Dry January?

alittlescared

Chris_Bradley wrote: »

That's exactly how I wanna roll pal, well done btw.

Me too. I know of 6 times this year that I will probably have a drink. I'll be teetotal outside of these

Mr_Muffin

As i get older (late twenties now) the hangovers have worsened. It's not so much the actual hangover the next day - them i actually can actually deal with pretty well but it's the following day or 2 with the second day being the worst. I feel tired, sad and my thoughts become extremely negative. It's much more of a mental toll these days.

Congrats to everyone that has manged to stay dry!

Confucius say

Mr_Muffin wrote: »

As i get older (late twenties now) the hangovers have worsened. It's not so much the actual hangover the next day - them i actually can actually deal with pretty well but it's the following day or 2 with the second day being the worst. I feel tired, sad and my thoughts become extremely negative. It's much more of a mental toll these days.

Congrats to everyone that has manged to stay dry!

Exactly same for me although I'm 35. The next day hangover is fine but it's the 2 or 3 days after that really suck. I could never understand people who are hungover after a session so they go to bed early, sleep for 11 hours and feel brand new the next day. I can't sleep for days and it takes maybe 4 days to fully recover from a session.

homeOwner

I am really struggling today after being so smug at the weekend for not drinking. I have not cracked yet but I am so close to going out and getting a bottle of wine this evening. I am in a terrible mood and I have no idea why. I do feel so much better for not drinking and I don't want to go back to my old habits, but have been totally taken by surprise at this knockback. I had been doing so well and all I can think of this evening is how much I want just one glass of red wine.

Chris_Bradley

homeOwner wrote: »

I am really struggling today after being so smug at the weekend for not drinking. I have not cracked yet but I am so close to going out and getting a bottle of wine this evening. I am in a terrible mood and I have no idea why. I do feel so much better for not drinking and I don't want to go back to my old habits, but have been totally taken by surprise at this knockback. I had been doing so well and all I can think of this evening is how much I want just one glass of red wine.

Just chill with a large coffee & remember how well you've done.

furiousox

homeOwner wrote: »

I am really struggling today after being so smug at the weekend for not drinking. I have not cracked yet but I am so close to going out and getting a bottle of wine this evening. I am in a terrible mood and I have no idea why. I do feel so much better for not drinking and I don't want to go back to my old habits, but have been totally taken by surprise at this knockback. I had been doing so well and all I can think of this evening is how much I want just one glass of red wine.

Feeling a bit twitchy myself tonight, I reckon it's because we're so close to month's end.
I'd love a beer or a glass of red right now but I'll hold off.

homeOwner

Already changed into my PJs so I am not tempted to go out. Stocked up on bread and milk earlier so there would be no reason to go out to the shops this evening! Grrrrrr. Thought this feeling of really wanting a glass of wine would have gone by now.
Thanks for the support. I am going to make a cup of tea.

homeOwner

Already changed into my PJs so I am not tempted to go out. Stocked up on bread and milk earlier so there would be no reason to go out to the shops this evening! Grrrrrr. Thought this feeling of really wanting a glass of wine would have gone by now.
Thanks for the support. I am going to make a cup of tea.

Irish_rat

^^ I find it's generally down to boredom, get out a go for a walk/cycle/run in the evenings. If you have a sedentary job then I think it's a must as the brain will be going ninety so to speak.

sporina

homeOwner wrote: »

Already changed into my PJs so I am not tempted to go out. Stocked up on bread and milk earlier so there would be no reason to go out to the shops this evening! Grrrrrr. Thought this feeling of really wanting a glass of wine would have gone by now.
Thanks for the support. I am going to make a cup of tea.

have you abstained all Jan? If so, you don't wanna ruin it now. Really.. try taking deep breaths - the whole way in and out... and think of what your body really needs/wants.. be good to you.. if you are in the bad mood, thats exactly when you should not drink. And think of how you will only feel worse tomorrow.

We are here so moan away rather than looking for solace in a wine glass:)

DryFiona

'The final hurdle is no higher than the rest , but it feels like it '

Yes , I've been finding the last couple of days pretty hard too , but I don't want to sacrifice the huge sense of achievement I know I'll feel on Feb 1 .

