Anyone doing Dry January 2021?

[MyGhastIsFlabbered]

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?

This is the one I got (I am in Ireland, but I see from the packaging thst it is distributed in the UK)

I'm having the most incredibly stressful day at work, please someone talk be down from a wine ledge!!!

Aaarrgg. Thought I would feel better by day 6, but today I feel LEADEN. I haven't exactly got a headache, but I feel a bit dizzy and spaced out, and I've really got no energy. Just forced myself out for an hour's walk around the dene and it's helped a bit, getting some fresh air.

It's a sobering thought (pun intended) that I am feeling this grotty when I "only" drink about 2-3 glasses of wine, say 5 days a week (appreciate that that's probably 35-40 units ). It just proves, I think, that alcohol is such a poison.

I have the greatest respect for those of you who are homeschooling and/or WFH and managing to stick with DJ. I don't have to do either (children grown up and I'm just about to start a master's degree) - don't think I would last the course.

Anyway, on the plus side I think my skin looks a bit better, and I've lost 3 pounds in spite of all the chocolate I've been eating .

We can do this!

@showmethegin plan something for immediately after you stop work, whether it is food, drink or an activity. That helps for me.

I second the enthusiasm about ginger-flavoured drinks. They seem to help, I am drinking diet ginger ale with Three Spirit every night and am managing OK.

@showmethegin you can do it! « hands her a stepladder to climb down and offers cup of virtual tea »

Just focus on doing something lovely this evening as soon as you can: have a bath, chocolate, have a nice AF drink, chocolate, watch something you like on TV, something nice to eat, chocolate ....

It's a sobering thought (pun intended) that I am feeling this grotty when I "only" drink about 2-3 glasses of wine, say 5 days a week (appreciate that that's probably 35-40 units ). It just proves, I think, that alcohol is such a poison.

If you've been doing that for a while you may well have depleted b1,3 and 6 levels. A b vitamin complex may help.

@showmethegin can you think of anything else that will give you a (healthier) lift than wine? A nice soak in the bath, nice chocolate/snacks, a puzzle/crossword/other hobby to distract you?

We're doing well everyone

Thanks all! I'm due to finish work in 10 mins, DP is running me a bath to leap in as soon as I finish then he'll go and get fish and chips for when I'm out!

I keep thinking all the wine will make me do is feel shit for quitting and will make me feel worse in the morning when I have a big day! We can do this!

10 to five and still sober whoop whoop!

@Dugee

It's a sobering thought (pun intended) that I am feeling this grotty when I "only" drink about 2-3 glasses of wine, say 5 days a week (appreciate that that's probably 35-40 units ). It just proves, I think, that alcohol is such a poison.

If you've been doing that for a while you may well have depleted b1,3 and 6 levels. A b vitamin complex may help.

Funny you should say that, Dugee - I started taking a B complex a few days ago! Hoping it kicks in soon!

@theDudesmummy - thanks for the picture. I have found it on Amazon and will order.

@Dugee

Is anyone else not feeling any better/ different or sleeping any better yet?

What's your caffeine intake like? How much and at what times? Caffeine is a stimulant and alcohol is a depressant - if you've removed the depressant but kept the stimulant the same, the stimulant will be having more of an effect without the depressant, hence lack of sleep.

Thanks it is probably exactly that, I drink lots of tea and coffee all day though only have herbal in the evening. Really not sure I can bear to quit coffee aswell as wine.

Evening all, finishing up day 6 for me. Picked up some Becks Blue on my after work supermarket trip. I'll put a few of these in the fridge ready for Friday night. Feeling totally fine so far, I feel like my mood has improved a bit, more stable and more upbeat. It still feels very much like the beginning so I'm not craving alcohol or the start of February yet. I just want this weekend over with tbh.

This weekend could be the toughest challenge yet, but we can all do it. I'll be popping onto the thread to share how I'm feeling & offer support where possible and I'm sure others will do the same. One day at a time remember

Wobbly tonight. The horrible bit when you're starting to get bored with not drinking but have yet to see any benefits.

Yeah I feel wobbly tonight. It's the boredom and the monotony I think. Popping over to see oh this evening (he's my bubble - lives alone etc) so the change of scene will be good.

It was my brother's funeral a couple of weeks ago and I've got the transcript of the service (he was in Scotland and I couldn't attend). Can't face reading it yet as I know it will be a massive wine trigger. So it's just sitting on my kitchen table staring at me.

My first milestone is a week and I don't want to fuck it up. I think I sometimes deliberately sabotage myself so I can justify buying a bottle though?

@CandyLeBonBon sorry for your loss - that must have been hard. Be kind to yourself and enjoy seeing DP. Is he DJing with you?

@dementedma I'm not seeing any benefit yet either but I'm a stubborn old bird and I won't give in that easily! A PP said day 10 is when we might start to see/feel a difference so let's try and focus on that mini milestone? I got a Try Dry badge today!

Day 6 here. Been suffering with the weird headaches and had a lot of trouble getting to sleep last night. Hoping for better tonight! I haven't missed having a drink yesterday or this evening, as never really used to drink midweek. However, this weekend will be hard...just have to keep my wits about me!

Haven't seen many improvements yet, if anything I feel quite bloated!

Day 6 check in. Thoughts of wine are starting to weedle their way in now and I keep seeing left over Christmas booze around the house.

I know I won't have a drink tonight but I am getting worried about Friday night now. I need a plan.

A useful phrase is Think Through the Drink... it's tempting now but you'll be so glad you didn't tomorrow.

[quote MyGhastIsFlabbered]@CandyLeBonBon sorry for your loss - that must have been hard. Be kind to yourself and enjoy seeing DP. Is he DJing with you? [/quote]
No but I generally drink far more than him anyway - he goes weeks without sometimes so he's happy to just potter along next to me.

We've had convos about my alcohol intake as I know it's something I've needed to tackle for a while so he's happy to support me but I didn't want to pressure him into it iyswim?

I did DJ with my ex a few years ago and he lied about being abstinent and when I found him out and confronted him, he told me it was because I'd put too much pressure in him and that was why he hid it (which is utter bullshit, I know, because I didn't pressure him) but it made me war, so I'm a bit reluctant to involve my lovely dp so I don't feel beholden to anyone.

Apart from you lot that is! 😁

I got a Try Dry badge today!

Yay!!! Well done @MyGhastIsFlabbered

@WhiskersPete

Day 6 check in. Thoughts of wine are starting to weedle their way in now and I keep seeing left over Christmas booze around the house.

I know I won't have a drink tonight but I am getting worried about Friday night now. I need a plan.

I poured all our leftover booze down the sink new years day morning. I wouldn't have been able to cope with it in the house.

I switched to decaf last time I stopped drinking; sleep has been better ever since.

Day 6 here too. I used some daylight hours to go for a walk, so I’m catching up on work this evening, which is good because I keep hearing people on my newsfeed saying they’re foregoing DJ because of lockdown!