7 ms·

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

36 points by enraged_camel 4y ago

ekb128 4y ago
I've abstained from alcohol for a year or so now, and have seen dramatic improvements in health/overall well-being. Helps loads with mental health
- jvm___ 4y ago
  I've realized that getting even mildly drunk makes me super depressed 24-36 hours after I've stopped drinking. I don't feel physically bad, just a depressed frustrated with life and the people around me - state. I can't do alcohol past one drink or it has very negative mood effects.
  - ethanzh 4y ago
    I’ve only started to notice this in the past year or so, it’s a bizarre feeling compared to just a normal hangover. Certainly dissuades me from drinking too much now.
- hash872 4y ago
  I abstained for 6 months last year and it really had no effect in any way, mental or physical. Don't mean to be a contrarian, just wanted to supply a different data point
- ipaddr 4y ago
  I stopped completely because it felt better and easier on the body. Stopped eating food that always made me feel rough and life is better for it.
agentwiggles 4y ago
I'm planning on taking a sober January this year, abstaining from both booze and weed. Alcohol I don't have any particular problem with; I'm a fairly infrequent drinker. But marijuana and I have a strange relationship. I've been a habitual user for the last decade plus, and have found over the last few years that smoking either makes me anxious to the point of discomfort or just doesn't really do anything. 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.
- acchow 4y ago
  Most people I know take a few months off weed every year and it’s always much better when returning to it.
  - agentwiggles 4y ago
    I hope so! I did not notice much of a reduction in the anxiety issues after my last long break. I suspect that a large part of the issue is the different composition of the psychoactive components in today's weed versus what I grew up smoking - old school was what we now derisively call "miss", new school seems to be optimizing for as much THC as possible while also reducing CBD to almost nothing. My state hasn't legalized yet (although there is some faint hope for next year) so I haven't had much opportunity to experiment with different strains and whatnot. Either way, a while off it will do me some good I think, and of course the money saved isn't to be ignored either.
    - acchow 4y ago
      optimizing for "as much THC as possible" sounds like you need to find a dispensary with wider selection. Being in a non-legalized state might be your biggest issue tho
- ethanzh 4y ago
  I’m in a similar situation and agree with everything you’ve said. Although I enjoy the ritual aspect of weed I’ve also found that I enjoy the actual effects far less than I used to, and when I take a few weeks off I don’t really miss it. The worst part is the 3-4 days after quitting falling asleep becomes quite difficult so I need to make a point to go on long runs/bike rides to fall asleep easier
  - sokoloff 4y ago
    I’ve found melatonin to be a fairly mild, yet effective, sleep aid. I mostly use it to manage the clock on eastbound long flights (to fall asleep earlier than local time would have me do that.)
adamwong246 4y ago
I really needed to see this post right now. I was just about to go to the store, wherein I will be confronted with the very tempting possibility of a cheap bottle of wine. Of course I will need to walk past my glass recycling bin, which is full of identical empty wine bottles, each (shamefully) marking a singular night of drinking, 1 for each night of the past week. Before the pandemic, I could make a bottle of wine last several days. As of now, I can handily down 2 bottles over the course of a Sunday.
- bluenomatterwho 4y ago
  Self-awareness is powerful. It's interesting, I can't think of anything except alcohol where almost everyone agrees a 'sober October' or 'dry January' is a good idea. It's almost like booze is more dangerous than its level of social acceptance would indicate.
shakabrah 4y ago
As someone who cannot manage alcohol (sober four years) id like to ask those of you who get something out of a 30 day abstinence, or find it appealing, what’s the appeal? If you don’t have a problem with drinking, why do you think a 30 day refrain will improve something in your life. If there is benefit, doesn’t this indicate a problem? Or do you think taking 30 days away will fix the problem? Not trying to be judge mental. This is more like an alien wanting to know how earthlings live kinda thing.
- tedunangst 4y ago
  A lot of people start drinking more excessively around the end of the year, and it becomes a habit. Take a month off, no drinking, then start drinking in moderation. The short break does fix the problem.
- teruakohatu 4y ago
  People like challenges. It seems to be part of our human nature. Be it growing a mustache in November, running up a hill once a day in February, or not drinking in January. Other people look at us and wonder why we bother uploading open source code to Github (doing work in our spare time).
- dougmwne 4y ago
  Here’s my take on it. I am a pretty light drinker. I think it’s nice, but not amazing. Half of my enjoyment is just culinary, trying different tastes. But anything can become a habit, from leaving dirty dishes in the sink to buying too many cookies. A great way to reset a habit is just to stop doing it for awhile. So for me, taking a break now and then helps to keep the calories in check and the overall consumption light. I also take regular breaks from social media and caffeine.
  - Semaphor 4y ago
    > I also take regular breaks from social media and caffeine. Hm… Last time I did that, was to get off my coffee/caffeine addiction, some 15 years ago. I think now that I do cold showers, it might actually be easier. I’ll give it a 2-week try in January ;)
rubicon33 4y ago
I mostly stopped drinking when I started paying attention to when my wife and I would argue. 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.
- bamboozled 4y ago
  I had a relative who was a great person but liked drinking at 5pm when he'd become really irritated and disagreeable, complaining about the world while watching the news etc. I'm the same when I drink, I'm conscious I can become that person, so I still have drinks but I just watch my mental state, almost (mindfully) ha.
estro0182 4y ago
My partner and I are almost done with our dry December (the month was chosen for personal reasons). Each of us were technically overconsumers of alcohol (2 drinks a night on average) before this month. Throughout the month we’ve both gone through differing intensities of emotions as our minds and bodies adjusted to not drinking. Stress hormones and the dopamine system are affected by drinking, so perhaps we experienced some reversion back to normalcy in either or both. I read this article and my feelings align with everything written; my view on alcohol has changed, hopefully for good.
brandonmenc 4y ago
Cue the usual HN comments where everyone who regularly consumes two drinks believes they are a full-blown alcoholic.
- browningstreet 4y ago
  The question is whether alcohol has power over you, or whether you suffer negative outcomes in your life because of your alcohol intake. For some, that can happen when they “regularly consume[..] two drinks”.
bsder 4y ago
> Both groups consisted of people who were moderate to heavy drinkers, drinking on average about 2.5 drinks a day. 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.
- mafro 4y ago
  There is a huge number of people in the world who drink two drinks per day, every day, with no calorie problem, and no significant ailment which needs improving. See sister comment about HN posts on two drinks per day
throwaway378037 4y ago
https://archive.ph/LCkje https://archive.ph/LCkje 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.
rogerclark 4y ago
I stopped drinking in January 2014 as part of a Dry January challenge with some friends. This was after a decade or so of heavy alcoholism. I had one relapse two months later, and since then, I've kept it going. No alcohol since March 2014. 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.
stranded22 4y ago
I stopped drinking alcohol 4 years ago (a few failed attempts over the decade but this one stuck). 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.
wink 4y ago
As someone who would describe himself as not an excessive drinker but also far from abstinent these numbers are quite interesting. > 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.

