AIBU to say not drinking is HELL!! (On 8th Jan)

[Ladesiderata]

I thought I'd go dry for a few weeks. Easy I thought.
Good LORD.
Couldn't sleep for three nights. Feeling WAY more anxious than usual. Cant dull it with a wee drinkee and feel HORRIFIED that this week has shown me how dependent I am.

I done dry jan last year. The most fucking boring year of my life.

You will have people on here telling you that you must be an alcoholic in a bit 🙄

But let me reassure you, by next week, you will be going to bed at 9PM and having the most restful sleeps ever.

But that first moment when you wake up, just remember, that's the best you will feel all day 😂😂

I'm not an ally at all, but I enjoy a couple of glasses of wine with some good tv at the weekend.

Especially in lockdown. It makes the weekend different from work nights.

Sorry I've not helped, but if you don't have a drink problem and you like a glass of something at the weekend, you're punishing yourself for nothing.

*month not year. It just felt like a year 😅😅

Fuckin hell *alky, not ally

I'm enjoying it so far!

Try being pregnant 12 weeks down, 28 to go!

Sorry you're feeling like that. I'm doing dry January and have had a rough week too. There's a thread if you wanted to join for some support

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/alcohol_support/4118531-anyone-doing-dry-january-2021

It takes weeks for you to break the habit. Its worth sticking out even just as an experiment

I'm pregnant with a very much planned and wanted IVF baby, so you'd think I'd easily shrug off not having a drink for 9 months as an easy sacrifice to make... but oh god I really want a drink!

Honestly, it's the most depressing month of the year normally, never mind in lockdown. I don't know why you're doing it to yourself. A couple of large glasses of wine a few times a week would make this lockdown so much easier.

I had a few Jack Daniels and cokes tonight. Feel like I’ve let myself down.

But also, I’m a teacher and a parent. And this was a fucking hard week.

I’m doing chocolate free January and I have withdrawal headaches from the sugar and already in bed. Just shows how much I actually eat.

I completely get your feelings OP, we can do this!!. Only a few more weeks to go although i should definitely curb my chocolate addiction for the rest of the year too if I actually want to loose some weight 😂🤣 😬😬

I’ve always thought January is the worst month for going ‘dry’. It’s cold, dark and a bit shit, which is basically why us Northern Europeans drink so much. Maybe choose a different month like September. Also, things are so bad at the moment that it seems cruel to deny yourself a drink!

I've been dry for a few months and it does get easier and more pleasant.. less waking with anxiety in the night, no hangovers, better skin etc

I've done a Dry March and Dry June before. I think January is a shit month for it, it sets you up to fail in many ways.

I gave up for all of last year (not perfectly, I did have a few drinks but only a handful in total). I find it shocking how long it takes to break the habit of wanting a drink. I'd say about 6 months. Now, after a year, I am not interested in starting again any time soon.

I'm 7 months sober...the first week was horrible . I knew I was dependent deep down but how awful giving up was just confirmed bit for me. Get a B Vitamin complex down you and come join the sobriety thread.

I don't drink often, did dry January last year without realizing and probably will end up doing it again this year.

I don't understand why anyone who enjoys drinking would choose to do dry January in 2021, when we're in lockdown and there's pretty much nothing enjoyable left though. Maybe try a "damp" January and cut back on the days you drink a week or something?

I’m doing it too and until last night I had real trouble sleeping, I fell asleep on the sofa at about 9:30pm last night, came up to bed just after 10 and woke up at 9am, I feel amazing!. It gets easier, I was way too dependant on alcohol so I’m enjoying feeling healthier and I’ve already lost just over 4lbs in weight (also following SlimmingWorld). Stick with it!.

If it is difficult then you have uncovered an issue. Stick with the non-drinking and it will become easier.

Even with people who drink regularly, but within the reccommended amounts, stop can experience sleep problems.

I am a walking freaking zombie WoolyMamamoth because my sleep has gone down the drain. My brain has had a thought rave between 2 and 5:50 am every night for the last four nights.

So, with you OP. Hope it makes you feel better to know you are not alone.

You can do it! I don't drink, because I don't like the taste of alcohol, and I can't bare the hangover the next day. I used to love drinking when I was younger but I would always drink to excess and get very drunk. I prefer to keep away from it now. Trouble is I over eat instead

I gave up for Lent once. I thought I would be rested, revitalised etc. I felt exactly the same as usual, just bored and pissed off because I couldn’t have a drink.

Sandsnake I agree about January being the worst month to stop drinking. At least Lent is in the Spring!

Thatsnotmyname I feel your pain. People act as if not drinking for 9 months when you’re pregnant is no big deal but I thought it was terrible (and I did have the occasional one).

You will have people on here telling you that you must be an alcoholic in a bit

Not an alcoholic but far more dependent on drink than you should be.

You should be able to stop anything and not have it disrupt your sleep or mental health. But anything can cause that, smoking, chocolate, drinking etc. Mine is chocolate. I doubt it would disrupt my sleep, but it would make me irritable if I stopped eating it for a while. Damn sugar addiction.

It's good to take a break and then not go back to how you used to be. Reduce what you used to drink or eat. But it's easier said than done hides chocolate

@AlrightTreacle

I don't drink often, did dry January last year without realizing and probably will end up doing it again this year.

I don't understand why anyone who enjoys drinking would choose to do dry January in 2021, when we're in lockdown and there's pretty much nothing enjoyable left though. Maybe try a "damp" January and cut back on the days you drink a week or something?

I sleep better if I don't drink. Therefore can cope better with whatever life throws at me

If you are finding it that hard, it sounds you are more depemndent on alcohol then you should be. Worth getting some support. Perhaps talk to a gP or AA?