My story begins with a bump on the head, feeling dizzy and fainting after a prosecco brunch. This - paired with the progressively bad ‘hangxiety’ I'd experienced over the last few years - led me to decide that enough was enough. I started moderating my drinking in June 2022, and then in January 2023, decided to take part in Dry January. Following this, I extended my Dry January into ‘Dry until July’, and somewhere along the line decided to quit drinking for good. And it has honestly changed my life.
January 2024 |
8 minutes
For Cara, an accident after a bottomless brunch led to her re-evaluating her relationship with alcohol. She decided to give Dry January® a try to see if it could help her to make a change.
I thought stopping drinking would close doors for me but actually the opposite happened.
I thought stopping drinking would close doors for me but actually the opposite happened. I was scared that I would lose friendships, have less of a social life, and not have the confidence to do anything. What actually happened was that it helped me to cultivate and nurture stronger friendships with the people who mattered, pushing me out of my comfort zone. Not drinking has allowed me to build up confidence.
I have done so many things this year that I never thought I would…
I have done so many things this year that I never thought possible, such as dancing sober at a wedding (a big one for me, as I would barely even dance when drunk), karaoke singing, and attending events alone. Along the way, I have discovered a few wonderful organisations that have made the whole process of quitting drinking an absolute breeze, including Sober Girl Society, Dry Disco, and Club Soda. I will forever be grateful for the resources and events that they provide.
Gone are the days when I would waste entire weekends hungover and anxious.
As well as boosting my social life, alcohol-free living has given me far more time to work on my relationship with myself. Gone are the days when I would waste entire weekends hungover and anxious. I now get up early, practice yoga, and meditate. I have so much compassion for myself, I'm more in touch with my emotions, and I'm more open-minded to new experiences. I have also developed a real passion for furthering my education and am now on my way to getting a Masters! Before, I didn't have the motivation or time, largely due to the hangovers writing-off my weekends. Not drinking has allowed me to make more time for myself, and I’m able to do all of the things I want to and more.
I’ve touched on it already but I think that my favourite thing about stopping drinking has been the newfound clarity of my emotions. Now that I'm not constantly masking my feelings with alcohol or getting lost in the haze of hangxiety, I am more able to identify my emotions as they arise and deal with them head on. It sounds a bit strange but I now feel privileged to experience every emotion, positive and negative.
Physical benefits I've experienced include clearer skin, healthier hair, and weight loss. Whilst these are not top of my list of pros, they are definitely bonuses!
Taking part in Dry January is the “perfect way to take a step back and truly evaluate your relationship with alcohol and how you feel with and without it.
I would honestly recommend that everyone try a dry month, regardless of their intentions in the long term. It’s the perfect way to take a step back and truly evaluate your relationship with alcohol and how you feel with and without it. Dry January is a great time to do it because every year more and more people are taking part. The sense of community is a real motivator, and the selection of low and no alcohol drinks available in the supermarkets during that time is particularly amazing!
In a weird way, I’m kind of grateful for that bump on the head I had last year. Luckily it wasn't serious but it did lead to the most beautiful butterfly effect!