36 points by enraged_camel 4y ago

I've abstained from alcohol for a year or so now, and have seen dramatic improvements in health/overall well-being. Helps loads with mental health

jvm___ 4y ago
I've realized that getting even mildly drunk makes me super depressed 24-36 hours after I've stopped drinking. I don't feel physically bad, just a depressed frustrated with life and the people around me - state. I can't do alcohol past one drink or it has very negative mood effects.
- ethanzh 4y ago
  I’ve only started to notice this in the past year or so, it’s a bizarre feeling compared to just a normal hangover. Certainly dissuades me from drinking too much now.
hash872 4y ago
I abstained for 6 months last year and it really had no effect in any way, mental or physical. Don't mean to be a contrarian, just wanted to supply a different data point
ipaddr 4y ago
I stopped completely because it felt better and easier on the body. Stopped eating food that always made me feel rough and life is better for it.

agentwiggles 4y ago

I'm planning on taking a sober January this year, abstaining from both booze and weed. Alcohol I don't have any particular problem with; I'm a fairly infrequent drinker. But marijuana and I have a strange relationship. I've been a habitual user for the last decade plus, and have found over the last few years that smoking either makes me anxious to the point of discomfort or just doesn't really do anything. 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.

acchow 4y ago
Most people I know take a few months off weed every year and it’s always much better when returning to it.
- agentwiggles 4y ago
  I hope so! I did not notice much of a reduction in the anxiety issues after my last long break. I suspect that a large part of the issue is the different composition of the psychoactive components in today's weed versus what I grew up smoking - old school was what we now derisively call "miss", new school seems to be optimizing for as much THC as possible while also reducing CBD to almost nothing. My state hasn't legalized yet (although there is some faint hope for next year) so I haven't had much opportunity to experiment with different strains and whatnot. Either way, a while off it will do me some good I think, and of course the money saved isn't to be ignored either.
  - acchow 4y ago
    optimizing for "as much THC as possible" sounds like you need to find a dispensary with wider selection. Being in a non-legalized state might be your biggest issue tho
ethanzh 4y ago
I’m in a similar situation and agree with everything you’ve said. Although I enjoy the ritual aspect of weed I’ve also found that I enjoy the actual effects far less than I used to, and when I take a few weeks off I don’t really miss it. The worst part is the 3-4 days after quitting falling asleep becomes quite difficult so I need to make a point to go on long runs/bike rides to fall asleep easier
- sokoloff 4y ago
  I’ve found melatonin to be a fairly mild, yet effective, sleep aid. I mostly use it to manage the clock on eastbound long flights (to fall asleep earlier than local time would have me do that.)

