Sober October Challenge

[KK1983]

Good afternoon 😊

As the title suggests, I have decided to give 'Sober October' my all and go alcohol free for 31 days. This challenge might be a walk in the park for some but this is going to be HUGE for me. In the past 12yrs, I can't even remember the last time I have even gone a week sober, let alone a month!

So, I am a daily drinker. I have 1-2 bottles per day, sometimes more over the weekend. I have a successful job and a beautiful life but my drinking is becoming more of an issue that I ever thought it would be. I think about it more than I want, plan days around it and spend far too much money on it. Alcoholism runs in my family so i'm aware of the signs which is why I need to get a grip asap. I want to be able to moderate.

If you saw me in the street you'd look at me and think I have my shit together. I have the house, the kids, the marriage, the job - the lot! Drinking became a friend when I had none and when I was lonely after my daughter was born and my husband worked nights. Now drinking feels part of my personality, people know me as someone who loves a drink, the life and soul and I used to love that but now, I'm bored of myself.

I have tried to go sober several times but I get to day 4 and give in after finding any tiny excuse to reward myself. Night 1 always feels a bit rough. I role around the bed for hours on end and get a little anxious but nothing too bad. Day 2 I feel hungover without the fun the night before. Day 3 I cry a lot and become quite irritated. Day 4 - I quit! Not this time though, I NEED to do this and I WILL do this.

To help me along the way I have started taking the following vitamins:

• Vitamin B Complex high strength
• Live friendly gut bacteria
• Vitamin B1 500mg x2
• Iron
• Biotin & Zinc
• Vitamin D & K2

Can any recommend anything else or have any tips to help me along the way?

Thank you for taking the time to read this,
Kate x

Magnesium helps a bit with restless legs. The B vits are a good idea, and possibly folic acid as alcohol hugely interferes with its absorption. I'll join you for the journey, currently also on a day 4 and trying to avoid rewarding myself...

Day four is AMAZING! Well done! How you feeling?

I'll join in. I'm a bit further down the journey but completely relate! I used alcohol as far too much of an emotional crutch after DH had a massive stroke 3 years ago, but I was probably drinking too much for too many years anyway. I got some bloods done privately in February and there was one marker that was slightly above normal. Not terrible results, but enough to be the point at which I decided I needed to stop not processing the trauma and reaching for the red wine, I'm not sure I've fully processed said trauma, or even started, but I've VASTLY reduced my alcohol intake this year. I have 4/5 dry days a week now and only 3/4 units (2 glasses max) when I do, but I'd actually like to try Sober October.

I downloaded and paid for an app called Reframe, which I've found really fabulous for the cost. It's a great combination of motivation, plus the science of alcohol addiction and does have a community forum (I don't use this). There's a stop and a cut down option.

There's a podcast I love too called They Think it's all Sober. By rights I ought not to have anything in common with two blokes in their 30's, both on a sober journey, but they are completely honest, raw, and totally relatable.

A lot of your post resonates. 😊

Hey!
Im also on day 4, usually around this point I tell myself I’ve proved I can do it so reward myself with a bottle of wine.
I successfully did dry January this year which was massive for me because like you I never went a week without never mind a month.
At the moment I’m not going completely tee total or moderating, I’m just telling myself every morning that I won’t drink today, taking it one day at a time

I prefer that in truth, the 'I am not going to drink today', idea rather than 'I will never drink again' - there's a lot of talk when you do drink re resetting to day one, which seems so negative, rather than counting the days you've not had a drink, resetting and cracking on!

One slice of cake doesn't completely wreck a diet as long as you get back to it iyswim. Similar re alcohol

I could have written most of your post about myself OP and have been thinking about doing sober October as well. I’ll join you for the journey, thanks for the thread x

Ahh I'm sorry to hear about your husband's stroke, that must have been a tough time for you all. I'd have hit the drink hard too. 4/5 dry days is the goal - that's some achievement! Well done you!!

I've seen that app actually, I might look into that. Same goes for the podcast.

Thanks so much for responding xx

Day 4 is always the trigger but you're doing so well and I like that approach, almost seems less pressure instead of looking so far ahead which can look daunting. Always tried dry Jan but it's the most miserable month and I never stick to it. October is the only month I have no birthday's or seem to schedule nights out so this is perfect for me.

You're so right. Love this!

Ahh i'm so glad, we can all support each other. x

Thank you everyone for the non-judgement, it means a lot x

I’d love to joint too, I could do with the support and motivation. I recently had 6 weeks off and would like to try and build on that again. I felt so much better in myself, both physically and mentally - you got this OP, day 4 and more here we come!

I'm long term sober but remember the stop/start attempts all too well. Think of it like this, youre constantly doing the hard bit over & over! By day 5 I had the best night sleep of my life, I could genuinely see my skin clearing & eyes sparkling. I kid you not.... I didnt realise how shit I looked until I realised how much healthier I could look.
Good luck!

Congratulations on your sobriety, an incredible achievement xx

Just counted up (well got chat gpt to do it for me) and I’m on day 1,005!! I was a one bottle of wine a day drinker (maybe 2 at the weekend). Giving up is one of the best thing I’ve ever done and I’m so happy to be completely alcohol free and never want to drink again! Good luck

I've nearly got through risky day 4 - might have taken most of a tub of ice cream to do it, but nearly done! C'mon team, we've got this!

WOW!!! That's incredible 👏

Yay!! Well done, so proud of you! x

Well done everyone!

Another day done. I tried a mocktail from M&S today - a Pina Colada - it was okay - pineapple juice would have been just as fine and half the cost!

I’m also addicted to low fat hot chocolate in the evening - rock and roll - but does the trick 😊.

I had a massive chocolate bar earlier this evening - didn’t have wine though!!
Tonight’s been easier than the last few nights, I’m enjoying waking up with a clear head though and I never wake up wishing I’d had a drink the night before.
Keep going everyone

That's such a good way to think about it.

I have also hit the chocolate pretty hard!

That’s a good way to look at it - you never wake up wishing you’d had a drink the night before!

What chocolate though? That's the real question! haha

I've developed an obsession with the salted caramel Tony Chocolony bars. Just wish they were half the price!!

How are folk doing?

I’m on the hot chocolate again and really didn’t fancy a drink tonight so an easy win. Some evenings the witching hour is tough to get through.

So that’s 5 dry days since (and including) last Saturday and only a G&T on the nights I had a drink.

When I think where I was after DH’s stroke, emotionally and in terms of drinking…. I’ll take a couple of small drinks a week!

But still ready for Sober October!

We’ve got this!