No alcohol in 2024

[Noalcohol2024]

I gave up alcohol for an entire year 10 years ago and I am going to challenge myself to do it again in 2024. Anyone want to join me? I won’t lie I found it really hard. However, it did help me reset my habitual drinking. I feel ready to do it again. If anyone else feels a year off alcohol is something they want to do then join me on January 1st. I am going to take the next few days being honest with myself and reflecting on why I feel this challenge is something I need to do. Anyone who starts on January 1st with me can include their reasons in the introduction (if they wish to). I have a big birthday this year so I know it will be a challenge on that day as-well as Christmas and New Year 2024 but I am determined.

@ThisIsASeaplane thanks for sharing your skin experience! I feel now like I'm not imagining it!
Happily things are clearing up for me a bit now ... unless a fresh crop of zits is brewing, which I hope isn't the case.
At least it's a consequence I can actually see. I mean I can't see my liver or other inside bits. But I've seen the alcohol coming out through my face

@MokaEfti The image of alcohol coming out throughout our faces made me laugh! My spots seem to have calmed down again now, although I do have one big painful one by my ear of all places....hopefully that is the last one!!!

On the whole though, apart from the dreaded spots (!) my skin is looking better than it has in ages, in particular much less dry. I must have been really dehydrated when drinking, despite always drinking loads of water too.

Day 23 today!

@Jeffsmeffsmiff you’re doing so well to continue, given what you’re feeling.
Oddly enough, I was googling about similar feelings, mine are not so severe but I’m really really moody and irritable (not fair on my family) and so tired despite sleeping well. The good news is, what we are feeling is to be expected. It is normal and it will pass because we are healing.
I think we’ve got to try to feel positive about these shitty side effects because it actually means our bodies are healing and recovering and readjusting to life with the toxins and dopamine of the alcohol. Essentially, our abstinence is working!
https://journeyhillside.com/i-quit-drinking-and-now-i-am-depressed/

Hi all, great to see so many posts, again thank you, I'm finding them all so helpful.

@Jeffsmeffsmiff Your Dr wouldn't suggest time off work or medication if it wasn't appropriate. I personally started on a low dose of anti depressant in October. For a couple of weeks, I felt worse, but then, SO MUCH better. I still have my usual range of feelings, so I'm not 'numbed', but I am not having the crushing lows and scary sudden thoughts anymore. Maybe you could have another chat with your GP.

Regarding moderation. I previously had 717 days sober, then decided I wanted to moderate. I was able to moderate for a long time - but the spoiler is that drinking still made me less happy. Then, all of a sudden, I couldn't moderate so well, and here I am. I am absolutely committed to 2024 alcohol free, but the intention is to stay sober permanently. Breaking it down into chunks makes it easier for me.

I thought this might be helpful/interesting for some of you too : mummywasasecretdrinker.blogspot.com/2015/09/the-obstacle-course.html?m=1

@Jeffsmeffsmiff its really hard when you remove something that has been helping you get through. It worked that way for me when I gave up smoking. It’s all so individual I won’t give advice but all I can say is that you now have the opportunity to deal with whatever it is that is making you feel this way. It did get better for me and it can get better for you so be really kind to yourself, just like you would to a best friend if they were feeling this way. X

These blogs are great- thank you so much.
For me, less so the obstacle one you’ve posted, but the ones about what to expect at different time frames of giving up. They have summed up exactly what I am experiencing so far…

@Luckingfovely Welcome! I can relate to your situation. Good luck!

Good morning all, Checking in for week 4!!
Woweee, week 4!

I survived all of my triggers those weekend and things like ski party (dry slope in Plymouth, sadly not the depths of the alps). Great fun and so much more enjoyable not hungover. I was shattered when we got home and usually would reach for the bottle, but I took a Country Living magazine to my 'quiet sofa' (formally mummy's drinking sofa) and napped for an hour.

The wind and rain got me all riled up last night- weirdly another trigger 😳
We live in the middle of nowhere and watching a storm come in has always been something I loved to do with wine.

Anyway. I'm tackling things head on. I'm still daydreaming about summer bbq's and chilled wine. Need to sort my mindset on this. I am sadly not a moderator. Not even a little bit.

I am wondering if this is it. Things are shifting (ever so slightly, ever so slowly). I realised last night that this weekend would have been shit had I holed up in the kitchen getting pissed. Shit for me, shit for my beautiful son, shit for all the kids who came miles and miles fir the party. And I would have drank last night, woke up at 3, riddled with anxiety, not gone back to sleep and would be looking at my phone now, thinking about posting about how not doing something that was ruining my life, was just too hard for me.

