Dry January 2022

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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?

Hi all, isn’t everyone doing so well, I agree that having this group is keeping me accountable. I’m loving reading how productive going AF is making us. I’ve had a busy day, managed to get up at 6.30 without the alarm, had a 5k run/walk done by 8.30. I’ve been really craving some chilled Sauvignon this pm, but kept sucking mints and went out for a walk with the kids. Is it 3 weeks to break a habit?

Just seen this thread. I need to cut down or give up alcohol. I drank quite a bit over Xmas and then cut back last week until Friday. For some reason me and my husband got totally drunk at home which ended up with me falling in the bathroom and smashing my front tooth. I’m so upset and filled with self loathing. I’m praying I can get an emergency dentist’s appointment tomorrow. Sometimes I just can’t stop when I start drinking. However, I work 3 to 4 days a week so can be moderate on those evenings. I am in my late fifties, have always drank and it’s just habitual. I’ve told my grown up kids (who are not at home) I tripped, not that I was drunk. I hate myself, the hangxiety is awful. My tooth looks awful, lost about a quarter of it at the bottom. I need to change.

Sorry if this is the wrong place to post this, was looking for a recent thread re giving up alcohol.

Day 10 under my belt here. It hasn't been easy, but it also hasn't been as hard as last time I did Dry Jan. Have found a lovely bittersweet lemonade and AF rose and elderflower tonic to tide the cravings in the evening. I really relate to the PP who said they need to figure out how to relax without alcohol. I have a full-on job and find exercising in the evening stimulates me too much so I do it in the morning.

I'm currently engrossed in a book in the evenings, which is keeping my mind off wine, but it's making me a bit antisocial and DH is finding my absence hard. I'm not usually one for watching TV every evening - only if knackered or really into a series - but equally I need something to do (possibly with my hands, like knitting, but I'm useless at that!). Any suggestions? I enjoyed doing some 1000 piece puzzles over Xmas, but they kill my back after a while. Hoping to get inspo from you lovely lot, your daily stories are helping so much to keep on track !

Hi @shortkiwi and welcome! I've been finding The Naked Mind book very helpful.

Thanks, think I read that book years ago, will search it out again.

Good evening! I am finished day 9 too, well done everyone 👏
Kiwi I expect were all here because we've done stupid things when p*ssed. I know I have, sending hugs. Like PP, I am reading This Naked Mind and I'm enjoying it. Actually, I've been listening it as an audiobook while dog walking! The narrator (author I think) has a nice voice once you get used to the American accent.
Also, I'd like to recommend these littlerick.co.uk/ - my fave is mint & lime and I have one per evening which I find really relaxes me and, while I still get cravings for wine, I've managed to resist so far.
I have decided I want to give up for good, alcohol has done me a lot more harm than good in my life so it's time we parted ways.
Night comrades.

Hi all. Day 9 done woohoo!!
Everyone is doing amazing, getting through the weekend was always going to be a challenge but we did it !!!
We had a last minute invite to a friend's house for dinner this evening, took a bottle of sparkling water and a bottle of wine for them !! I was ok, kept looking at the glasses of wine on the table and it did look nice but I kept to my water, feeling rather proud of myself!
@shortkiwi you poor thing, that sounds painful breaking your tooth hope you can get it sorted out soon x The hangxiety is the worst feeling in the world isn't it, why don't you join our little gang for the month and try dry Jan, see how you feel xx

Thanks @ChangeMustCome and @Peacheypeach for your kind words, it helps because I feel so bad right now. I will try to not drink now for Jan. I haven’t the last 2 nights due to my tooth injury!

Welcome @Shortkiwi and sorry about your tooth - hope you get it fixed. You're not alone in doing stupid shit when drunk and having the fear the day after. One day at a time. Day 9 nearly done for me thankfully!

Thanks @JacquelineCarlyle. I’m glad I came on here now. Was feeling so lonely and dreadful. My husband has been trying to comfort me but I am so remorseful. Maybe this is the wake up call I need.

I'm so impressed with everyone who's managing to socialise sober! That's really good. I honestly don't think I've ever managed that. Or not for a whole evening. Well done!

May I join please? So glad to find this thread. I have never done dry Jan before. I’m not a heavy drinker but a regular ‘wine in the evening’ drinker. Every night over Xmas and probably 3 or 4 nights per week before that. Too many mornings feeling less than 100% so it’s time for a reset. Last drink was on Dec 31st but haven’t done anything social since then. That’s when it will be tough.

Had some odd bird 0% sparkling grape juice and it was actually ok. My husband got it for his birthday along with lots of gin so was surprised his work had also bought some alcohol free ‘wine’. It’s been sitting there since the summer lol.

Wish I could go to bed earlier though.

