IS DRY JANUARY FOR YOU?

I have to be honest, I was always amazed (and sometimes jealous) by my friends who loved to drink. They would tell me things like “it makes me feel happy” or “it makes me super social” or “I’m more fun”! I never felt this way. In fact, I often times felt the exact opposite. Less social, more closed down and sometimes isolated even amongst all my people having a good time. I didn’t understand…why didn’t I feel this way? Why didn’t I get euphoric? 

I saw a documentary on alcohol about a year ago and it finally made sense. Some people do not have the enzymes to break down alcohols in their systems properly so the physiological effects drinking has on these people brings about the exact opposite effects of those that it makes giddy and happy. 

As a health care provider, I was blown away at how liquor was considered more essential than my Physical Therapy or Acupuncture treatments. My business, of helping people get out of pain, was shut down for 4 months yet self medication though alcohol remained, “essential”.  Daily drinking became most Americans new daily exercise routine since gyms were closed and social distancing was enforced. 

Liquor sales shot through the roof in 2020. People that were drinkers, drank exponentially more than they ever had. People that never really drank, increased exponentially as well. We fell into a psychological and emotional sink hole and my friends and patients who are therapists were worked to the bone talking people off of their emotional volatile ledges. Trauma mixed with alcohol isn’t the prettiest of mixes.

Here are some staggering stats: 

262% increase in online alcohol sales in 2020 from 2019

41% rise of women drinking heavily

54% increase in alcohol in store sales 

All of this information did not, however, stop me from reaching for the wine when quarantine hit. I did use it as a way to “escape” and also a way to commune with online friends. It did become a daily event for me and I began to realize that it would never be an addiction for me but it became a habit. 

Habits can be learned and unlearned. So, I am taking on the Dry January challenge. 

Who’s in it with me? I need a reset. It takes 21 days to make a habit. 

Comment and let me know who’s in…we can do this. Together!