Dry January 2023 Thread

[Anonymous]

Day 20 and my DH, who is usually a daily, heavy consumer of wine, is still dry. I can tell he's struggling, so I took him out to our HS kid's sporting event, normally he would stay home. I think it helped--I'm trying to support him best I can.

[Anonymous]

I feel proud of myself and my husband for doing dry January this year and for making it this far. I have been disappointed in how hard it has felt at different times, but that has reinforced why this was important for us to do. We are committed to making it through the end of the month - and it was huge to make it past the halfway point - but we're both ready for this month to be over! We were in the habit of drinking too much, too many nights per week as an escape/reward from all the stress we've had over the last few months. Work, kids, and extended family have all been stressful for a number of reasons, but unfortunately those stressors are not going away any time soon so we need better strategies.

It has been nice to reset, do more self-care, and find other ways to manage the stress. I am more in tune with how I'm feeling so I can find ways to address it rather than mask it. If I'm cranky and tired, I go to sleep early and feel refreshed in the morning. If I'm bored, I think of something that would stimulate my mind and have tried some new things I might not have otherwise spent time on. If I want something that tastes good, I drink a Crystal Light raspberry lemonade or a flavored seltzer. I would like to go into February with better self-care habits, a decreased alcohol tolerance so I won't crave as many drinks, more alternatives to drinking, and a commitment to drinking fewer nights per week (maybe just weekends).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Day 20 and my DH, who is usually a daily, heavy consumer of wine, is still dry. I can tell he's struggling, so I took him out to our HS kid's sporting event, normally he would stay home. I think it helped--I'm trying to support him best I can.

Why would he not be going to the sporting event on his own without being forced? Seems odd.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Day 20 and my DH, who is usually a daily, heavy consumer of wine, is still dry. I can tell he's struggling, so I took him out to our HS kid's sporting event, normally he would stay home. I think it helped--I'm trying to support him best I can.

Why would he not be going to the sporting event on his own without being forced? Seems odd.

Not PP but please don't question that, it's not odd for an introvert. Not everyone is the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel proud of myself and my husband for doing dry January this year and for making it this far. I have been disappointed in how hard it has felt at different times, but that has reinforced why this was important for us to do. We are committed to making it through the end of the month - and it was huge to make it past the halfway point - but we're both ready for this month to be over! We were in the habit of drinking too much, too many nights per week as an escape/reward from all the stress we've had over the last few months. Work, kids, and extended family have all been stressful for a number of reasons, but unfortunately those stressors are not going away any time soon so we need better strategies.

It has been nice to reset, do more self-care, and find other ways to manage the stress. I am more in tune with how I'm feeling so I can find ways to address it rather than mask it. If I'm cranky and tired, I go to sleep early and feel refreshed in the morning. If I'm bored, I think of something that would stimulate my mind and have tried some new things I might not have otherwise spent time on. If I want something that tastes good, I drink a Crystal Light raspberry lemonade or a flavored seltzer. I would like to go into February with better self-care habits, a decreased alcohol tolerance so I won't crave as many drinks, more alternatives to drinking, and a commitment to drinking fewer nights per week (maybe just weekends).

I could have written this. Definitely proud of myself for making it this far, and fully committed to finishing the month. It was harder at first than I would have liked, but it has gotten easier. And I've gone through a couple of really crappy days where drinking a glass (bottle) of wine would have been my usual response. Instead, I pushed through and honestly, it made dealing with the difficulties easier. Mostly because I didn't whip myself up into a wine-fueled frenzy, but instead soberly focused on what I needed to do to address the problems.

Hoping February finds me drinking less every week and less every time I do drink. I plan to start each day by deciding if this is a drinking day BEFORE something happens that gives me an "excuse" to drink. I want to stay dry four days a week minimum, and drink because I choose to drink, not because I'm stressed or caving to peer pressure. And when I do drink, I'm hoping to keep my tolerance low so that first glass lasts a little longer. Fingers crossed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Last night was the most difficult night so far. I attended a birthday party at a bar for a close friend. I only lasted 30 minutes.

It was just too difficult for me watching everyone with the drink in their hand and the bartender constantly asking if I wanted a refill of my sad seltzer water. Even their pints of beer looked DELICIOUS and I'm not much of a beer drinker.
I had to get out of there. I'm sad that I missed the fun, but proud of myself for staying dry one more night! Maybe next time there is an event like that I'll be able to not think about the drinks and just enjoy the socialization....

This sounds really hard. I’m proud of you for staying strong though!

[Anonymous]

I had a moment last weekend where I really wanted a drink (had witnessed a traumatic event). But recalled the idea (from here?) that I should be drinking to celebrate an event, not to cope. So I didn’t have a drink.

[Anonymous]

I’ve been doing great with dry January. I feel better in the mornings because I have a clear head.

My sleep has been absolute crap. I keep waking sometime between 3 and 4 and can’t go back to sleep for one to two hours. I wake up super hot and sweaty, even though my room is very cool and I’m pretty chilly when I fall asleep.

If I wake at 4, that basically means no more sleep for the night. Also having a challenge falling asleep. Taking me an hour +.

