No Alcohol March 2024

[NoAlcohol2024March]

Day 61 2024

60 days AF so far in 2024

I made it to March nearly a quarter of the way through the year!

I am struggling but battling on.

The benefits physically and mentally are worth it.

Good luck in March 2024 for those of us hanging in on the AF journey.

‘It’s not worth it Phil’ made me chuckle out loud. Well done everyone…. I have noticed I’m drinking tea more than I ever did, not coffee anymore, maybe coffee was the livener after the witchety wine the night before ? 35 days … it really does help checking in with you guys… just had 4 Jammy Dodgers though, went in the gob like a steam train

Hi fellow dry-Marchers! How is everyone getting on?

I know we don’t all count days but I am embarrassed to say I don’t know what day I’m on - this is because I was on a massive bender last weekend of February which went into the next week.

I know I was AF on the Thursday but not sure about the Wednesday- I wasn’t “drinking drinking” on the Wednesday but I think I had some wine to get me through withdrawal symptoms (ie a glass sipped over 8 hours type thing) but that might have been Tuesday 🤔

Anyway- I’m either day 8 or day 9 and feeling good. Family are talking to me again but I’m conscious that it will take a long period of being AF for them to trust me again.

DH is away this weekend and I know he is scared about me drinking when he is away. I have had thoughts that I could “get away with it” but I’m determined not to drink. It’s the least I can do for him so that when he phones I am completely sober. My eldest DD is still at home and can tell instantly when I’ve been on the spirits so again, I want to “give” her a relaxed weekend without worrying about me.

Im still trying to get my head around being AF for life. I really want to want to (IYKWIM) but still think “I’ll give it 6 months then try normal drinking again”…..even though I KNOW this is madness. It’s such a shit situation but of my own making I suppose.

Anyone else got any updates?

Hello, I am 9 weeks sober. I had a rock bottom event in new year with alcohol.

The benefits for me have been less anxiety and depression. I am actually starting to feel hopeful about my future.

my skin looks great, I feel I don’t need to wear much makeup now.

A lot of it is habit with alcohol; it messes with the brains reward system so that it ends up that only alcohol gives us pleasure.

I just hope that I can keep this up 🙏

Hello @Touty - well done on 9 weeks. The most I’ve managed in the last 25 years is 4 months - I felt so so good but still went back to the booze - it’s crazy!

@Pippa246 hello, what made you return to drinking if you don’t mind me asking?

I am dreading the summer as I loved to sit outside and drink.

@Touty - I’ve never really stopped properly. I’ve had a problem for years which has progressed (if that is the right word) from drinking “out in the open” and getting really drunk to forced periods of sobriety (going completely AF to please my family/stop them worrying) then going on benders which start as a secret bottle of vodka over a day or so then becomes a 3 day bender.

My social life and friendship group of some 30 years are all drinkers. My DH drinks 5 days a week but only a beer or two and rarely gets drunk (maybe once a year on a big night out). They all want me to stop the crazy drinking but to still drink “normally”. I’ve taken myself out of social situations and they miss me.

I know people will say they’ve probably got a problem if they can’t be AF when I’m there and there’s probably an element of truth in that - but at the same time, if there’s a big catch up in the pub to watch the rugby, and it is their day off work etc, they’re not going to sit with cokes.

The women in the group meet up with me for lunch, cinema etc (no booze) but when we are all out in couples (and we are away on holiday as 5 couple in a few weeks), the booze is flowing.

Ah @Pippa246 well done on keeping going even though your partner is away. If you're a week or so in then you should be through the withdrawal at least. So no more physical symptoms hopefully. Just (ha!) the mental ones have you read any quit lit? I found that really helped me re-frame my thinking about wanting to drink. Because if you can honestly think you don't want to, it's poison, then the rest is a lot easier. I also found that AF beer and gin etc sort of gave me the "reward" feeling a bit.

And if you're really struggling with relaxing then maybe try CBD drinks, or even Sentia?
Just think of all the positive benefits that will come your way without drink. Better skin, better sleep, less anxiety, no more "wtf did I do?" moments. And more TIME. being drunk is such a waste of time.
And the people wanting you to drink because they are drinking are selfish, frankly. Why should you poison yourself to make THEM feel better about doing the same?
@Touty I sort of feel the same about summer. I will be ok sitting out with an AF I think but we're going on an all inclusive holiday and I need to stop thinking about "getting my money's worth" or maybe stuffy face with enough food that I still feel I am anyway 😂
keep going people.
oh and I'm 84 days. That's 12 weeks woop woop!!

@Samsond - 84 days is fantastic!

I’m working my way through every quit lit on the planet lol. And every addiction/recovery movie/documentary on Netflix and Prime.

Everything resonates at the time but when the compulsion to drink takes hold, I cave. It’s not a 10 minute HALT situation, it’s literally like a compulsion which builds over and lasts for days. This is the part I need to get a coping strategy for - I’m 100% able to be AF when I don’t feel that compulsion.

I really like the Trip gingery one - and quite like AF beer. Not heard of sentia but will take a look. Thanks.

@Pippa246 it must be difficult having to socialize around alcohol, I couldn’t do it and remain sober. I don’t socialize that much but if I do have to go to a bar then I try to keep it as short as possible, maybe I’ll have some zero alcohol lager and then make my excuses.

But it’s difficult, I live in Spain now and I can’t walk down the street without passing bars. Before, sometimes I would drink so much I used to put myself in dangerous situations.

my OH doesn’t drink at all and never has so that does help.

