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Original poster

Dry January 2022

999 replies

MyGhastIsFlabbered · 12/12/2021 09:25

Did Dry January this year and we had an amazing little support group going on here and I wondered if anyone cared to join me next year? This time I'm hoping to stay dry longer - 100 days - but will see how January goes first. I don't want to set myself up to fail.

Who's with me?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
7
dementedma · 03/01/2022 21:12

@hohotherobbers..I feel exactly the same. Day 3 done. Desperate for a good night's sleep.

CrumpetswithMarmite · 03/01/2022 21:18

That said... I completely empathise with you @MyGhastIsFlabbered... It was a relationship break down which really did it in for me end of last year. Sounds like you have done amazing today!! Ice cream all the way. What did you go for? 🙂

In my relationship have been together 18 years Sad I'm pretty sure I was having a mental break down and kept using alcohol to 'give me strength'. What a lie that really is!

Also on the alcohol experiment app people share a great way of reframing your relationship with alcohol...

For example, if I used to believe 'alcohol gives me the strength to deal with difficult conversations' - you then do a 'turnaround' to this logic... In this case... 'alcohol makes me less present to deal with the conversation, leads me to make it worse, and leaves me feeling more emotional, fragile and weak the next day.. Leading to more problems.'

Might be a useful for technique for anyone struggling / rationalising the temptation to drink at any point.

I know I need to use this turnaround technique!!

OH and I both now doing dry January... Lead by me. Pretty sure it would all be over by now otherwise... Downward spiral of alcohol and all.

H1Drangea · 03/01/2022 21:34

Didn’t sleep well last night , possibly the huge plate of Stilton and crackers a bit too late yesterday evening
Anyway , still off the booze day 3 , don’t normally drink on a Monday anyway though I probably would have as it’s bank holiday

Having the bathroom refitted and made lovely and spa like ( hopefully ) which might be stressful (😩) at least we can use DDs room and bathroom for the time it will take and I have a stash of posh bath goodies to use when it’s done ( can’t wait to have a bath ! The old bath leaks so it’s been a quick shower only for the last 18 months or so )

Mybestyear · 03/01/2022 21:37

@Onewildandpreciouslife

Waves *@Mybestyear* - new user name in place! (Ex toofar)
@Onewildandpreciouslife - love it!!! That’s the kind of life I want ❤️💪
Cantdoitallperfectly · 03/01/2022 21:55

@StarryNightSparkles - thank you for checking in. About to do some meditation and had a nice sparkling water. Hope everyone else is ok x

StarryNightSparkles · 03/01/2022 22:09

@Cantdoitallperfectly glad to read you are ok. Enjoy your meditation.

PeacheyPeach · 03/01/2022 22:19

Day 3 done!! And it actually felt like a Sunday not a Monday which means it already feels like a bonus day and we are a day in front already!!!
Got to get to grips with the eating aswell I think as I feel like a bloated balloon at the moment!!!

Mykittensmittens · 04/01/2022 07:44

Day 1 for me. Aiming for 4th Feb. Going to be a lot of detoxing the next few days as my body feels wrecked. Plus I hate these dark weeks and have so little energy, I need to do this to grab any bit of feeling better. Today won’t be so hard. Tomorrow might be a bit twitchy. By Friday I’ll be a miserable cow but I’ve really got to do this

I’ll be back later to write a motivational list to remind myself why this needs to be done.

Original poster
MyGhastIsFlabbered · 04/01/2022 08:10

Day 3 beginning for me. I didn't cave last night (though we did eat a tub of Ben & Jerry's between us). DH and I didn't really talk because we know what the problems are but at least I know that he does want to address them and isn't about to up and leave. There is still a long way to go and I don't know if we'll make it, but at least I feel reassured that he does love me and wants to make this work somehow. Having a clear AF head will help us both too.

OP posts:
MagratLancre · 04/01/2022 08:25

Phew did day 1! Onto day 2!

Dulsesunset · 04/01/2022 08:36

Day 1 for me - planning to do 31 days initially. Haven't had a dry day in over a month and can't wait to feel the benefits of a dry spell. I've done similar before with dry Jan and sober October though not in covid times but always slipped back into boozy ways...