Bring it on

Chris_Bradley

I'm going for a second month.

Wish me luck

Chris_Bradley

*double post yet again*

Chris_Bradley

DryFiona wrote: »

'The final hurdle is no higher than the rest , but it feels like it '

Yes , I've been finding the last couple of days pretty hard too , but I don't want to sacrifice the huge sense of achievement I know I'll feel on Feb 1 .

Bring it on

Feb 1st being a Monday might be a saving grace for lots of people who want to continue on without drink.

That's my catapult to get me to drive on for another month without it anyway

yourpics

Anyone up for dry February / Dry Lent?

sporina

yourpics wrote: »

Anyone up for dry February / Dry Lent?

i am breaking the fast till feb 15th - will miss the 1st week of lent

i have 2 parties in the first half of feb

Peter Anthony

Chris_Bradley wrote: »

I'm going for a second month.

Wish me luck

yourpics wrote: »

Anyone up for dry February / Dry Lent?

I am going to try too I think guys! Today is my 32nd day off it and I'm happy with how Dry January went. Lately I've been put on a strong antibiotic for a couple of months for a health issue, and alcohol should really be cut out or done in moderation to keep the drug effective. I've never been someone that can drink 1 or 2 drinks so I'll probably try stay sober to try cure the issues I'm having, was partly one of the reasons I cut down.

It is very hard though as a young man in Ireland to cut out alcohol. Everyone I know is a drinker and alot of them are heavy drinkers. I've grown apart from some friends, and rarely see others. When you take a step back and see how many peoples lives revolve around alcohol it's frightening.

On another note how are people finding being at social big drinking occasions whilst sober? Or have you avoided it ? There is a dinner with the local Hurling club and friends want me to attend. In reality it's a glorified massive piss up and since I don't play, theres no onus on me to go. I don't think I'm ready, able or want to be surrounded by it. Since it will likely be a 10 pint+ session with pressure to drink, I don't think I can go sober. I have my sisters birthday coming up that I will go to though and I think there will be less pressure to drink there so I'm more confortable with that.

Chris_Bradley

Peter Anthony wrote: »

When you take a step back and see how many peoples lives revolve around alcohol it's frightening.

Fair play Peter first of all. On the above though, yes it is - especially when its people who you would have seen all the time now have no time for you seeing that you're off the stuff.

Just remember they've the problem, you're just trying to help yourself.

BKWDR

Peter Anthony wrote: »

On another note how are people finding being at social big drinking occasions whilst sober? Or have you avoided it ? There is a dinner with the local Hurling club and friends want me to attend. In reality it's a glorified massive piss up and since I don't play, theres no onus on me to go. I don't think I'm ready, able or want to be surrounded by it. Since it will likely be a 10 pint+ session with pressure to drink, I don't think I can go sober. I have my sisters birthday coming up that I will go to though and I think there will be less pressure to drink there so I'm more confortable with that.

You need to know when you can handle going to an event in a bar and be sober , as i said in this post , you need to plan ahead. Put some control in place which will stop you from drinking, driving being the #1! Don't get in rounds and make it clear that you are not drinking tonight and be mentally strong to back it up and politely refuse a drink and accept the slagging that might come with it. Again their problem , not yours!

I myself have a couple of things coming up so i'm not going dry in February but if there is a thread on it i might jump on board!
Im away a weekend and like you i have my club teams night out half way through the month. You can have a blow out every now and then, but the time you spent not drinking makes you reflect or think about the times you are drinking to excess too many times in a row.

I will still go out and maybe not drink as much but im going to have a good time and enjoy myself. But its the time i spent not drinking that makes me appreciate not drinking during the week, appreciate how better my body is at training when i've not been drinking, how a better sleeper i am.

If you can't go sober, dont beat yourself up about it. You are better off realising 'yeah i'll have a few drinks at this occasion' and try your best to make sure it doesnt spiral into a 3 day session than just setting yourself up to fail anyways. Like i said previously sometimes its harder to drink in moderation than it is totally quit!

yourpics

Peter Anthony wrote: »

I am going to try too I think guys! Today is my 32nd day off it and I'm happy with how Dry January went. Lately I've been put on a strong antibiotic for a couple of months for a health issue, and alcohol should really be cut out or done in moderation to keep the drug effective. I've never been someone that can drink 1 or 2 drinks so I'll probably try stay sober to try cure the issues I'm having, was partly one of the reasons I cut down.