I'm thinking it's time to break up permanently with the love of my life (Sorry Dh, you are definitely a close second and swiftly moving up the ranks). I could never have imagined a sober life, but all of a sudden, it feels like it might be a little bit special.

Anyway, I've been checking out every link everyone has been posting, silently cheering you on (trying to be on my phone less!) And just generally been extremely happy to have stumbled onto this wonderful thread.

Go smash the week lovelies xxx

Oh and the boss and the homeless thing...

Yes, she really did say it, and yes... she did give me a payrise!

I'm wondering if it because I've actually been doing my job properly this month? 🤔

Obviously nothing to do with inflation, and all to do with this new shiny, sober me... I'm going to continue clutching at those winning straws until I don't need the affirmation that not drinking is making my life better... could be a while!

Checking in for week 4

Week 4. Probably the longest I’ve gone without booze since I can remember when. My attempts at dry Jan previously have been a bit drizzly. Hard not to start thinking about what happens at the end of the month but I think whether I give up for ever or moderate in the future I’m realising that one month is just not enough to build new habitats and appreciate all the benefits. So I’m pretty sure I’ve decided I’m going for Feb too. Have a good week everyone!

@glindathegoodbitch love your update!! I also NEVER thought I would ever live an alcohol free life, always loved a party, having a drink and the 'freedom' I felt like it gave me to begin with. But looking back it didn't at all. It did the exact opposite of everything I thought and honestly my years of work hard play hard were a little bit shit if I think about it. I could have explored the world and all the corners of the UK but I just spent my time 'going out'. How boring!

Checking in for week 4 of the rest of our lives!
Ps my partner is like a different person (and better dad) without alcohol. I cannot tell you how that feels after years of low level trauma caused through his drinking. I'm not counting my chickens but I so hope and pray it continues. This will truly change my life.

Well done everyone, it's all going to be worth it.

Checking in for another week 🙂

checking in day 22 👍

Week 4 No alcohol 2024. Can’t believe I’ve made it this far.

@glindathegoodbitch everything you said about alcohol and now not having it is how I feel too.

Honestly, I struggled last week. But, I am more focused this week after reading some other posts on the AS thread and empathizing that alot of them are feeling the way I did before I stopped on January 1st. I realised I never want to feel like that again.

February is on the horizon and being AF in February for the first time in over 10 years is something I’m looking forward to.

Checking in, well done ladies! 🥰

Quick check in (busy day!) Day 24 and feeling good! Thanks for all the links shared......Will check these out later! :-)

Morning, checking in for week 4! Still get the early evening cravings but feeling so much better and have much more energy.
Hope everyone has a good week 😊

Morning. Checking in ✅

Checking in. Well done to everyone here, I am in awe of each and every one of you.

I'm not going to lie, I'm still pining for the wine, but the benefits so far are making it all worthwhile.

DH told me this morning that the bags under my eyes have disappeared. I'm almost certain it was meant as a compliment

Great posts this morning, love it!

Checking in, a toughish weekend (more non-time of the month hormonal stuff possibly?) but slept well despite the storm and feeling much better today. Definitely would have drunk through that in the past!

DH seems quite keen to 'get back on it' in Feb, so we'll see what that brings, but I'm sure he'll happily stick with beers or even port when at home, which don't tempt me at all. Haven't really discussed my plans beyond January with him yet! I go 'out out' very little these days though so it's the home drinking that's the big change.

Yes me too! I usually have clear skin but it looks like it did when I was a teenager (not in a good way!) after 3 weeks of not drinking! I’m hoping this is a clear out then all will be ok!

Can I join? I'm not fully commited to the year yet but I've really enjoyed dry Jan. I realised this morning that I haven't done any of the things that I was hoping dry Jan would do for me yet, like a healtier diet or time and energy to exercise. So I'm going to aim for another month, or maybe 100 days to try and really get better habits otherwise I will be back to drinking most evenings.

Welcome @Junobug I think most of us have given ourselves a break in other areas of our lives just to cope with coming off the alcohol.

If you are committed to No Alcohol in February 2024 then join us on the new thread for that month too😇.

Hi team! Checking in for week 4 and going strong. I had a really good week. I got out for exercise often, ate well, met up with friends and family, sleep is not great but that’s because I’m up with a baby - a natural reason rather than the aftermath of a binge session. Still thinking about an upcoming wedding as this will be a big challenge. Friend’s weddings are always binge central. I am 70% set on skipping it altogether. I am going to allow myself another few weeks to think about it but right now, I’m not bothered putting myself in the situation where I could be persuaded to ‘have a few’. The other half will be disappointed but does not understand. Well done everybody on all your progress.