I’ve been doing all the things. Only one cup of coffee, before 8am. A moderate intensity workout no later than 3pm. No water after 7pm, no food after 6:30pm, sleep type meditations with breath work right before sleep. Related or not, I started a probiotic and an over-40 multivitamin a couple weeks ago to see if it helps, but no luck.

I expect part of this is perimenopause. I have an appt with my doc at the end of the month to talk about possibly starting support. For not just the sleep, but yeah, the messed up sleep is a big one. I’ll be asking about estrogen/progesterone, cannabis, and supplements (like ashwaganda and maca root).

I’ve tried melatonin and it can help with the falling asleep but not the staying asleep, and I get headaches most mornings I’ve taken it.

Just frustrated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve been doing great with dry January. I feel better in the mornings because I have a clear head.

My sleep has been absolute crap. I keep waking sometime between 3 and 4 and can’t go back to sleep for one to two hours. I wake up super hot and sweaty, even though my room is very cool and I’m pretty chilly when I fall asleep.

If I wake at 4, that basically means no more sleep for the night. Also having a challenge falling asleep. Taking me an hour +.

I’ve been doing all the things. Only one cup of coffee, before 8am. A moderate intensity workout no later than 3pm. No water after 7pm, no food after 6:30pm, sleep type meditations with breath work right before sleep. Related or not, I started a probiotic and an over-40 multivitamin a couple weeks ago to see if it helps, but no luck.

I expect part of this is perimenopause. I have an appt with my doc at the end of the month to talk about possibly starting support. For not just the sleep, but yeah, the messed up sleep is a big one. I’ll be asking about estrogen/progesterone, cannabis, and supplements (like ashwaganda and maca root).

I’ve tried melatonin and it can help with the falling asleep but not the staying asleep, and I get headaches most mornings I’ve taken it.

Just frustrated.

Have you had a sleep study? I would ask your doctor about getting one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve been doing great with dry January. I feel better in the mornings because I have a clear head.

My sleep has been absolute crap. I keep waking sometime between 3 and 4 and can’t go back to sleep for one to two hours. I wake up super hot and sweaty, even though my room is very cool and I’m pretty chilly when I fall asleep.

If I wake at 4, that basically means no more sleep for the night. Also having a challenge falling asleep. Taking me an hour +.

I’ve been doing all the things. Only one cup of coffee, before 8am. A moderate intensity workout no later than 3pm. No water after 7pm, no food after 6:30pm, sleep type meditations with breath work right before sleep. Related or not, I started a probiotic and an over-40 multivitamin a couple weeks ago to see if it helps, but no luck.

I expect part of this is perimenopause. I have an appt with my doc at the end of the month to talk about possibly starting support. For not just the sleep, but yeah, the messed up sleep is a big one. I’ll be asking about estrogen/progesterone, cannabis, and supplements (like ashwaganda and maca root).

I’ve tried melatonin and it can help with the falling asleep but not the staying asleep, and I get headaches most mornings I’ve taken it.

Just frustrated.

Have you had a sleep study? I would ask your doctor about getting one.

Thanks, I’ll ask. Good idea. I do track my sleep and am getting good percentages, if not enough, deep, rem, and light phases. Also blood oxygen levels are usually around 98 or 99. My breathing regularity is normal. I am relatively restless, though- I move around a lot while asleep. My heart rate seems to be fine and my HRV is age-appropriate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve been doing great with dry January. I feel better in the mornings because I have a clear head.

My sleep has been absolute crap. I keep waking sometime between 3 and 4 and can’t go back to sleep for one to two hours. I wake up super hot and sweaty, even though my room is very cool and I’m pretty chilly when I fall asleep.

If I wake at 4, that basically means no more sleep for the night. Also having a challenge falling asleep. Taking me an hour +.

I’ve been doing all the things. Only one cup of coffee, before 8am. A moderate intensity workout no later than 3pm. No water after 7pm, no food after 6:30pm, sleep type meditations with breath work right before sleep. Related or not, I started a probiotic and an over-40 multivitamin a couple weeks ago to see if it helps, but no luck.

I expect part of this is perimenopause. I have an appt with my doc at the end of the month to talk about possibly starting support. For not just the sleep, but yeah, the messed up sleep is a big one. I’ll be asking about estrogen/progesterone, cannabis, and supplements (like ashwaganda and maca root).

I’ve tried melatonin and it can help with the falling asleep but not the staying asleep, and I get headaches most mornings I’ve taken it.

Just frustrated.

Ask your doctor if trazodone is an option. It helps keep you asleep, and it is not addictive.

[Anonymous]

I'm afraid I drank an entire bottle of wine last night.

[Anonymous]

It honestly hasn’t been difficult at all — it’s just boring.

Anyone else think some people who claim to be dry are lying? It’s so easy to booze at home and just play pretend in public.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm afraid I drank an entire bottle of wine last night.

If you ordered 3 9-oz pours at Chile's you did. Do you not remember?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It honestly hasn’t been difficult at all — it’s just boring.

Anyone else think some people who claim to be dry are lying? It’s so easy to booze at home and just play pretend in public.

No I don’t