The benefits of ‘Dry January’ last longer than a month, studies show

I continually tell myself, every time the anxiety thing happens, that I should just quit the stuff. But it's a very strong habit and I often find myself lighting up for seemingly no reason. I took about a month long break a year or so ago and didn't particularly miss it.

Anyway, I've now been off it for two days, and plan to just lay off for a while.

I suspect, with some sadness, that I've just hit the point where it's not fun for me anymore. I've seen many people voice similar experiences online and have a friend who quit permanently a few years ago with a similar case (although theirs seemed much more acute than mine).

Anyway, a reset is in order, so that's what I'll attempt. Not hoping for any miracles, but I think it will be a nice change of pace if nothing else.

Most of the time it was when one or both of us had 2 or more drinks. We didn't even need to be tipsy, but just a little bit of a buzz was enough to be a problem for us.

I decided that I didn't like who I was when I'd had alcohol. Specifically, someone who was more willing to fight, and argue. Without alcohol I am generally just interested in peace and respect. With alcohol, I'm much more likely to be willing to poke, prod, and argue.

Good riddance to that chemical.

Of course, there's more to the story, like all the reasons I was an alcoholic in the first place. The other people who were doing the challenge just went back to drinking normally. But at that moment, I just happened to be at the right place in my life where abstaining for a while helped with quitting: I was in a stable relationship with a supportive partner, I began to take my career a little more seriously, and I had just gotten back into competitive Dance Dance Revolution. Playing hardcore DDR several hours a day, I could clearly see the effects of a previous night of drinking in my physical and mental performance -- as pure numbers, in the form of scores.

It's worth trying: you might be at a stopping point too. Without that Dry January, I may have slowed down, but would I have really, actually quit?

In short, my perspective on alcohol is as follows:

- Mental and physical health are hard enough to maintain without constantly poisoning myself with a depressant. If you're having a hard time getting things done, and you aren't exercising enough, alcohol probably isn't helping.

- I needed to learn to socialize, express my emotions, and release inhibitions without alcohol. So I did, and now I can do that.

- Without alcohol, for better or worse (almost entirely for the better), life becomes drastically more predictable. Yes, you'll probably make fewer crazy memories. But: you'll be a better friend and partner, every flight of stairs gets way less dangerous, and you'll pretty much never vomit again.

Coming out of alcoholism on the other side really feels like a superpower. No hangovers, better sleep, and I don't get sick. At social events, the drunker everyone else gets, the funnier and smarter I am.

I completely understand why people drink, and I don't hold it against anyone. I just don't need to do it anymore. Dry January is a good idea.

Not trying to be judge mental. This is more like an alien wanting to know how earthlings live kinda thing.

I had to give up alcohol (not a big drinker) and caffeine and sugar and wheat and dairy (those 4, regular consumer) due to a skin condition that they were triggering. Been a couple months now. It’s still hard (particularly coffee and sugar) but I feel very different. I feel a lot better, but the cravings are intense still. I plan to keep it up now for the duration.

> On average, the number of days on which they drank fell from 4.3 days per week before the challenge to 3.3 days per week a half-year later. The amount that they drank on each occasion fell and they got drunk less frequently.

> Before Dry January, they got drunk an average of 3.4 times per month. But by the following August that figure had fallen to 2.1 times per month.

I don't think I remember any time where I got drunk an average of 3 times per month (I'd say 1-2 at most, so the average would be around 1). Since Covid started and I stopped going out to every possible event I'd say I'm averaging 1 beer per week, so 0-2 evenings of at least one drink.

Some people will be quite happy drinking heavily, way more than I was, but it is about how you feel as well as the units drunk.

I read a book called The Naked Mind - it is similar to Allan Carr’s Control Alcohol. I read it over a few days and it worked.

Made a few changes compared to previously attempts - main one being that I do not have substitutions (so no alcohol free beer), as it would be a small step to drinking again.

If you are considering a dry month, have a read of one of the books - it will only be a few days of time but will at least make the dry January much easier.

Um, yeah, if you drink that much and suddenly abstain, there's going to be significant improvements.

Just the drop in calories is going to be a big deal.