Mumsnet Logo
My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you have medical concerns, please seek medical attention; if you think your problem could be acute, do so immediately. Even qualified doctors can't diagnose over the internet, so do bear that in mind when seeking or giving advice.

Alcohol support

Hop on up it's Dry January thread #2

999 replies

MyGhastIsFlabbered · 10/01/2021 17:43

Shiny new thread to carry us onward through January

OP posts:
Report

mrsnibblesisahero · 12/01/2021 20:02

Its just dawning on me that a month is actually a really long time.

Report

dementedma · 12/01/2021 20:17

12 days done. Definitely have more energy but could do with seeing some weight coming off. Birthday on Thursday is always a challenge in Dry January and where I’ve cracked before. Didn’t last year though and even got through DS’s 18th birthday last year so I can do this!

Report

SantaMonicaPier · 12/01/2021 20:23

Well done everyone! Absolutely brilliant progress. I'm so pleased I've made it this far, am starting to eat more healthily and exercise too to try to make a bigger overall positive change.

Report

goldpendant · 12/01/2021 20:24

Q for those that do dry Jan every year, so you find it has a positive impact on your drinking throughout the rest of the year? So gasping for a wine earlier that I can't really imagine how I'll start again but moderate (despite all good intentions)!

Report

Blessex · 12/01/2021 20:52

I have the same question @goldpendant. I was especially shocked about the initial withdrawal symptoms though. That has scared me a bit. I never had enough time off to even go through withdrawal before.

Report

teelizzy · 12/01/2021 20:59

@CandyLeBonBon you described my day to a T. WFH, constantly interrupted. Moody 15 year old in school grumbling about it. Spent an hour cooking dinner (pilaf, pretty yummy actually, could have murdered a bottle of wine but stuck to seedlip and tonic. Family funeral via Zoom this morning.

But it's now 9pm and I haven't had a drink today! Yay!

Report

CandyLeBonBon · 12/01/2021 21:10

Well done @teelizzy - I'm struggling with winter. I would normally drown myself in a cat of wine. But I haven't. It's possibly the only positive today!

Report

Humphriescushion · 12/01/2021 21:11

I did manage to moderate my drink after my first dry January. My drinking crept up again with lockdown but nowhere near where it was. After i did dry January I then decided to only drink on friday and saturday and also to not drink at all one weekend a month - which meant i was having 13 days straight without. I stopped doing this with the lockdown so wanted to do dry january to reset this.

Report

Haggisfish · 12/01/2021 21:53

I am still dry, too, astonishingly! Well done to everyone who is still sober and those who have had the odd slip. This is about the fifth year I e tried to do DJ and it’s the first I have ever made it more than two days!Grin

Report

wintertime6 · 12/01/2021 22:18

I had a slip up last weekend, I took a glass of wine which I didn't really want in the first place, which turned into a bottle. I had the worst headache the next day, lasted all day and one eye was streaming all day because of my bad head. I definitely can't handle it any more, I used to drink more than that and never felt so rough, at least it showed me how awful it makes me feel.

Apart from that slip up, I've been feeling so much more positive, I love waking up and feeling fresh, I'm being much more productive, and feeling a lot more organised, planning meals and food shops. Have been getting out in the fresh air a lot and my head feels a lot clearer.

Onwards and upwards, and well done to everyone who's here whether you've stayed dry or encountered a slip up along the way.

Report

PeacheyPeach · 12/01/2021 22:36

@mrsnibblesisahero

Its just dawning on me that a month is actually a really long time.

@mrsnibblesisahero just think we are nearly 2 weeks in, only 2 weeks to go!
Report

CandyLeBonBon · 12/01/2021 22:45

Hah! Me too @Haggisfish Grin

Report

Luckingfovely · 12/01/2021 22:49

May I jump on board? Definitely feeling the need for support! Have been dry so far in Jan bar one bad day last weekend, but committed to seeing it through! Can't sleep and feel like I'm putting on weight, but it'll be worth it in the end, right...?

Report

TSBelliot · 12/01/2021 22:59

All aboard Luckingfovely. I am fatter as have been desk bound and doing way too much work so not out and about like normal. It is worth it though. I actually feel like maybe my skin looks a bit better. I can’t really say I feel any better generally (feel fine usually) but my heart rate is down so that seems a pretty significant change. What else could change. We shall see. I like the idea that this month could reset my relationship with drink. I am focusing on £ saved as I am mean!