MajorityofThree · 04/01/2022 08:42

@MyGhastIsFlabbered

Day 3 beginning for me. I didn't cave last night (though we did eat a tub of Ben & Jerry's between us). DH and I didn't really talk because we know what the problems are but at least I know that he does want to address them and isn't about to up and leave. There is still a long way to go and I don't know if we'll make it, but at least I feel reassured that he does love me and wants to make this work somehow. Having a clear AF head will help us both too.
Ben and Jerrys definitely the better option and sounds like a better night than you were expecting. Any progress no matter how small is progress. Finally a good nights sleep!!!
NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 04/01/2022 09:01

DP really not sleeping well at all but neither did I (and I've not been drinking loads for months). Think we've both made a slothful start to 2022 and that's partly to blame. As I commented, you can hardly expect to sleep well if you've spent the whole day watching TV (DP not me!).

Hopefully we're now back in work/school mode, we'll be in better routines!

HoliHormonalTigerlilly · 04/01/2022 09:05

I'm in!
So sick of booze after xmas.

KatieBenz · 04/01/2022 09:23

Day 3 for me. Haven’t really slept for the last 2 nights and still feel hungover. Looking at the bags under my eyes, I’m guessing that I’m just dehydrated.
Christmas decks are down and I’m now in ‘new year, new me’ mode 😂
Saying that, I’ve just had a phoncall from work saying don’t come in as they’ve got covid. Not the best start…..🙄

H1Drangea · 04/01/2022 09:37

Day 4 begins !
Slept much better last night , took a while to drop off , but didn’t wake once in the night , which is unusual

Sorry to hear of all the posters with relationship problems , clear heads will hopefully help sort things out

All my Christmas decorations came down yesterday , I just need to put the Christmas glasses away , but the gap they usually fill in the cupboard has mysteriously disappeared! ( and why are Christmas glasses bigger than my usual glasses )

JaquiRussell · 04/01/2022 09:41

Happy day 4 everyone!! Still finding it hard to get to sleep which is completely new to me, even when not drinking previously but I am trusting the system and hopefully it will soon pass.
Shame as could have really benefitted from the extra energy levels people speak about today, being first day back at work but at least it is better than the alternative.

Cantdoitallperfectly · 04/01/2022 09:47

@MyGhastIsFlabbered glad to hear you have made a step in the recovery of your relationship. I know how hard it can be.

Drinking has definitely affected my relationship with DP, I’ve said some horrible things when I’ve been drunk. We have a stressful and complicated home life and alcohol has been my way of coping, but not now. Im feeling determined to sort issues and be a better person. I am feeling quite jittery at the moment so I’ve made a list of things to achieve today to keep me focussed. Good luck today everyone.

Onewildandpreciouslife · 04/01/2022 09:49

Checking in on day 4. I think I would have slept better last night if the dog and DS hadn’t both been up at 2am and then DH snoring- I felt less “scratchy” if that makes sense.

dementedma · 04/01/2022 10:09

Day 4. Still poor sleep and waking up feeling hungover. This is the tough bit when I actually feel worse without alcohol than I did with it!

Willieekerslike · 04/01/2022 10:13

I'm also finding it hard to drop off to sleep but definitely dreaming more. Day 4 for me. Not really missing it as have worked all over weekend and bank holiday. Still eating chocolates though, diet will start when they have gone.

trydry22 · 04/01/2022 10:18

Checking in day 4 for me, got to sleep a bit better yesterday. I think that's because I had a long walk mid afternoon and was very tired. Feel much better for it this morning and proper got my sh*t together for day one of back to school so feeling quite pleased with myself. Have to tackle some cleaning, home working and home admin which I've been avoiding for too long.. this will be the real test as normally I'd just say F it and hit the wine come 5.. absolutely determined to face everything and sort my life out 🙌

Bu2014 · 04/01/2022 10:28

Hi all,
Haven't wanted to post for a few days as I only lasted one day sober and have had wine the past two nights. Feeling so guilty but the stress of son with chicken pox while we are living in a small confined space (due to building works) with 8 month old has gotten to me. Not sure how to proceed at the moment.
You all are doing amazingly well!

pointythings · 04/01/2022 10:32

Slept a lot better last night and definitely fewer hot flushes. Am meeting a friend and going charity shopping with the DC on my last day of leave - back at work (from home) tomorrow.

IJustLovePirates · 04/01/2022 10:42

End of Day 3 for me. Still dreading Friday night with old friends however saw doctor today and he’s given me antibiotics for a chest infection. They’re not the ones that you can’t drink alcohol with…….but I will be swearing blind that they are at the start of the night and then I won’t be able to give in later :)