For anyone doing Dry January !! You almost made it. Just a few more days.
Now, the decision will be whether to continue your streak or not. Gauge how you feel emotionally and physically without alcohol in your body for one month vs. how you feel drinking regularly.
I think for me although I still miss drinking and carrying on with friends (like this weekend we are all going shopping and going to "drinks"), I don't want to start at day 1 and have a hangover. The weekends sober are just too darn precious to me. I get so much done and feel so good.
@RubyRed427 Exactly. Not having a hangover is worth the "sacrifice". I was telling my husband, "You don't always regret drinking, but you NEVER regret NOT drinking."
True! It wasn’t until my recent thankfully brief relapse that I really realized how awful hangovers are. I think they had just become my normal way of being for so long I didn’t really think about them. But after 185 days sober the hangovers clobbered me. Y’all they are gross! The thought of another hangover is probably my biggest motivator now.
I don't have a hint of envy, cravings, doubt, urge to go near the real stuff.
ALL I see when I look at those bottles (however pretty they look) is the jackhammer headache that will be pulsing through their heads tomorrow morning. The lethargy & nausea that's on its way.
I heard my partner say to my brother...."are you getting messed up tonight?" And he said "oh yeah ! Tomorrow can wait......"
And I found myself sat downstairs thinking 'but tomorrow WONT wait....its coming....and your gona have a *kitten* day ALL day, hungover....' its funny listening to someone making all the same mistakes that I did. I tried to talk to him, but much like how I used to be, he ain't listening. What I'm selling, he ain't wanting to buy it 😆 exactly how I used to be when someone tried to talk to me about my boozing.
Hi! Just seeing how you are all doing? I'm good! I went to lunch with friends; they had drinks and I had soda.
Afterwards, I told my friends, I am nearly 5 months sober. And one friend said "I bet you feel great." She added that lately she cannot seem to drink without feeling awful the next day, even if she only has a few glasses of wine.
I guess everyone has to decide for themselves when enough is enough.
I don't think waking up hangover free, will EVER get old 😊
The boys hangover on Saturday reminded me what I'm NOT missing. Downstairs, all the empty bottles & glasses and as I poured them out, I smelled the stale alcohol and yeah, it smelled disgusting. Glad I'm not pouring litres of that stuff into my system anymore 🙏❤
CONGRATULATIONS @FeelinFooFoo ! That is a BIG DEAL!!! I am so proud of you!!! Despite the fact that those around you are still indulging, you are managing to stay sober. Whether you know it or not, you ARE setting a good example for them. Bravo!
CONGRATULATIONS @FeelinFooFoo ! That is a BIG DEAL!!! I am so proud of you!!! Despite the fact that those around you are still indulging, you are managing to stay sober. Whether you know it or not, you ARE setting a good example for them. Bravo!
Yes it's opened up many conversations with my brother & my partner about their alcohol in take.
In January I tested four alcohol-free beers and here are my ratings.
Heineken 0.0; 7/10 53kcal 250ml
Beck; 7/10 only 45kcal 330ml
Carlsberg ; 8/10 bet bang for the buck, 70kcal for 500ml
Krombacher: 9/10 this one came as a surprise, the most normal tasting beer, 90kcal for 330ml
I don't think waking up hangover free, will EVER get old 😊
The boys hangover on Saturday reminded me what I'm NOT missing. Downstairs, all the empty bottles & glasses and as I poured them out, I smelled the stale alcohol and yeah, it smelled disgusting. Glad I'm not pouring litres of that stuff into my system anymore 🙏❤
I am doing the happy dance for you!!!!
Congratulations!!!! I can’t wait to see your tattoo 😊
I found a new trigger and wanted to share... I have chronic back issues. Typically, a couple times a year I will have a flare up and be down for a few days. Luckily, 2020 was a flare free year!!!! 2021 is not starting off so well. I’m not sure what I did to aggravate it, but this one is requiring narcotics to get thru.
Trigger - narcotics! Maybe the sensors in the brain that are triggered by the narcotics are the same/close to the sensors triggered by alcohol. I’ve been taking since Saturday night and craving like crazy! Instead of drinking I have eaten a half tub of cookie dough.
Work stress & rising anxiety levels (also nicotine withdrawal) had me on the struggle bus too, @Beka3695
I could have hit my head off a wall I felt so stressed and it hit me, I can't even turn to my usual crutch of wine, to escape and 'zone out'. That's exactly what I wanted to do.
It can feel SO unfair when making healthy changes in your life and you can feel worse than ever !
Chatting to my brother and he said maybe I need to do more with spare time, and he is 100% correct. I have taken a lot 'away' or 'quit' things, but I haven't done much adding. 🤔
Foo, he is right. You need to fill that space up that you once filled with drinking and nicotine. Being in lock down makes it all harder (to take class or something). Maybe go on youtube and learn how to knit or crochet, try a coloring app ( I Like Happy Color) or even do a yoga or some sort of movement class on youtube. I've picked up knitting again and it does help fill the time.