Report

TSBelliot · 12/01/2021 23:00

Haggisfish I have never managed the first day before - must have lasted about 10hrs! Rubbish

Report

Youngatheart00 · 12/01/2021 23:10

Today has been a toughie. I’m finding work so monotonous and with nowhere to go and nothing to do I’m craving wine just to take me out of my own head for a bit. I know that’s not a great reason to drink though so I’ve been distracting myself by playing Nintendo switch, reading and cooking this evening!

A month really is a bloody long time but 12 days in, still going (even if not going strong)

Weirdly, the skin on my face looks better, clearer, less puffy. But my skin elsewhere has gone so ridiculously dry!!! Honestly not sure why??

Report

CoronaIsWatching · 12/01/2021 23:18

@Youngatheart00

Today has been a toughie. I’m finding work so monotonous and with nowhere to go and nothing to do I’m craving wine just to take me out of my own head for a bit. I know that’s not a great reason to drink though so I’ve been distracting myself by playing Nintendo switch, reading and cooking this evening!

A month really is a bloody long time but 12 days in, still going (even if not going strong)

Weirdly, the skin on my face looks better, clearer, less puffy. But my skin elsewhere has gone so ridiculously dry!!! Honestly not sure why??

I live alone in a flat and work from home. I don't speak to anyone day in day out now apart from on here and whatsapp. Don't even speak to the supermarket staff as I use self checkout. Dry January is my project and coming on here seeing how everyone else is getting on helps keep me sane.
Report

Youngatheart00 · 12/01/2021 23:23

@CoronaIsWatching yes, this thread (and MN in general) is definitely good company, especially when distraction is needed.

I’m annoyed that I have realised that I am ‘dependant’ to an extent. I rarely drink to get drunk, but I do drink to numb reality and I realise that’s unhealthy

Report

Blessex · 13/01/2021 06:07

@Youngatheart00 I think you have just described my relationship with alcohol to a certain extent.

I’m finding work so monotonous and with nowhere to go and nothing to do I’m craving wine just to take me out of my own head for a bit.

The evening wine just kills the whole monotony. And same same I am annoyed I am now dependent so these days so far have been a great challenge otherwise I just get to the evening and say oh why not. And another bottle is sunk. This thread really helps.

Report

LumpySpacedPrincess · 13/01/2021 06:30

Can I jump aboard? I've done dry Jan for the last five years. Finding it hard this year as I work in a school and it's crazy at the mo. Still on the wagon though.

Report

OhioOhioOhio · 13/01/2021 07:24

I'd say I'm managing this easily really but could not attempt the healthy eating that some of you are doing alongside dj.

Report

mrsnibblesisahero · 13/01/2021 07:40

I dreamed I slipped up last night! My whole dream was me in a pub! Still, heading into day 12, very difficult work day. And yes, you're right, nearly halfway. Keep going everyone!

Report

Rolo1324 · 13/01/2021 08:12

Morning peeps ready for another day working at home! Sleep wasn't great last night I'm still waiting for that full uninterrupted sleep but do wonder if because I want it so much I'm causing it not to happen!! Over thinker here!
Have a great day 😀

Report

MyGhastIsFlabbered · 13/01/2021 08:27

Hi everyone and welcome any new joiners - the more the merrier.

Been very busy juggling work, DP, kids, school etc etc. I'd love a drink but am determined to see it through. Just think - nearly halfway! That's meant to be motivational!!

Before Christmas I registered with a drug and alcohol support service as was drinking so much. They called me last night and I was talking about staying dry after January but the idea of being teetotal for life scared me - they said not to focus on forever, just to break it down into manageable chunks. I'm thinking of doing that although I'm not really seeing any benefit yet.

OP posts:
Report

Blessex · 13/01/2021 08:33

@MyGhastIsFlabbered I hope you don’t mind me asking (maybe you said early on first thread) but how much were you drinking?

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Sign up to continue reading

Mumsnet's better when you're logged in. You can customise your experience and access way more features like messaging, watch and hide threads, voting and much more.

Already signed up?