It is very hard though as a young man in Ireland to cut out alcohol. Everyone I know is a drinker and alot of them are heavy drinkers. I've grown apart from some friends, and rarely see others. When you take a step back and see how many peoples lives revolve around alcohol it's frightening.

On another note how are people finding being at social big drinking occasions whilst sober? Or have you avoided it ? There is a dinner with the local Hurling club and friends want me to attend. In reality it's a glorified massive piss up and since I don't play, theres no onus on me to go. I don't think I'm ready, able or want to be surrounded by it. Since it will likely be a 10 pint+ session with pressure to drink, I don't think I can go sober. I have my sisters birthday coming up that I will go to though and I think there will be less pressure to drink there so I'm more confortable with that.

As a non-drinker you need to accept who you are before you worry about others accepting who you are.

Personally, it took a long time for me to accept who I was but now I am more than comfortable with it. If someone else thinks it's odd or unusual that is their problem! Yes I have drifted from some people as a result of non-drinking but my family always stood by me and at the end of the day friends come and go, family are always there!

lee_baby_simms

Peter Anthony wrote: »

In reality it's a glorified massive piss up

This can be applied to pretty much every social occasion in Ireland!

sporina

BKWDR wrote: »

You need to know when you can handle going to an event in a bar and be sober , as i said in this post , you need to plan ahead. Put some control in place which will stop you from drinking, driving being the #1! Don't get in rounds and make it clear that you are not drinking tonight and be mentally strong to back it up and politely refuse a drink and accept the slagging that might come with it. Again their problem , not yours!

I myself have a couple of things coming up so i'm not going dry in February but if there is a thread on it i might jump on board!
Im away a weekend and like you i have my club teams night out half way through the month. You can have a blow out every now and then, but the time you spent not drinking makes you reflect or think about the times you are drinking to excess too many times in a row.

I will still go out and maybe not drink as much but im going to have a good time and enjoy myself. But its the time i spent not drinking that makes me appreciate not drinking during the week, appreciate how better my body is at training when i've not been drinking, how a better sleeper i am.

If you can't go sober, dont beat yourself up about it. You are better off realising 'yeah i'll have a few drinks at this occasion' and try your best to make sure it doesnt spiral into a 3 day session than just setting yourself up to fail anyways. Like i said previously sometimes its harder to drink in moderation than it is totally quit!

i think you are totally right here - I guess that is what I was alluding to in my own post. When your dry, you have the mind frame - and all that goes with it.. but then when your not, its like your defenses are down. But hopefully I will learn some way of combatting that... but when not on the dry, its so easy for nights with booze to add up - as someone said, events in Ireland are so often in conjunction with alcohol

Chris_Bradley

Family across today with alcohol & I had a test for College placement today - I had my first real stressy day & really wanted to lash a pint into me.

Didn't & survived lol

Chris_Bradley

Family across today with alcohol & I had a test for College placement today - I had my first real stressy day & really wanted to lash a pint into me.

Didn't & survived lol

Chris_Bradley

Off to bed and unless someone breaks into my house & puts a funnel into my gob and somehow gets a can of beer down my throat...... I'll have done a complete month off the gargle.

Go wan ya boy ya!

Chris_Bradley

*double post*

Happening to anyone else?

Irish_rat

Congrats to everyone that kept their dry January :-) You made a great start to the year and your liver will be thanking you for it :-)

BKWDR

Well done to everyone

Ash.J.Williams

if you have to do this you have a problem

Chris_Bradley

Ash.J.Williams wrote: »

if you have to do this you have a problem

You could be right there but I guess you just said that to annoy people - good for you

alittlescared

Ash.J.Williams wrote: »

if you have to do this you have a problem

Fantastic input.

Well done to everyone on the dry month!

sporina

my house mate had a bottle of red wine on the go last night and offered a glass.. I had no inclination at all.. whereas normally I would - esp as we were having beef bourguignon for dinner..
Its mad how you loss the craving for it having cut it out for a while.. well, that was the case for me last night anyway

I should just stay off it..

