Anxious about dry Jan

[Alcfreejan]

As it says on the tin, I’m anxious about doing dry January. I’ve signed up with a few friends and am already dreading it. Wine is clearly a ‘crutch’ for me.

I was even thinking this eve ‘could start after this weekend’ but that’s not the point is it 😐 and I shouldn’t be this nervous about not drinking for a month surely!!!

You will feel, and probably look, so much better after several days. You will be amazed. Your sleep will be better, your skin, your mental clarity, etc. Just buckle down and do it.

If you’re nervous about a month without alcohol, you’d probably really benefit from a month without alcohol!
A lot of posters on here are very disparaging about ‘dry january’, but if like me you often find yourself becoming a little too reliant on your evening glass of wine, it can act as a brilliant ‘reset’. Good luck!

Get on the support thread: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/alcohol_support/4424261-dry-january-2022

Also sign up for Annie Grace’s 30 day experiment.

Agree with previous poster, the fact you’re so worried means you will really benefit from it. 10yrs ago I used wine as a crux - now I don’t drink at all, and I don’t miss it one bit. I’d have never believed that when I quit drinking for health reasons (developed a serious illness). You’ll be fine

Club Soda is another good motivational group accessible on Facebook. I have given up alcohol over the past two years and it has been amazing. It really is so worth it.

I drink most nights. I'm looking forward to having a proper excuse to not pour a glass.
I shouldn't need an excuse but lockdown and retirement gave me an excuse to just pour another one.

I'm giving it a go. I'm going with the 'not today' thinking. I'm not saying that I'll never drink in January but I'm going to take it one day at a time. Seems like an easier target.

Switch to a really nice alcohol free wine. That way you still go through the motions of pouring a glass in the evening and it satisfies the habit but still get the benefits of a month off.

I can understand this.i never drank loads I just looked forward to it.last jan I decided to give it a go with online support from MN
I cut to 2 units a week then nothing.
After Easter I went to one drink a week then ditched it too.
I've had one drink this eve for the first time in ages.
Seriously I don't miss it now.
Just do it you will be amazed how easy it is as time goes by.
I swooped to alcohol free beer then herbal teas.

Have a look at soberdave on Instagram:

https://instagram.com/soberdave?utmmedium=copyy_link

There are support groups and all sorts. Best of luck

This will be my third dry January. I think, I've lost track!

The first time I did it I was looking at the date on the 4th thinking its going to be a looooong month! Last year I kept going until March when I finally had a good reason to enjoy a drink. I also had most of November and December drinking much less.

It's good for resetting your relationship with alcohol. I don't drink in the week much any more. I'd say its worth doing.

Well to lose that crutch you need to throw it away and run full speed… you can tell I’m shit at metaphors . As someone who has struggled with drink in the past, cold turkey is the best option, you don’t need drink in your life.. causes nothing but trouble. Good luck OP! You got this

I really recommend the 'I'm sober' app. Encourages you to take one day at a time. I'm a year sober now and just wish I'd done it years ago. Also Alcohol Free Life podcast is a good listen. And there's loads of 'Quit Lit' books to read if that might be your thing.
Don't be anxious, that's the alcohol doing that to you, you'll be so pleased you did it, you'll be calmer, skin clearer, eyes brighter, head will be more engaged, more energy, you'll have more time on your hands, maybe drop a few pounds, mental health will improve, I could go on.. honestly the benefits are so worth it! Good luck!

I did dry January three years ago, then extended to Easter, then to a year. Now it's been 3 years and I will never drink again. Only regret is that I didn't do it sooner. I LOVED wine and would never have believed I'd ever be a non drinker but here I am. Give it a go, see it as a break and a treat to your body. Good luck.

I feel the same OP it's like you're losing your friend and crutch in life isn't it. I'm sat here having my 'last beer' before dry january as it doesn't start until I wake up tomorrow and it feels like i'm cutting a couple of my arms off. It's crazy how we've come to this isn't it. But I agree with the other posters that if we are feeling this anxious about it then we really need to stop doing it because it's an unhealthy dependence. I'm doing it from tomorrow too and feeling the same as you, but you know what, whatever we feel, how scary it is, we know it is doable. So many others have done it. I'd love to experience what it is like to be sober for a whole month. It's a challenge and i'm going to reward myself along the way but with the money i've saved on wine i'm going to get myself a non alcoholic present to myself for being awesome. It might take some gritty determination but i'm sure the reward at the end of the month will give the psychological rewards that not even a present to myself can buy. We've got this. You're not alone... x

It's a concern that you're already worried about this, but I guess that's the first stage of breaking an addiction.

I barely drink 3 times a year. Just gone off it, and never got into a habit of doing it daily. It shouldn't be a big deal at all to just stop, but if it is it might be better to go on longer than January.

There are lots of great 0% alcohol wines around so maybe try some of those. My dad is a recovered alcoholic and says alcohol free wine and beers have improved in the last 5 years.

Remember also reducing your intake of booze can reduce your chance of developing some really nasty cancers including pancreatic cancer, which is nearly always caught late and terminal within months AND of a variety of other illnesses.

You can do it.