No alcohol January
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Dry January withdrawal symptoms: What happens when you stop drinking alcohol?
There are plenty of reasons why many of us will give up alcohol for the first month of the New Year, and new decade.After the excesses of Christmas, Dry January is always a welcome challenge – whether done as a money saving method, a detox for your post-Christmas skin or for charity.
However, amidst all the many benefits, the sudden withdrawal of alcohol might have some worrying side effects on your body.
If you cut drink out cold turkey, what symptoms should you expect?
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms
WebMD lists some of the common effects of alcohol withdrawal, starting with cold sweats and having a racing pulse.
Other symptoms, depending how much you drank on a regular basis to begin with, can include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Shakes
- Anxiety
Benefits of Dry January
Though that could be enough to convince you to pour out another G&T and ditch Dry January, there are plenty of benefits to giving up booze too.
Drinkaware.co.uk report that short term benefits include better sleep, improved energy levels and an improved complexion due to being less dehydrated.
Long-term benefits could include a lower risk of certain types of cancer, reducing the chances of developing liver disease and the potential of improving your sex life.
How to get through Dry January
Giving up the booze will be a shock to the system, so there are steps you can take to help complete Dry January.
Alcohol Change UK offered their top 5 tips for achieving Dry Jan
Tips for Dry January
- Throw it away – the best way to not slip is to keep the booze out of your reach.
- Make a plan for when you’ll be around booze – failing to prepare is preparing to fail, as the saying goes. Make a plan and stick to it if you’re meeting friends at a pub or restaurant.
- Treat yourself – it’s important not to think of sobriety as a punishment. Take the money you’ll save from drinking and reward yourself.
- Assemble a support group – whether it’s other friends doing Dry Jan or a gym buddy you can do something not-drinking-related, have a support system set up.
- Fill the gap with fun – take that time normally spent in the pub or club and discover a new hobby, go to the cinema.
If you’re really struggling with some of the negative side-effects of alcohol withdrawal, you can speak with a GP or pharmacist.
They could provide guidance and support, as well as prescribing medicines that could help, like benzodiazepines.
Fatmata Kamara, a mental health nurse at BUPA UK, offered advice for those worried about being labelled ‘boring’ or being left out during Dry Jan.
She said: ‘It’s important to stay focused and motivated on your goal… If you’re finding it tough, there are a few ways to distract yourself! Try writing down the benefits of doing Dry January and make sure they’re visible. Alternatively, distract yourself with activities that you enjoy, like reading your favourite book or going for a walk.’
My dry January this year, like last year, started on 6th January. I was unsuccessful last time - I don't think I managed a week. Hopefully, this time will be different.
What I learned from doing Dry January https://t.co/qcuNYr8mUj— Graham Mad Teacher (@madteacher72) January 5, 2019
My dry month starts tomorrow. I've done dry months before but I haven't done one in ages. I wonder if I'll succeed this time.
The problem with Dry January is what happens in February:
Dry January: Does it lead to binge-drinking in February? https://t.co/KbngzP5B8T— Graham Mad Teacher (@madteacher72) February 2, 2019
Comments
It's clear that it is not easy. I would like to be able and I know maybe I could but maybe later.
Meanwhile, I will try to avoid strong alcohol although it is true, I usually drink red wine and beer. Less and less I take drink as gin or liquors.
In my opinion, the worst time of the year in terms of alcohol consumption is the summer since it is time to go out with friends and enjoy long days. That's why last summer what I did was to drink non-alcoholic beer most often to reduce the consumption.
So, hang in up (?) and you can be sure there wont be more beer on the table until February...al least :)
I'm only on my fifth alcohol-free day. I resisted temptation earlier today; I just hope that I can make it until Feb 6th.
It's clear that it is not easy. I would like to be able to do dry January and I know I could but maybe another time.
Meanwhile, I will try to avoid strong alcohol although it is true, I usually drink red wine and beer. I have drinks like / such as gin or liquors less and less.
In my opinion, the worst time of the year in terms of alcohol consumption is the summer, since it is the time to go out with friends and enjoy the long days. That's why last summer what I did was to drink non-alcoholic beer more often to reduce the consumption.
So, hang in there and you can be sure there wont be more beer on the table until February...al least :)
But it is true that I should reduce the frequency by not drinking at home.
About the WebMD article I think it's a bit of an exaggeration. I understand that it refers to cases of compulsive drinkers.
I like to try the local beer when I am on my travels but when at home, I usually stick to what I know.
Like you with beer, I enjoy discovering new malt whiskies.
This month is going to be tough for me. I should treat myself to something special if I manage to abstain from booze for the whole month.
I also drink less liquor but for me giving up beer is more complicated. Trying new beers is almost a hobby for me.
But it is true that I should cut down by not drinking at home.
As for the WebMD article I think it's a bit of an exaggeration / a bit over the top. I understand that it refers to cases of compulsive drinkers.