Irish_rat

Ash.J.Williams wrote: »

if you have to do this you have a problem

Giving it up for January or giving it up for good?

Ash.J.Williams

Chris_Bradley wrote: »

You could be right there but I guess you just said that to annoy people - good for you

not at all, the whole thing just hammers home that drink is a legal high, with dependency.

DryFiona

Didn't we do well Hope you all feel as pleased as I do . Thanks to all ( well, nearly all;) for words of wisdom & encouragement along the way

Chris_Bradley

DryFiona wrote: »

Didn't we do well Hope you all feel as pleased as I do . Thanks to all ( well, nearly all;) for words of wisdom & encouragement along the way

Fair play Fiona

furiousox

Ash.J.Williams wrote: »

if you have to do this you have a problem

I didn't have to do it, I chose to.

Autosport

Congrats to you all, you should be proud of yourselves.

lee_baby_simms

Ash.J.Williams wrote: »

if you have to do this you have a problem

Staying away from the pub for January can be for many reasons.

Saving money, losing Xmas weight etc.

homeOwner

We made it! 31 days with no wine, who'd have thunk it. Am so pleased I did it. I had a very small glass of wine Monday night to celebrate and didn't even feel like finishing it. I actually threw out the rest of it and the bottle.

I know I will still get cravings like last week but I know now if I distract myself it will pass. My moods play a big part in it too, when I am having a bad day I need something to see me over it instead of reaching for the wine to numb the feelings.

Been going to the gym frequently too so that really helps. I have no nights out planned till early March so going to try a dry February! This weekend will be the big test.

Well done everyone and a big thanks to the posters here, you have all made it that little bit easier.

homeOwner

Ash.J.Williams wrote: »

if you have to do this you have a problem

I have had a problem moderating my drinking for the past few years. It's sort of crept up on me. Doing this has really been helpful for me.

Did you post here just to point the finger?

Confucius say

Bad weekend with booze but I've been off it more this January than I've been in the last 15 years or so so it's not all bad. Starting again today going to try and stay clean till the end of February when I have a trip away. I feel so rough at work right now and I'm sick to death of this feeling and the damage I'm doing myself. Well done all who did better than me though but I think this is a lifetime project for me and not just January

Chris_Bradley

Had 4 Beers & they're feeling like a bottle of Vodka.

Lets hope I never go back to the same abuse.

Well done all.

Chris_Bradley

Had 4 Beers & they're feeling like a bottle of Vodka.

Lets hope I never go back to the same abuse.

Well done all.

Sunnyisland

We'll done everyone great work, for those who want to stay of drinking fair play to you for those who want to to have a few fair play to you to, it's all down to us as individual as in what we choose to do...

BKWDR

Might even be worthwhile for someone to start a February thread? or continue in this one.

Regardless of, as realies said, if you are abstaining or just cutting back a bit. It's a great resource to chat or get a bit of support along the way

BKWDR

Might even be worthwhile for someone to start a February thread? or continue in this one.

Regardless of, as realies said, if you are abstaining or just cutting back a bit. It's a great resource to chat or get a bit of support along the way

Confucius say

So I stumbled a few times in January but I haven't had a drink or a smoke in a week now and I'm having a great Saturday so far. If anything my not so dry January at least convinced me I can go weekends without booze and have tee total stretches for a while.

johnnyskeleton

Confucius say wrote: »

So I stumbled a few times in January but I haven't had a drink or a smoke in a week now and I'm having a great Saturday so far. If anything my not so dry January at least convinced me I can go weekends without booze and have tee total stretches for a while.

I had my first few pints in a month this weekend, and while the hangover was no worse than a usual hangover - I noticed so much more.

Maybe the next move is to give it up for lent starting on Wednesday!

French_Girl

Same here, successfully completed Dry January and had my first couple of drinks this weekend.

I'll be giving up for Lent as well.
Something I'd done in the past so should be easy enough.
I'm happy to continue like this and keep moving forward. I really do wanna concentrate on my diet and healthy lifestyle rather than enjoy an occasional drink.

Alcohol makes you alcoholic.
Fanta makes you fantastic.