Hello short kiwi. Dentists can do amazing things now with teeth. I broke an ankle in the summer due to tripping down some stairs after lots of wine on the first day of my holiday! So we all do silly things when tipsy! I nearly ended up having surgery yet I was lucky they had too many worse breaks than mine come in overnight but there is nothing worse on holiday being told you’ve broken your ankle, will be admitted to a ward and op next day! Thankfully was able just to have a plaster for 5 weeks and that was a real shocker for me!

We’ll wish me luck with sleep now I’ve dropped the cocodamol!

Good morning ☀️
Hallo to the Newbies , @Shortkiwi I’m bit older , but like you , once I start , I can’t stop drinking wine . Hope you get the tooth sorted today

@Lushmetender , I’m finding Pukka Nighttime tea helpful , not sure if it really helps or if it’s in my mind , but I’m having whole nights sleep now , sometimes take a while to drop off , I’m sleeping until 6 am with no night time waking ( we’re early birds )

I’m considering trying to do 90 days alcohol free , I had planned going as far as 4th Feb ,( which would have been my Mums birthday ) but …….I’m liking myself not being a drinker …and I’ve lost 2lb without giving up chocolate and biscuits …

Anyone else planning on a dry quarter of year or whole year ?
My sister gave up drinking and smoking in one fell swoop just over 3 years ago ( I’m not a smoker )
Food for thought 🍎

I am always awed by people who give up two or more things at once. @H1Drangea

@IcedCoffeeMilkshake she didn’t tell anyone she was giving up , just decided and went for it
We are all in awe of her ! She will occasionally have a GnT or a glass of wine when out , but never at home and has never smoked since

[quote AlbertBridge]@SarahJessicaParker1

I've been decluttering a bit and made a little seating area out of some dead space in our house, by basically shifting furniture around. It looks quite nice if I do say so myself. Much better use of space.

This sounds lovely!! [/quote]
Thanks @AlbertBridge! Although now I have a sore back and I spoke too soon on the food thing being cracked

Had about 5 Percy Pigs after dinner! Oh well. Better than half a bottle of wine (or more) AND snacks, which is what I normally do on Sunday.

Morning all, welcome @shortkiwi, you're here and joining us so you should forgive yourself, I hope the dentist appt goes well. I enjoyed the film last night, had no idea of the toxic family history in the Gucci brand! Then tea back here and played card games, no-one drinking so no temptation, you guys are doing far better than me, managing to attend a dinner party with wine on the table seems a challenge too far at the moment. I dreamt of wine last night, I was invited out and felt I had to drink and was weighing up options, trying to justify that 10 days sober was enough DJ. Is that just my subconscious sorting through thoughts of the day or I am having physical withdrawal whilst asleep?? Happy Mondays all, I guess we can relax a bit now before the next Friday /Saturday hurdle.

Well collecting DS3 and his girlfriend from a party at 10pm last night and the resulting broken night as girlfriend had had too much to drink for first time (she's staying with us currently) leading to the usual carnage made me very happy I was stone cold sober and able to look after her calmly and patiently. She's fine this morning but vowing never to drink again.
Loving this active thread with everyone doing well.
I'm definitely feeling generally calmer and keener to do stuff which is lovely

Morning all,

@Shortkiwi so sorry to hear about your accident. By some miracle I haven't hurt myself when pissed, (well not since I was much much younger anyway) but DH broke a rib falling over pissed a year or so ago and i've done many many stupid things due to alcohol. You are in the right place.

Wow a dinner party with drinkers when you are sober. Kudos and hats off. I only managed dinner out on Saturday with DH because he was also not drinking.

Day 10. Who'd have thunk it. I would love to be sober forever but I can't see that happening. February is already filling up with things that we are doing socially that are being bounced from January because we are not drinking. In fact it looks like DH is planning to drink again from the last weekend in January. Not sure what I want. I would love to be able to have 2 or 3 drinks and stop. It's the hangovers I can't deal with.

After a week of no alcohol and seeing the 'calories saved' on the app (which I entered pre-Christmas drink levels ) I weigh more than a week ago!!! How?!

@Badabingbadabum

After a week of no alcohol and seeing the 'calories saved' on the app (which I entered pre-Christmas drink levels ) I weigh more than a week ago!!! How?!

Sugary treats instead?

Welcome @Shortkiwi I’ve done some stupid things to myself when I’ve been drinking and still have a scar to remind me

In bed at 8.30 again. End of Day 9. Intense day at work and a bit upset about a family situation so could cheerfully have swigged a vodka or two, but know I probably wouldn’t have stopped at one or two so had sofa and lime instead :)

The evening thing…it’s not that I want a drink to relax as such, but more that I’m officially ending the part of the day where I’m expected to do stuff. Once I have the first drink I’m telling myself that nothing else is expected of me, beyond maybe cooking dinner…if that makes sense.

Hope everyone else is doing well :)

@Badabingbadabum When I started doing the 30 day one, it took a couple of weeks before the weight started shifting. Apparently alcohol slows your metabolism down and it takes a couple of weeks to re=set. Hang on in there :)