Beyond Dry January - moderators and 100 dayers DJ#3

[MyGhastIsFlabbered]

New thread to take us beyond February. Pull up a chair, make yourselves comfortable...let's do this!

[PeacheyPeach]

Thank you @myghastisflabbered for starting a new thread for us xx

[TSBelliot]

I have a chair and my new lightweight badge - Ohio😉

Ta Myghastisflabbered

[OhioOhioOhio]

Yay!!! TSBelliot It suits you.
So happy I found you all again. Thread three!!

[OhioOhioOhio]

Yes. Thank you op.

[Humphriescushion]

Hello, thanks for new thread! I am moderating and going ok for now, just four units this weekend and four last weekend. Felt slightly disappointed to have broken the dry spell but happy enough with the moderation so far. Hope everyone doing ok?

[Hohofortherobbers]

Sitting comfortably with my peppermint tea... 52 days dry. Thanks for the new thread. Reading Glorious Rock Bottom by Bryony Gordon at the moment which is really inspiring. Totally recommend it for quit lit.

[SnoopyMcLoopy]

Thanks for the new thread 👏👏👏

[CocoLady]

Hello 👋🏻 can I join please ? Drinking has got worse lately and I want to moderate. I have had and still having a really rough time right now and using alcohol to escape the stress and also boredom too! I have on average half a bottle of wine and two double vodka and coke 3 nights midweeks and drink sat and Sunday too
I really want to keep it just for weekends has anyone had any success with this ? Or can share some tips thanks and good luck everyone on their journey x

[OhioOhioOhio]

Welcome Coco! Honestly I'd just knock it on the end and replace it with another treat until you re set yourself. That's just me though.

[TSBelliot]

Having tried many times to keep it to weekends I have found it easier to have a proper break. Erm I know a month isn’t that long but that break and being here has shifted my behaviour. Could you take a break?

[TSBelliot]

Oh and welcome - this is a great place whatever your approach:)

[CocoLady]

A month long seems too much right now I'm struggling to just weekends at the moment. It's weird today was very stressful and I was craving a glass of wine around 6-7pm but as soon as it was 8pm i was fine and now I'm in bed and glad I had an AF evening. I'm currently reading an Allen carr book and trying some meditation so I'm hoping that will help me x

[CocoLady]

My relationship isn't the best with alcohol I've used it as a coping mechanism and turned into mummy needs it now to cope/relax. I never get black out drunk but feel so depressed when I have to have an AF night like I'm forcing myself too and I'm missing out big time! Does anyone want to share their relationship with alcohol and if your are in moderation or sober now? Thanks so much x

[Haggisfish]

@CocoLady I found a month waaay too long to start with! I aimed for two alcohol free nights a week for ages and then trying to limit myself to 28 units the week. I finally managed a whole dry jan this year for the first time in years.

[Haggisfish]

And I’m on my second dry night in a row now, too...🤞

[Allycat]

Yay found you 😁

[Imissmoominmama]

Thanks for starting the new thread @MyGhastIsFlabbered.

I’d started to drink at weekends and have realised that the last few Mondays, I’ve felt terrible and achieved nothing. So here I am, back in the fold, and I will post daily for accountability.

I can’t afford to do it, financially or health wise. £30 a week is too much at the moment, and I have arthritis which is exacerbated when I drink.

Here’s to good health!

[teelizzy]

Hi all! Thread 3!

Doing ok here though been a bit low the last few days due to a combination of work, family issues (no-ones in a great place just now) and another couple of months of WFH. Yesterday was a classic case of when I'd have reached for the bottle cause it was all too much BUT I DIDN'T.

And guess what - today was all the better for it.

Love to all

[Haggisfish]

Third night sober in a row here. Feeling pleased. Hope everyone else ok.

[PeacheyPeach]

Hi all 😁
Sipping on my juice tonight feeling no different when i was throwing back the wine every night i think id become immune to it which is a scary thought .
@cocolady what helped me to break the habit was making sure i had lovely treats in the evening when id normally have a drink like a long soak in the bath, witha good book. Doing a bit of exercise in the day so i feel in a good place mentally. And coming on here and waffling on to everyone has really helped xx

[OhioOhioOhio]

Good on you for doing exercise. I have still not managed to make that improvement.

[TSBelliot]

For me cocolady I have always loved to drink. Loved getting drunk and a bit tipsy and have drink heavily since a mid aged teen. I struggle to reconcile the health impact with how I have always felt. I don’t sleep badly or feel anxious after drinking, I still get up the next day no problem (except on very rare and heavy going sessions) and I drink alone, with friends etc. I am rubbish at making myself do something - this space has allowed me to be honest about the fact that my drinking will literally shorten my life. I was on 60-80 units (sometimes more) a week. I found stopping ok but nice drinks don’t really make a difference for me as it’s the feeling I miss. I have thought about drinking a lot but keep tapping back into the consequences. This group has helped me think about that.
I am moderating now and whilst not as moderate as I planned I have drunk a tiny fraction of what I would have ordinarily. I have given up Diet Coke too which I find harder in the short term but easier in the long term. Now I can’t believe I drank it so compulsively but the alcohol I still want to drink!
Am sewing more and doing yoga - using the time better. That helps me.

[SeeyouontheothersideofCovid]

Hi everyone. I have been AF since 2 January - was originally just going to do dry Jan but have decided to keep going! It's certainly easier in lockdown with no social events to go to, or no pubs and restaurants.

I was worried that my alcohol consumption had crept up over the past year and I was putting on weight. Vanity is a really good motivating factor and after 7 weeks it's so nice to be able to fit into my lovely clothes again, and see my waistline!

I really hope I can keep this up though.

[CocoLady]

Good afternoon everyone! How is everyone doing ? I've had some right family crap right now (two close ones aren't speaking to me not my fault) health problems after a miscarriage recently and I drank before but I think most nights I am as not coping well at all! I've planned to have off tomorrow night and Friday night as we are going to family house Saturday night to have drinks, who are in our bubble im
Drinking tonight but only two glasses of wine! X does anyone do meditation? X

[teelizzy]

Ok @CocoLady, doing ok. DH is really anxious and a bit snappy, DD1 has had a lot of issues with MH over the last year and we're far from family (most of whom don't live in the UK). Hanging in there....