After the excesses of Christmas, the best is withdrawal and Dry January to recover the breath. What happens if you are an inveterate drunk? Nothing. You don´t have solution. What happens if you drink sometimes only? You are going to suffer cold sweats, fast heartbeats, nauseas, vomits, shakes and anxiety. What happens if you don´t drink? People look at like a weirdo.
The benefits of Dry January are: Better sleep, improved energy, improved complexion, not risk of cancer, not liver´s diseases and better sex life. Therefore, if you want to sleep better or improve your sex life, you must have Dry January, without drinking nothing. But to that, you have to drink alcohol previously. Therefore, you need drink like a fish to sleep better and to improve your sex life. Okey?
I didn´t know why English people drink so much, but I understand it now. They are strong and robust because they drink like a fish. Then, I don´t want to listen the tips of Drinkaware.,co.uk and Alcohol change UK because I prefer to enjoy drinking and, sometime, sleeping better and improving my sex life. LOL
Fatmata Kamara, a mental health nurse at BUPA UK, is a bored person who likes reading a book and going for a walk. She throws her life away. She should treat yourself.
See you.
I've managed almost a week without any alcohol. I haven't had any withdrawal symptoms but it's tough nonetheless. What is more, I haven't any of the supposed benefits.
I've added a couple of tweets to this post on the same subject.
After the excesses of Christmas, Dry January is the best thing to do to recover your breath (this makes it sound as if you were running). What happens if you are an inveterate drunk? Nothing. There is no solution. What happens if you only have the odd drink? You are going to suffer cold sweats, fast heartbeats, nauseas, vomits, shakes and anxiety. What happens if you don´t drink? People look at you as if you are a weirdo.
The benefits of Dry January are: Better sleep, improved energy, improved complexion, no risk of cancer, no liver disease and better sex life. Therefore, if you want to sleep better or improve your sex life, you must do Dry January, without drinking anything. But to do that, you have to have drunk alcohol previously. Therefore, you need to drink like a fish to sleep better and to improve your sex life. Okay?
I didn´t know why English people drink so much, but I understand it now. They are strong and robust because they drink like fish. Then, I don´t want to listen to the tips of Drinkaware.co.uk and Alcohol change UK because I prefer to enjoy drinking and, sometimes, sleeping better and improving my sex life. LOL
Fatmata Kamara, a mental health nurse at BUPA UK, is a boring person who likes reading and going for a walk. She is throwing her life away. She should treat herself.
I normally need a drink after reading and replying to your comment but ...
I didn't know about this challenge.
I guess the most difficult part is the social life related one.
I've always wondered what is better for quitting a habit, if cold turkey or gradual sizing down.
I think I can guess who you are.
I hadn't heard about this challenge.
I guess the most difficult part is the social one.
I've always wondered what is the best way to quit a habit - cold turkey or cutting down gradually.
I have had dry months in the past but not necessarily in January, I gave up drinking when I was training for a race though I kept on drinking before my second marathon.
I reckon cold turkey is more likely to lead to success.
For sure it's not easy quiting alcohol for one whole month, I think this is due to it's something really normalized in social life.
Besides that, could happen that friends encourage you to drink even if you don't want to. There's still a big stigma around people who doesn't drink, it's comon to label them as lame persons, or even thinking that they can spoil the party.
We need to change our gaze around the alcohol, and see it like a drug, not a way to socialize or to have fun.
However, I think it'd be really dificult to change all the dynamic we have around alcohol.
For me it'd be so dificult to quit completely alcohol from my life, it's something really related with my social life. Nontheless this is something that I don't consider really important right now. I'm okay with the quantity of alcohol I drink.
One thing I managed to change about alcohol is the way I drink. Since I have stronger hangovers I started drinking alcohol in a smarter way, drinking slower, decreasing the number of drinks and alternating it with water. Also I don't allow miself to go to bed tipsy or drunk, if it's required I stay awake until the efects of alcohol have gone.
Because of you, I'm seriously considering quitting alcohol or having a vegan diet for the month of November or even both. I may end up doing neither. I have 24 hours to make up my mind.
For sure, it's not easy to quit alcohol for one whole month, I think this is due to the fact that it's something really normalised in our social life / in society.
On top of that, your friends could encourage you to drink even if you don't want to. There's still a big stigma around people who don't drink, it's common to label them as lame (people), or even think that they can spoil the party. (par
We need to change how we view alcohol, and see it like a drug, not a way of socialising or having fun.
However, I think it'd be really difficult to change all the dynamics we have around alcohol.
For me, it'd be so difficult to cut alcohol completely out from my life, it's something related with my social life. Nonetheless, this is something that I don't consider really important right now. I'm okay with the quantity of alcohol I drink.
One thing I managed to change about alcohol is the way I drink. Since I have bigger hangovers, I started drinking alcohol in a smarter way, drinking slower, decreasing the number of drinks and alternating it with water. Also I don't allow myself to go to bed tipsy or drunk. If (it's) required, I stay awake until the effects of alcohol have gone.