Who's signing up for a "Dry January"?

beluga

I'm still hanging in there! Last Sat was hard - I went out for my birthday with some friends and a lot of them were wasted by the end. I had a cold so still ended up feeling rubbish the morning after! But I managed it - coffee and lemonade thrughout the night I'm also trying to think about why I drink - often it's not just because I fancy one, it's because I'm uncomfortable in social situations. That's something I'm trying to work on.

Yesterday, for the first time ever, I got a tattoo and didn't rush straight to the nearest pub! It hurt like hell though, and I was tempted! Instead I had two paracetamol and had a nap

Keep up the good work everyone - those who've fallen off the wagon, well done for getting back on oh and I don't think cheesecake counts!

hazyjo

Well done, beluga That's some achievement - sticking to it for your birthday, let alone being out for your birthday when others are pie-eyed!


Brave girlie with the tattoo too!


Yes, that is me - uncomfortable in social situations. I'm fine with my own friends, but if there's a large group of people I don't know, I will drink for confidence.


I remember going to my friend's 40th in Scotland. She'd asked around 10 of us to rent a house for 3 nights (near Inverness/Loch Ness!). I wasn't well which didn't help (bad chest infection, quite possibly bordering pneumonia), but I found it so hard to join in. I'd have a nice chat with one or two, and managed to get up and do karaoke on the xbox or whatever it was, but I couldn't just be 'fun' like the rest of them. I think I'm more serious and prefer conversation. They were dancing on the kitchen table with hairbrushes and running round the outside of the house starkers - I'm just not like that, and being the biggest of the bunch, not something I wanted to do with 10 or so other girls I had only known a couple of days!


We were in a large house in the middle of nowhere in January and there was snow on the ground and everything was very slippy outside so I was reluctant to go walking, etc (I always fall over)! It just made me quite withdrawn and I felt extremely self conscious and couldn't wait to get home. Needless to say I've not been asked to go again (they go do the same thing in a different location every year). I think alcohol helped loosen me u pa bit, but maybe not as much as I think. I may have felt the same sober and maybe even managed to act myself out of it a bit better and join in more! Who knows!


Definitely making me analyse things, this Dry Jan!


Jx

Kantankrus_Mare

When people drink too much, many act in a way they never would when sober.

Its embarressing really amd I speak from both sides though I havent been in a "state" for years and don't intend to.

I enjoy a drink now but know when I have had enough. Just wish I had seen the light when I was younger.

Still going strong but have a dilemma.

We are having a family meal out on the 31st for brother in laws 40th. Not decided whether to have my first drink or not.

On the one hand it is only one day off a full month but on the other, I know I haven't technically done the full month dry. Would only be a couple of glasses of wine with meal. Hmmmm.......

DKLS

Back on the wagon after amsterdam trip and will be booze free til next Thursday, when I have a couple of clients to entertain. But will ask the barman to do me a spacer drink every other round, as the last time I went out with these two clients we fell out of a club at silly o clock.

So al least I am not having to pay for any booze this month.

pollyanna24

Kantankrus_Mare wrote: »

When people drink too much, many act in a way they never would when sober.

Its embarressing really amd I speak from both sides though I havent been in a "state" for years and don't intend to.

I enjoy a drink now but know when I have had enough. Just wish I had seen the light when I was younger.

Still going strong but have a dilemma.

We are having a family meal out on the 31st for brother in laws 40th. Not decided whether to have my first drink or not.

On the one hand it is only one day off a full month but on the other, I know I haven't technically done the full month dry. Would only be a couple of glasses of wine with meal. Hmmmm.......

Only you can make that decision. But if it was me, I'd have a few drinks.

I have fallen off the wagon this month, but I'm okay about it. But then my drinking was getting a bit out of hand.

My main aim for this month (and for the rest of the year and forever) was to find some kind of moderation and so far I seem to have gotten that.

I have drank 5 days this month, but that's 16 days where I haven't which is great!

SailorSam

There was someone talking on the radio this morning who said, today is the day when people who fail to keep their new year resolutions will finally give up.

hazyjo

Kantankrus_Mare wrote: »

Still going strong but have a dilemma.

We are having a family meal out on the 31st for brother in laws 40th. Not decided whether to have my first drink or not.

On the one hand it is only one day off a full month but on the other, I know I haven't technically done the full month dry. Would only be a couple of glasses of wine with meal. Hmmmm.......

Ah, that's up to you I'd be a definite no, but as above some would just go for it. I had them nagging me at my belated Christmas lunch going 'go on, it doesn't count if it's a Christmas lunch in January as it was delayed'. But then I'm stubborn and would beat myself up over drinking if I went out, even if it was just once in the month. Also, the point with me is to know that I can do things like that without a drink.


Let us know what you decide! Promise not to nag if you break it lol


Jx

Kantankrus_Mare

Yes I am stubborn too and if I am going to do something.....I have to see it through.

Just found out that on the same day, but in the evening, we have been invited for goodbye drinks to see a friend of OH's who are going to Australia.:eek:

Primrose

Survived somebody's milestone birthday lunch today but it wasn't too bad as several others were doing a Dry January too so I didn't feel left out, and I was driving anyway so wouldn't have had any alcohol.


The conversation was so hilarious that we didn't need any alcohol to make the event go with a swing. funnily enough by this time last year I was really dying for a glass of wine but this year I'm not really missing it too much.

WantToBeSE

pollyanna24 wrote: »

I have fallen off the wagon this month, but I'm okay about it. But then my drinking was getting a bit out of hand.

My main aim for this month (and for the rest of the year and forever) was to find some kind of moderation and so far I seem to have gotten that.

I have drank 5 days this month, but that's 16 days where I haven't which is great!

Exactly the same here Pollyanna.


5 days of drinking in January (so far) for me too, and that's a huge improvement for me.