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?

That’s really good Haggis:) well done

I have been ok sleep wise, ok headaches wise, have even stopped buttering everything but is it really not even a week. I can’t remember when I last had a week off. Am chagrined to think of the money saved / lost between me and dh who isn’t quite stopped but is vastly reduced but I also feel like more than a week has gone.

Good morning, just checking in! Day 7 officially the longest I’ve gone in some months, feeling ok so far apart from the weird headache/ not headache fuzziness!

Morning DJers! I think I am finally see a benefit. I normally have really bad skin around TOTM and spots take forever to clear up. Well I had a few at the weekend and noticed this morning they've virtually gone already - that's unheard of. So maybe...just maybe it's making a difference.

We need a better name than DJers but I'm not feeling inspired!!

Day 7. We've nearly done a whole week!

Day 4 here - didn't sleep as well and have a headache. Hopefully that will pass. Dd had a beer last night and I wasn't tempted. Feel so sorry for her (uni) and both other teens are missing school and friends. Good news is my PILS have somehow managed to have 2 doses of the Pfizer vaccine.

Be careful out there it is extremely icy. Had to break the ice on the water for my horses this morning.

Day 7 and is the longest without alcohol for a long time! Not been too bad so far but the weekend will be a test so will be clinging onto this thread. Took a photo of my face which was horrendous and going to take another at the end and focussing on being healthy. One week in!

Day 7 here. I really struggled yesterday evening not to have a drink but somehow managed to get through. I woke up at 4.30am though feeling awful with a splitting headache - the type that drinking gives me. It's going to be a very long day!

Morning. Woke up with hangover Tyler symptoms so depressing! I think sleeping with the heating on didn’t help. I say sleeping but that was very disturbed. Sigh. Still on the positive I cannot wait to log my no drinking after the witching hour tonight- a week!
I asked my son if my face looked fresher and he said he can’t tell but it doesn’t look as squashed up in the morning. I ll take that! Didn’t order any AF drinks as for me, atm I am trying to break the habit snd any bottle that resembles wine May have me saying Eff it I will go onto the real thing!
Have a good day all and well done - whatever day we are on!

Good morning 😊 heading into day 7 wow 🤩 I did sleep a bit better last night only woke twice! However I did wake up later this morning so I'm holding onto that for Friday night no drink = better sleep and I can have a lay in!! Small wins 💪
Have a good day

Can I join please. Did 5 days and then buckled yesterday. Not going to make up excuses, but I need some support and somewhere to be held accountable. Do really well when I am at work and have routine, only drink at weekend. But this new lockdown and where I might end up is scaring me so the only way forward is not to drink at all. Day one again for.

What about calling it day 4.5 instead?

Dont go back to day 1 if you slip up. Its demoralising. Count as a fraction. So you have done 5 days out of 6 for example, or 4 days out of 7 or whatever. That way you still count your dry days@

Thank you. I think that’s a great idea to not say day 1. As it’s making me feel incredibly bad whereas today should be a positive as I won’t drink today. I have work tomorrow so can’t drink today. I am just so ashamed of myself.

The frustrating thing was the 5 days were not challenging. I never even wanted a drink and then yesterday one thing triggered it. However it’s a lesson and o know now I need strategies in place the next time that happens. Any advice would be appreciated

I need strategies in place the next time that happens. Any advice would be appreciated

Take it one drink at a time. If you fancy a drink, distract yourself, go and do something else for half an hour until the craving goes - phone a friend, come on here and chat, clear out a drawer, go for a walk. Anything that works for you.

Also just think of how many days you went without a drink. Try not to look at the negative - What you have achieved out ways one slip up. Definitely recommend an app as you log the dry days but if you slip up you still see week per week what you have achieved. Even counting dry days and watching your drinking is a huge achievement in itself. Try the Drink Free Days app

Thank you everyone for being so kind. I have downloaded the app and it’s great to see so many dry days. I have to see it as a slip up, it was one night. I can get back on the wagon and carry on adding up those days. It’s a good lesson learned not to be complacent and to reach out for help before reaching out for the wine. Good luck everyone you are doing amazing

My face feels very hot. Anyone else? I feel pretty rubbish, but I can see I’m not the only one Which helps as I google it and think it sounds like a serious problem if not...

@Secretsquirrelsbuddy def don't go back to square one or beat yourself up. It's a rare day in a working week I don't "fold" on a Wednesday and this weekend is going to be a big challenge!

Can I join you please.
Have managed so far but beginning to wonder what the point is.
Sleep is worse than before and I am just as irritable. Have put on 1lb as well.
I was never a massive drinker, but was getting into the habit of having a drink or two most nights. My last glass of bubbly was New Year's Eve, so a full week ago.
I nearly cracked last night, so thought your support might be what I need to keep going.

Thank you so much. I was supposed to start back at work on Monday and every day it was am I in. No but maybe tomorrow. I was very stressed. It’s not an excuse as I have to not drink when stressed. I think I am so annoyed as I never drink during the week normally. But it’s made me more determined and we will all get through this weekend. I am no longer going to count the days as such as now reaching 5 days again seems so hard. I am just going to count this day and make this day count. Thanks again everyone I already feel calmer.

@Chickydoo

Can I join you please. Have managed so far but beginning to wonder what the point is. Sleep is worse than before and I am just as irritable. Have put on 1lb as well. I was never a massive drinker, but was getting into the habit of having a drink or two most nights. My last glass of bubbly was New Year's Eve, so a full week ago. I nearly cracked last night, so thought your support might be what I need to keep going.

I am not a massive drinker either and find it takes 3 weeks to see a difference. I rarely lose any weight either! Its definitely cheaper though!

@FoxandFeathers- I was so ill for three days (after the first day) that I went for a Covid test . I hadn’t realised that it had crept up to the extent that I would have withdrawal symptoms. It just goes to show how poisonous alcohol is!

@secretsquirrelsbuddy that's a great thing to go by "this day counts " it means that you are just focusing on the now and it might seem easier than having weeks stretched out in front of you x
I'm going by "just do the same thing everyday- just keep going " I've realised I am a bit of a creature of habit, so if I can just keep with what I'm doing and try not come off that I can stick with it. I do think lockdown will help me with this as there is no socialising so no pressure to drink. I'm hoping that by the end of lockdown it will be second nature for me NOT to drink, so I don't even have to think about it ( here's hoping anyways!!)

[quote Imissmoominmama]@FoxandFeathers- I was so ill for three days (after the first day) that I went for a Covid test . I hadn’t realised that it had crept up to the extent that I would have withdrawal symptoms. It just goes to show how poisonous alcohol is![/quote]
That had crossed my mind too! What have I done to my body!?