Dry January 2022

[MyGhastIsFlabbered]

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?

@NewModelArmyMayhem18 glad it helped. I hoped you didn't mind my quizzing you on the third glass situation but I thought it was such a good learning experience.

@trydry22 that is such a sad story, I'm so sorry you went through that as a child. Is your mother still alive? Did she recover?

evening all.

Day 5 done. Another super early dinner (risotto) and I am about to clean the kitchen then watching tv with the DCs, shower and settle down with a new book.

Hope everyone has a good evening and see you tomorrow. :)

[quote brightspice]@NewModelArmyMayhem18 glad it helped. I hoped you didn't mind my quizzing you on the third glass situation but I thought it was such a good learning experience.[/quote]
Thanks for this. I've been in this position so many times it's getting quite dull!! Just need to keep myself busy for next couple of hours I think

Well, I didn't start on New Years day as planned! Tonight is day 2 no alcohol. Sadly I really struggled to sleep last night, literally did not drop off till daylight. Not sure if this is due to no alcohol or grief (I was sleeping alone last night first time since Dad died and felt scared) My partner will be here tonight though, so hopefully sleep a bit better.

Well done to you all for your efforts

Day 4 here and am struggling this evening. Had a stressful day at work, have come home to son having a melt down at uni. Normally I'd reach for a wine because I deserve it. A lighting my woodburner and will have a few wine gums instead.
Someone up thread mentioned being constipated, I haven't been for days and my stomach is like a balloon , despite drinking lots of water.
I havnet noticed any improvement in my sleeping but I wouldn't normally be drinking mid week ( my weekend normally starts on a Thursday though so really need to steel myself tomorrow)

Checking in for Day 5. I'm proud of myself for making it. So many passing thoughts to reach for some wine... The whole "I deserve it" mentality I definitely relate to @OverByYer. Sorry to hear your son is having a melt down :( must be hard to support from afar (assuming he is away). The wood burner and wine gums sound good!

About to pour tonic and cordial. Quite looking forward to it. Yoga done.

Getting lots of weird dreams still.

Feel a whole world better at work from not drinking. I'm dealing with the stress better. Makes me realise how much the day after alcohol must be affecting my ability to cope.

I just hope this isn't a honeymoon period and I don't fuck it up this weekend if something really bad/difficult happens... Or if I want to escape... Or if need to celebrate. Or if I feel I need some confidence... Or if I feel I'm bored... Or if I feel I deserve it... Or if I convince myself one week is enough!

Going to buy some becks blue.

Day 2 done here - mild wobble when making dinner but no wine in house so powered through. Sitting on sofa with cup of tea now.

Ps I also feel like I'll let everyone down too if I wobble - so many of you are an inspiration staying strong so far. KEEP GOING WE CAN DO IT. Keep remembering why you are doing this.

Thanks Crumpets. This thread definitely helps.

So OH cooks dinner and throws in a huge glass of red wine. Decided to concentrate on (and celebrate) the fact he cooked dinner! As somebody said further down most of the alcohol cooks out! Apart from that day 5 going really well

I poured my sugar free grape Fanta into a wine glass this evening. Despite it looking exactly like a glass of red wine I felt faintly ridiculous so probably wont repeat that. 😂

Weeknights are getting much easier although I definitely reach for snacks at exactly the time I would normally pour wine.

Nearing the end of Day 5. Had my booster today and arm is sore so not fancied wine in the slightest which is a plus.
Hope I can finally get off to sleep tonight, never been such an insomniac before. Scares me a bit for when menopause happens tbh.
But well done everyone!! 😀

Tonic and posh bramble cordial - delicious! Using a smaller glass because too much sugar, but the cordial is so much better with the bitterness of the tonic than it is with just fizzy water. Can't wait to try the combo with the ginger cordial tomorrow.

I think I've finally got my central heating behaving properly again too, not being boiled alive any more.

Day 4 complete!

My day six is over! I can't understand why my sleep is so bad though when I regularly have five alcohol free days a week. Well done to everyone for persevering, appreciate its not easy

Hey all
Day five already 😃
My sleeping has been appalling and I remember how bad it was like last time, so I'm hoping it settles down soon. I'm not usually an insomniac but am lying there wide awake until 5 o'clock it's crazy, I know it will pass hopefully anyway 🙄
I have to admit I've swapped alcohol for sugar I've not stopped eating all the chocolates and goodies still in the house so am still looking pretty bloated. I'm going to get this first week down and then work on the healthy food aswell.
I just wish I wasn't such an all or nothing person!!
Im either really good and disciplined or I'm like a mad woman eating every thing insight!!!

Ive just eaten a family bag of sweets, I think I was craving sugar.

Day 5 done. Please send the sandman to ensure a decent night's sleep. Keep going everyone!

Flake and a dairy milk this evening

No wine though ✅

Weekend usually starts Thursday , same as @OverByYer so I might not be quite so calm tomorrow

SantaMonicaPier same here! Bloody weird and annoying... think in my case it was just general stresses.
I've had the year from hell, which- short version- pandemic, workload trippling, Mum falling and going mad overnight (literally, later found to be dementia) and going into a home at 69, leading to full on psychotic breakdown for me, off work, back, all get COVID a week later, husband off with long COVID for 6 months, Mum dying, having to sort out her funeral/estate etc solo as only relative, and DD (5) being suspended from school, ADHD diagnosis in progress and having to home school.
So my relationship with alcohol went a bit wobble.

Doing DJ in a month where we're expecting to move house and waiting to hear if DD gets into a special school, whilst working FT in a demanding senior role and still homeschooling.

As DD takes anything up to 2-3 hrs to settle, half my evenings are spent on the stairs with a squash and my vape anyway...

This thread is great: reminds me of the Baby Buses on MN I did for both my two, supportive, honest and kind, with great advice

Still dry here. Day 4 for me.

But in an act of karma so swift and terrible I had a filling pulled out by a sweet I'd stolen from one of the boys!

Oof! Ouch op! That sounds painful. Will it need a dentist? At least you can tell them you don't drink any units per week! Every cloud.... Or maybe it's only my dentist who always asks that...worrying.

Day 5 here. All good. I'm in bed already, but that's mainly because I have an early start in the morning. Also had a mince pie after dinner this evening. Leftover from Christmas obviously. I've also filled an online shopping trolley with non alcoholic treats for the upcoming weekend! Should prevent the wine witch

More dark chocolate Digestives, 1 becks blue and 2 sparkling waters, in my freezing cold bed now, the electric blanket has gone bust. Day 5 done, and my constipation is resolving thankfully, please give us all a good night's sleep, we deserve it

Wow kudos @NorthernChinchilla for what you have been coping with... That's a lot!! I'm sorry to hear you've had such a tough few months / year. Adulting is pretty tough and testing. Sounds like you've been amazing for everyone who have needed you. I hope you're holding up okay both with all that and DJ

I think a big thing that happens is when things get tough and we have to be the rock for everyone else, we can neglect our own needs and start to crumble slowly with alcohol seeming to be a good short-term antidote. But overall doesn't help.