Foo, he is right. You need to fill that space up that you once filled with drinking and nicotine. Being in lock down makes it all harder (to take class or something). Maybe go on youtube and learn how to knit or crochet, try a coloring app ( I Like Happy Color) or even do a yoga or some sort of movement class on youtube. I've picked up knitting again and it does help fill the time.
Plus, at the end you'll have a lovely scarf or blanket or whatever it is you created. I have read a lot about the power of being 'creative' and being in that space. I think I quite fancy painting.....I don't think il be Pablo Picasso but I was reading about art therapy and I think when I next get paid I will buy some paints and a stand & some paper. I will buy cheaply to start with and see if I enjoy it.
Also, I'm currently paying a subscription for a Meditation app, not used it for ages so I will add a Meditation to each day now.
Replies
Enjoyed that ! Good video.
Now, the decision will be whether to continue your streak or not. Gauge how you feel emotionally and physically without alcohol in your body for one month vs. how you feel drinking regularly.
I think for me although I still miss drinking and carrying on with friends (like this weekend we are all going shopping and going to "drinks"), I don't want to start at day 1 and have a hangover. The weekends sober are just too darn precious to me. I get so much done and feel so good.
I got my alcohol free wine.......
I don't have a hint of envy, cravings, doubt, urge to go near the real stuff.
ALL I see when I look at those bottles (however pretty they look) is the jackhammer headache that will be pulsing through their heads tomorrow morning. The lethargy & nausea that's on its way.
I heard my partner say to my brother...."are you getting messed up tonight?" And he said "oh yeah ! Tomorrow can wait......"
And I found myself sat downstairs thinking 'but tomorrow WONT wait....its coming....and your gona have a *kitten* day ALL day, hungover....' its funny listening to someone making all the same mistakes that I did. I tried to talk to him, but much like how I used to be, he ain't listening. What I'm selling, he ain't wanting to buy it 😆 exactly how I used to be when someone tried to talk to me about my boozing.
Afterwards, I told my friends, I am nearly 5 months sober. And one friend said "I bet you feel great." She added that lately she cannot seem to drink without feeling awful the next day, even if she only has a few glasses of wine.
I guess everyone has to decide for themselves when enough is enough.
I don't think waking up hangover free, will EVER get old 😊
The boys hangover on Saturday reminded me what I'm NOT missing. Downstairs, all the empty bottles & glasses and as I poured them out, I smelled the stale alcohol and yeah, it smelled disgusting. Glad I'm not pouring litres of that stuff into my system anymore 🙏❤
Yes it's opened up many conversations with my brother & my partner about their alcohol in take.
Thanks Jen 😊💖🤗
Heineken 0.0; 7/10 53kcal 250ml
Beck; 7/10 only 45kcal 330ml
Carlsberg ; 8/10 bet bang for the buck, 70kcal for 500ml
Krombacher: 9/10 this one came as a surprise, the most normal tasting beer, 90kcal for 330ml
I am doing the happy dance for you!!!!
Congratulations!!!! I can’t wait to see your tattoo 😊
Hope everyone is having a great, sober day!
I found a new trigger and wanted to share... I have chronic back issues. Typically, a couple times a year I will have a flare up and be down for a few days. Luckily, 2020 was a flare free year!!!! 2021 is not starting off so well. I’m not sure what I did to aggravate it, but this one is requiring narcotics to get thru.
Trigger - narcotics! Maybe the sensors in the brain that are triggered by the narcotics are the same/close to the sensors triggered by alcohol. I’ve been taking since Saturday night and craving like crazy! Instead of drinking I have eaten a half tub of cookie dough.
On the struggle bus, but still sober!!!!
I thought it was fabulous, simple, and to the point.
I could have hit my head off a wall I felt so stressed and it hit me, I can't even turn to my usual crutch of wine, to escape and 'zone out'. That's exactly what I wanted to do.
It can feel SO unfair when making healthy changes in your life and you can feel worse than ever !
Chatting to my brother and he said maybe I need to do more with spare time, and he is 100% correct. I have taken a lot 'away' or 'quit' things, but I haven't done much adding. 🤔
Plus, at the end you'll have a lovely scarf or blanket or whatever it is you created. I have read a lot about the power of being 'creative' and being in that space. I think I quite fancy painting.....I don't think il be Pablo Picasso but I was reading about art therapy and I think when I next get paid I will buy some paints and a stand & some paper. I will buy cheaply to start with and see if I enjoy it.
Also, I'm currently paying a subscription for a Meditation app, not used it for ages so I will add a Meditation to each day now.