As for your friends expecting you to drink normally, well, some of us just can’t do that. I think it’s not our fault it’s the way our brains were designed. I read somewhere that people react differently to alcohol, for some of us our brains light up like a Christmas tree, triggering the compulsion for more. Other people get a milder buzz which makes it easier for them not to fall into over drinking.

i just went on my first sober holiday ever, only five days but I managed. But I went on my own and did lots of walking and things to distract myself.

@Touty - most of our group know I have a problem but not how bad it is. They think I just “drink too much” sometimes and crash out. They don’t see the drinking to oblivion at home, they don’t know I lost my job through drinking etc. I really think they believe I can just cut back and be fine. Only 2 of them (DHs best friends) know the true extent of my problem.

I went to see a show yesterday with a friend. I drove as I knew I wasn’t going to be drinking anyway. It was a matinee and 99% women of retirement age (mid 50s and over). Everyone (except me it seems) was drinking - the theatre now bring drinks to your seats - so it was bottles of Prosecco and G&Ts everywhere! It’s so hard to escape it. I don’t actually mind not drinking in these situations but I miss feeling “normal” ie I hate feeling conscious that I can’t drink normally (if there is such a thing).

I did think about taking booze home after I’d dropped my friend off but I didn’t- I just cannot keep doing it to my family. So I am up today feeling good and about to go to the gym! Another sober day under my belt!

I noticed that last time I was at the theatre. In fact I noticed everyone drinking a lot more now that I'm not.

Just back from my first holiday without alcohol too @Touty ! Well done you! I found it easier than I thought. It was skiing, which is so wrapped up on drinking culture - I would usually have had a baileys coffee mid morning, pint at lunch, April spritz at the end of the day, followed by gin and wine at dinner. Felt much better on the chair lift in the morning without it!!

@Thelittlestranger hello and well done to you too on your alc free holiday. I’m pleased with myself that I achieved a booze free holiday, I won’t pretend it was easy but it was manageable. I had the booze monster shouting in my ear on holiday but I squashed that sucker. Now I have more confidence in myself to go on another solo holiday with less fear that I might drink myself legless and end up in a hole.

Nice to see some new posts here, they are all so helpful.

I'm going out tonight, and yesterday I had a genuine moment of excitement that I'm going out and NOT drinking. I'm going for dinner and then to the cinema, and I'm just so happy that I won't drink before I go, I won't drink with dinner (but I will thoroughly enjoy the food and the chat) and then when I get to the cinema I will actually want to be there, rather than resenting the fact I couldn't be in the pub or whatever. I'll be awake and lucid for the film, and yes, there will be chocolate.

Finally, I get to get the bus home completely sober, feeling safe and capable, ready to get my pyjamas on and feel awesome tomorrow. I feel like my brain is being to accept that this is a much better life.

Sounds like a lovely evening @TeeNoG Enjoy!

@Touty I definitely feel more confident now about a summer holiday booze free. It's like ticking all the firsts off the list. I have quite a few more to tick off, but slowly and surely I'm doing it.

Monday check in. Back from my holidays. I did not manage to stay AF. I drank Champagne and loved it! No regrets, unfortunately.

Back to AF now I have returned home.

Total Dry Days in 2024 is 60

Current Dry Day Streak in 2024 is 0

Will catch up reading everyone’s posts this week as we had a no SM rule on holiday.

All our AF journeys will be different. I’m committed to be AF again now I am back at home.

Have a good week everyone. Welcome all newbies.

Morning all. Day 70 here.
Had my parents around for Mother’s Day lunch yesterday. I offered wine with the meal, my dad had a glass of red and then I made him take the rest of the bottle home as it wouldn’t get drunk otherwise! Normally, I would have polished that off on a Sunday night, to have nothing open for the following week (usually opening something on a Monday evening regardless 🙄).

Weve all done so well, congratulations to us… holidays, family gatherings and events and we are winning. Think how much healthier our… bits n bobs must be

I’m still here and still 0 alcohol this year. Even dodged a pudding which I didn’t realise had alcohol in it until I peeled the lid off and the smell hit me.

well done everyone - I’ve had a couple of out of the blue cravings this week but it’s getting easier x

Checking in. Day 88 here. My original plan was 100 days so I'm nearly there.
I honestly haven't really been missing it recently. We went out for mother's day lunch yesterday and DH (who very rarely drinks) had a glass of red wine and it DID smell delicious but I was actually quite happy with my AF G&T.

Ten weeks sober.

I still think about it.

it’s hard sometimes.

Well done everyone, we are all doing so well! I know we struggle at times but I think that it's so worth the effort.

Hopefully one day it will just feel like second nature, it won't even occur to us to desire alcohol.

I'd like to join if I may. I am on Day 13 and it has been a struggle. My health really is dreadful right now as well.

Welcome @everlastingpanini Here's hoping this will help with your health in some way.

77 days in. Never thought I would get this far. Rarely think about boozing at the moment. I said I would do 100 days, I expect I will do more.

@NoAlcohol2024March Agree no one journey can be the same - this one is yours. Do with it what you need.

Just found this thread.
I'm just day 17
Stopped for 3 mths last time, I felt amazing but stupidly started again on an all inclusive holiday.
It makes you feel so crap.

Thanks @Thelittlestranger

Feeling a bit better today. I went out for coffee and cake with some friends and they were talking about last weekend's drunken pub crawl and I felt so grateful it wasn't me! We are all in our 50s and 60s and I think we are at that classic age where you are sandwiched between still working; teens and older ill parents and drinking seems to have become for all of us a bit of a 'my time' or 'let off steam' situation. All of us have big stressors right now.

But I am so so tired and have been feeling awful so the wine has to go and I need to find something else to decompress with.