What Do I Do After Dry January?
What Is Dry January
The effects of alcohol on society and individuals are ever-increasing. In the United Kingdom, there have been 12.7 alcohol-related deaths per 100,000 residents since 2018.[1]
In an effort to tackle the impact of alcoholism on individuals, their families, communities, and society, ‘Dry January’ was created as a movement in the UK in 2013.
The popular charity and social event gave millions of supporters an opportunity to stay sober. Participants pledge to abandon alcohol for 30 days during the month of January (New Year’s Day -February 1st).
The movement has been a success and continues to attract thousands of new participants each year. The movement is proudly sponsored by the Alcohol Change UK to encourage detoxing from alcohol.
Dry January Is Over! Now What Do I Do?
After Dry January, many people begin to take notice of the positive results abandoning alcohol has had on their lives and they want the “positive impact” to last past the end of the movement.
Participants have acknowledged the positive results to their body and mind through abandoning alcohol. Participants that start to feel better with themselves, less anxious or stressed may be facing underlining alcohol addiction.
If you struggled to complete Dry January this may also be a sign that you’re struggling with alcohol dependency.
However, once participating in the movement and taking steps to curb an appetite for alcohol for 30 days, it can take the next step to stay sober by committing to another 30 days. This is one of the first steps recommended by Author, Sober Coach, and Speaker, Simon Chapple.
He goes on to say; “this is advice for anyone that is coming off of Dry January and want to extend their progress.” You can also extend your commitment to stay sober for 30 or 60 more days.
Dry January can be a great time to discover your suffering from an alcohol problem and you’ve already taken of the first steps to sobriety by committed to the movement.
What Is The Threat Of Alcohol Addiction
Many people forget that alcohol is a drug and millions of people in the UK find themselves suffering from an alcohol disorder or alcoholism each year. In fact, having a family history of alcohol use can actually increase the chances of becoming dependent on alcohol.
The risk factors of alcoholism can cause life-altering changes and even death. As an acceptable social norm, a drinking dependency is oftentimes overlooked as being a problem.
Here are some side-effects and often tell-tale signs of alcohol addiction:
- Mental/physical problems
- Dependency
- Mixing with other drugs
- Lack of focus/productivity
- Difficulty with interpersonal relationships
- Poor job performance
It’s easy to turn from a few social drinks at a gathering to becoming dependent on alcohol. Dry January is an attempt to help you take the first steps to maintain your sobriety. To overcome alcoholism, support is essential.
The Dry January movement provides support from millions of others taking part in the annual event. While trying to stay sober individuals may experience constant resets or emotional Armageddon and the Dry January movement is there to support those feelings.
How To Stay Sober Beyond Dry January And Not Lose Yourself
If you need further support to maintain your sobriety after Dry January, there are web applications that can help you with alcoholism. The Dry January application can be used to track your time off drinking.
Track your units, your calories, and the amount of money you save with the Dry January app. Download the app to keep a record of your current best dry streaks from Dry January and beyond.
Additionally, you have the option of being confident in your decision to abstain from alcohol. Knowing your reasons for choosing to detox from alcohol can help you be successful in your decision to stay sober.
Be strong and still attend social events and remember your pledge to stay sober. Decide that you want to make new sober friends and don’t let drinking alcohol define you.
Dry January is for participants that would like to take part in the benefits of sobriety. There are a few common setbacks, but with the right mindset, you can find yourself successfully completing Dry January and use it as a catalyst for the rest of the year.
References
[1] https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/causesofdeath/bulletins/alcoholrelateddeathsintheunitedkingdom/registeredin2017
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