Dry January and beyond

[BulldogMumma]

I couldn't find a dry January thread so thought I'd make one.
I've posted on the alcohol threads before but never see it through. This year I'm determined to do dry January and even beyond.
My drinking has really crept up lately and I know I need to address it. I lost my mum this year due to alcohol and I don't want to go the same way. I've been using alcohol as a crutch since losing my mum but now's the time I stop relying on the wine and take back control.
Anyone else who wants to join me are more than welcome, would be good to have some buddies along the way x

@comeonicandoit
You don't deserve to shorten your life expectancy.
You don't deserve a load of toxins in your body.

You deserve to wake up tomorrow feeling strong and proud of yourself. And with the money you have saved from Dry Jan, buy a lovely new vase.
You can do it.

Book yourself onto a dance fit class tonight and get out of the house or go for a run burn off that stress and nacker yourself out physically - then have a really big dinner so you feel full and ready to get pj’d - then escape upstairs and read a book or similar in peace away from everyone

I caved yesterday as well. I feel like I work so hard I deserve a nice glass of wine on a Friday. Except it was a whole bottle of Chardonnay.
I'm not going to beat myself up over it.
It is interesting to note how groggy I feel today though so I won't drink this evening and will be able to keep going until next weekend.

My issue isn't that I find the evenings boring, I can fill my time quite happily. I'm just so used to doing it with a glass of wine next to me, that it feels like something is missing, and that's the piece I'm struggling with. I'm drinking the alcohol free stuff just so I've got something in a wine glass, and I think that helps but it's still not the same!

I can't see myself being completely dry after this month. But I think I will keep logging my drinking on the Try Dry app so that I can keep better track of it. I'm another one who could easily drink a bottle of wine a night for several nights in a row, and that's the bit that needs to stop. If I got to the point where in drinking no more that the max recommended units per week, I think I'd see that as a win. And still a big reduction on my usual drinking habits!

It was mentioned earlier in the thread but I've been reading The Unexpected Joy of being Sober. It's really insightful. For those struggling with the alcohol voice & boredom it might be worth reading it as it talks about strategies for these.
It's a really good book. I'm enjoying it so far.

Maybe I should persevere. I've started it a couple of times, but it didn't really resonate as her drinking seemed so excessive. I'm not sneaking out to buy more alcohol, or walking up the next morning and having to phone in sick to work. Which isn't to say that a GP would approve of my drinking levels, just that I wasn't sure I'd be able to relate. But I know it's been mentioned a few times, so presumably it's helping some of you!

@Comeonicandoit , I'm sorry to hear about the vase - that would probably push me over the edge too! Can you get online and see if you can find another vase that you love? Etsy is good. I can spend literally hours scrolling through hundreds of items and get a huge dopamine hit if I find the perfect thing, which may sate the craving. (Your husband needs to pay for it though!)

On a whim I ordered a very well reviewed whiskey substitute called Kahol. I normally avoid whiskey as it's way too strong for me, but I like the flavour. Will report back if I open it tonight.

@BookShark I do agree with your comment. Her drinking was a whole other level than mine....I was absolutely no where near that! But some of her strategies and the changes that not drinking brought about to her life are really insightful although I'm not sure I'll ever be up at 5am running through the countryside

@BookShark Clare Pooley's book The Sober Diaries may resonate with you more. Certainly did with me. I'm almost 8 months into an AF life and I must say, abstinence is so much easier than moderation.

Hi everyone. I certainly didn't think I'd be dry until now. But I am.

Well done everyone. I've really enjoyed it so far. Tonight was my biggest worry. Okay so far.

Hope you're all doing okay xx

Day 11 and doing ok. Sounds awful but 4.30pm is (was?) wine time. Felt restless so went out for a walk which was nice. In myself tonight so didn’t have to cook. Treating myself to a bubble bath and a glass of nozecco.