adamwong246 4y ago

I really needed to see this post right now. I was just about to go to the store, wherein I will be confronted with the very tempting possibility of a cheap bottle of wine. Of course I will need to walk past my glass recycling bin, which is full of identical empty wine bottles, each (shamefully) marking a singular night of drinking, 1 for each night of the past week. Before the pandemic, I could make a bottle of wine last several days. As of now, I can handily down 2 bottles over the course of a Sunday.

bluenomatterwho 4y ago
Self-awareness is powerful. It's interesting, I can't think of anything except alcohol where almost everyone agrees a 'sober October' or 'dry January' is a good idea. It's almost like booze is more dangerous than its level of social acceptance would indicate.

shakabrah 4y ago

As someone who cannot manage alcohol (sober four years) id like to ask those of you who get something out of a 30 day abstinence, or find it appealing, what’s the appeal? If you don’t have a problem with drinking, why do you think a 30 day refrain will improve something in your life. If there is benefit, doesn’t this indicate a problem? Or do you think taking 30 days away will fix the problem? Not trying to be judge mental. This is more like an alien wanting to know how earthlings live kinda thing.

tedunangst 4y ago
A lot of people start drinking more excessively around the end of the year, and it becomes a habit. Take a month off, no drinking, then start drinking in moderation. The short break does fix the problem.
teruakohatu 4y ago
People like challenges. It seems to be part of our human nature. Be it growing a mustache in November, running up a hill once a day in February, or not drinking in January. Other people look at us and wonder why we bother uploading open source code to Github (doing work in our spare time).
dougmwne 4y ago
Here’s my take on it. I am a pretty light drinker. I think it’s nice, but not amazing. Half of my enjoyment is just culinary, trying different tastes. But anything can become a habit, from leaving dirty dishes in the sink to buying too many cookies. A great way to reset a habit is just to stop doing it for awhile. So for me, taking a break now and then helps to keep the calories in check and the overall consumption light. I also take regular breaks from social media and caffeine.
- Semaphor 4y ago
  > I also take regular breaks from social media and caffeine. Hm… Last time I did that, was to get off my coffee/caffeine addiction, some 15 years ago. I think now that I do cold showers, it might actually be easier. I’ll give it a 2-week try in January ;)

rubicon33 4y ago

I mostly stopped drinking when I started paying attention to when my wife and I would argue. 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.

bamboozled 4y ago
I had a relative who was a great person but liked drinking at 5pm when he'd become really irritated and disagreeable, complaining about the world while watching the news etc. I'm the same when I drink, I'm conscious I can become that person, so I still have drinks but I just watch my mental state, almost (mindfully) ha.

estro0182 4y ago

My partner and I are almost done with our dry December (the month was chosen for personal reasons). Each of us were technically overconsumers of alcohol (2 drinks a night on average) before this month. Throughout the month we’ve both gone through differing intensities of emotions as our minds and bodies adjusted to not drinking. Stress hormones and the dopamine system are affected by drinking, so perhaps we experienced some reversion back to normalcy in either or both. I read this article and my feelings align with everything written; my view on alcohol has changed, hopefully for good.

brandonmenc 4y ago

Cue the usual HN comments where everyone who regularly consumes two drinks believes they are a full-blown alcoholic.

browningstreet 4y ago
The question is whether alcohol has power over you, or whether you suffer negative outcomes in your life because of your alcohol intake. For some, that can happen when they “regularly consume[..] two drinks”.

bsder 4y ago

> Both groups consisted of people who were moderate to heavy drinkers, drinking on average about 2.5 drinks a day. 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.

mafro 4y ago
There is a huge number of people in the world who drink two drinks per day, every day, with no calorie problem, and no significant ailment which needs improving. See sister comment about HN posts on two drinks per day

throwaway378037 4y ago

https://archive.ph/LCkje https://archive.ph/LCkje 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.

rogerclark 4y ago

I stopped drinking in January 2014 as part of a Dry January challenge with some friends. This was after a decade or so of heavy alcoholism. I had one relapse two months later, and since then, I've kept it going. No alcohol since March 2014. 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.

stranded22 4y ago

I stopped drinking alcohol 4 years ago (a few failed attempts over the decade but this one stuck). 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.

wink 4y ago

As someone who would describe himself as not an excessive drinker but also far from abstinent these numbers are quite interesting. > 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.