I am struggling with dry January

[ChristineSmith]

Anyone else struggling with dry January? Was going to stuggle on but then read this,
www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-10418459/Why-Dry-January-NOT-best-way-quit-drinking.html

I find dry january useful. I get to look at the drinks I really miss and the drinks I don't. I just used to drink all the drinks! I did 50 days last year and it definitely helped with the rest of the year.
Your woman there is basically saying therapy is better for long term alcohol management than stopping for a month. I don't doubt this, but therapy isn't accessible/affordable for everyone. And it may not be needed if all you do is drink a bit too much and need a reset.

If you're "really struggling" with Dry January then you need to carry on doing it while looking at the reasons why; not just fall off the wagon because of a clickbaity piece in the Fail.

I did dry January three years ago and haven't had a drink since. Since then I've dropped a dress size, have run PBs over every distance, and sleep better - but best of all, I've got rid of that feeling of dread and regret I used to get the morning after.

I think the article offers a perspective that a therapy based approach is also available to those of us who are not exactly cantering thru Dry Jan - just as an option; in the same way some people hire a personal trainer for expert support to loose weight….

Just had a quick search for Sandra on socials.. I suspect she's amongst us promoting her services. 82 followers on Instagram so hardly worth the daily article she's been given no doubt by a journo friend.. anyway, what I will say is everyone is different. Dry Jan for me is the stop button I very much needed and I intend to really look at my relationship with alcohol and evaluate my life - let's face it, this sh*t is life changing! If YOU feel you need extra support then go ahead, as the pp said not everyone can afford to do so. Far too many in these boards have done DJ and then gone on to quit for good and are years on. I absolutely salute them and no doubt everyone of them has a story to tell.

@fellrunner85

If you're "really struggling" with Dry January then you need to carry on doing it while looking at the reasons why; not just fall off the wagon because of a clickbaity piece in the Fail.

I did dry January three years ago and haven't had a drink since. Since then I've dropped a dress size, have run PBs over every distance, and sleep better - but best of all, I've got rid of that feeling of dread and regret I used to get the morning after.

This. If you are struggling badly to remain alcohol free, then you have a bigger problem than perhaps you are aware of. I am a problem drinker - probably realistically for about 20 plus years but in an 'alcoholic' way for about the last two. I have struggled to stop/cut down so many times but failed to do so - because I have a problem. I am now day 25 AF/day 20 DJ. I am not struggling to stay dry as I have spent most of last year trying to get on top of my alcohol abuse and the work to do that appears to be finally paying off.

So the article is correct in so much as people really need to look at their relationship with alcohol to make lifetime changes if need be. But quitting DJ because a longer term approach is needed is, in my opinion, counter productive. Compare January with December - the focus is very much on not drinking in January versus drinking like mad in December so what better a message to start on the path to sobriety or moderate drinking?

A month dry is exactly what problem drinkers need to help them detox, get over initial mental and physical withdrawals and start to actually believe that a life without alcohol is possible.

Keep at it OP and good luck on your journey

I agree that if you find Dry January a struggle, it's time to take stronger measures - professional support and therapy with the aim of going teetotal. If that piece (not read it, I don't read the Fail) encourages people to do just that, great. But it isn't a reason to just jack it in and drink again.