Hope everyone is doing ok 👍

Checking in for day 17.
I have struggled slightly today at lunch .
Pub lunch, had the alcohol free old mount cider - berries and cherries (delicious)
Went to our local bar, DP had a couple of cocktails (he can moderate) and I had a CBD Goodman's which was very freshing

Cooking steak tonight and I will miss cracking opening a bottle of red while in the kitchen but I have some lovely deserts which I wouldn't normally have.
Then colouring in my Johanna Basford, Ivy and inky butterfly storybook. I've been colouring it in for over 5 years!

11 days sober ⭐️

I’m feeling so much clearer and more productive.

So much better at work.

How is everyone else doing?

Day 11 done. Found a lovely rhubarb soda in Aldi which is low in sugar and nicely sharp. It may just be in Scotland though. It's by Bon Accord. Also Innes & Gunn AF lager is ok with a dash of lime.
Feeling physically and mentally better so may go for a cold water dip tomorrow with some other masochistic loonies.

@IMTOOMessy I also had a productive day. I do find I get more done at the weekends when I’m not drinking. I managed a bit of quiet time around all the jobs too. Given I had such a shocking night of sleep last night I’m hopeful for a better one tonight.

I’m sleeping really well and deeply now. I almost don’t want it to be the case that alcohol adversely affects my sleep because I have struggled so much with 3am insomnia as a peri symptom, but I don’t really want to be teetotal long term. I’m
turning into my mother who will have the tiniest glass of wine and leave half of it whilst my Dad and I polish off the bottle!

Day 15

Was in a pub this afternoon and won't lie I actually fancied a wine. Drank zero alcohol Kopparberg instead. It tastes very like the alcoholic one I think.

Not sure if my relationship will be the same if I stay teetotal. I seem to be annoying my partner by not drinking. He had his beers Friday night and then tried to start an argument. Today he had a few beers at the pub (we were at a birthday celebration) we are home now and he's headed upstairs to play his tunes with a few beers (same as last night) I must be boring or something alcohol free 😀

@Grassick , sorry to hear that your DP isn't being supportive. I doubt that it's anything to do with you being boring. Perhaps he is thinking that he isn't able to stop drinking, even temporarily, and you not drinking shines a light on that?

Day 11 down. Woke up early this morning feeling refreshed (yay!) so had done all the chores by 10am. It felt v v good to have that energy and not be fuzzy-headed and lethargic because of knocking back a bottle the day before. @CheeryPenisBeaker v much recognise the 'OMG do I smell of booze' nervousness and yes, it's nice to not have to worry about that.

In reply to the question upthread about what to do when the cravings hit - just do something else. So have a bath, do something which occupies hands/brain, paint your nails, go for a walk, even do some cleaning (ok, perhaps not that far!). You just need to break the focus and move your brain on to something else. That's what works for me, anyway.

And if you've had a slip, so be it. Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start again. Better to lose one evening than every evening. Keep checking in - I'm finding this such a helpful thread.

Day 13 for me. I had the wine witch calling earlier so went for a long shower and pampered myself with a body scrub, face mask etc. I have just sat down with my AF kopperberg in a wine glass. It's delicious and hits the spot.

@Neptunium93 I meant that tongue in cheek 😅 and I absolutely know it's because he can't/won't give up alcohol on the weekends. Would have been nice if he could have joined me even for a couple of weekends. I can't be forcing him though, it needs to be his choice.

I had pretty much reduced my drinking days to 2 per month last year (until December) and this is the first time he seems very threatened by me not drinking.

Hey all
Wow, so many posts to catch up on, will read them all properly in the morning.
Just popped on to say I'm still here, just been busy working today and now I'm in desperate need of my bed 😴😴
Day 11 done 👏👏👏
Will catch up with you all in the morning

Did we clock that we are 1/3 through now?!! By Thursday morning we will be half way woohooo!!

I have lost all wine cravings which is great but have champagne craving instead!!!

Day 11 (!!) ✅ I'm happy having a zero beer but I'd love a decent glass of Prosecco. Being good though