I'm getting from it is helping with losing that 'first sip' high you usually get from he first glass of wine and because I feel so virtuous afterwards I finish off with a nice cup of tea, when usually I would be pouring my second large glass of voignier.

It's really really helping.

Sometimes123 · 03/01/2021 20:39

Could I join your group too? I have been lurking from day one, a bit too worried about joining. But I was really looking forward to seeking the thread out this evening after putting my little ones to bed. I'm finding it really supportive. My motivation is...I weigh 219lbs, I am 40 this year and I have drank pretty much every night over Christmas. Physically I feel heavy, lazy and have flushed skin....emotionally I have felt low motivation, anxiety and tear fulness. Its day 3 for me and shamefully I haven't had an alcohol free day since the end of November prior to this. My DH is doing it with me,but already I have noticed improvements in my sleep and my energy levels. Onwards and upwards.

CandyLeBonBon · 03/01/2021 20:41

@Herdwick ah yes the 'ooh I just need to pop to the shop' and then a bottle of wine just ends up in the basket!

I do the same. Interesting to hear about the yoga

MyGhastIsFlabbered · 03/01/2021 20:45

@Herdwick we're exactly the same - any excuse to nip to the shop and 'oh look how did that wine get there'

Though I made an Oreo cheesecake and am currently stuffing myself with that.

OP posts:
Haggisfish · 03/01/2021 21:00

I had sparkling apple juice instead. I couldn’t put wine in it as I would have to drink the rest of the wine! The only way I can do this is by not having wine in the house. I did it though. Once I’m past dinner I’m ok. I drink partly because my dc are shit at going to sleep and I can’t face bedtime...

Youngatheart00 · 03/01/2021 21:00

@Els1e oh wine around a fire pit....stop!!! Sounds so tempting right now. Just enjoy that you did it, don’t beat yourself up and start back again tomorrow

@Herdwick et al spot on - the amount of ‘essential trips’ I make to get wine....pretty much daily. I’m pretty sure my covid risk will decline substantially too this month without the daily trips to co-op (cases are well over 1000/100k in my area)

And welcome @Sometimes123 absolutely no shame in past drinking habits, I think I only had 2 booze free days in December and that’s as I was hungover 😕 also doing this for the weight loss (plus wider health benefits but I must admit the weight loss the most immediate draw) day 3 done - onward and upward.

MyGhastIsFlabbered · 03/01/2021 21:06

Speaking of shameful past drinking habits. At the very start of March lockdown I was drinking a bottle of wine a night - every night of the week. DP likes red and I like white so we never could share a bottle. We tried to cut down to only at weekends but it crept up again and Christmas was just a complete right off. My liver must be thanking me right now. I can't remember the last time I had 2 nights in a row AF

OP posts:
AgnesNaismith · 03/01/2021 21:19

Same, Ghast! I had taken to the habit of having a glass of wine for the daily press conference, then dinner with more wine, then a final glass before bed.

I almost cracked today also cooking cassoulet!! Even opened and added a glass to the cooking but didn’t have one!

Blessex · 03/01/2021 21:24

I am in! Started a couple of days late as we just wanted the weekend over. But it’s Sunday night now and my DH and I are in. My drinking has got so much worse during lockdown and working from home. It has been exhausting and with a lack of a physical barrier between work and home - alcohol became that barrier. I have been drinking a bottle of wine easily most nights. I struggle to know if any days I haven’t drunk over the last 9 months of lockdown. Now a total reset. Kids are watching us!!! Here we go. Hello all!

Sometimes123 · 03/01/2021 21:24

Sometimes, we'd finish 1 bottle and I'd go to the shop for another!!! Feel ashamed of myself, but I'm also incredibly comforted by this thread and I'm feeling motivated.

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