Just saw another take on “dry January”…

[Mike Eskimo]

Which , is apparently people starting off the year by abstaining from alcohol until February (or longer because you realize you don’t miss it ? )

Anyway, this article went heavy on the “is it safe for you to suddenly abstain?” angle.

Meaning, do you drink so much that you will have possibly dangerous alcohol withdrawal symptoms?

It was at this point while reading that my brain did a backflip, and I said , to no one in particular -

“ Are they going to suggest that if you drink so much that your body will have a violent/possibly fatal reaction because it is being starved of alcohol that you should keep drinking ? then I’m gonna go whoa whoa whoa, and call BS on the whole enterprise !”

Luckily, my ADD got the better of me and I quickly lost interest in the whole thing knowing that my estimated 12 to 16 beers a month will produce no drama in the emergency room/no sudden joy in those that wish me ill.

So - you heard it here first - if you got a problem with booze , skip “Dry January” and power through I guess ?

No guts no glory ?

My old man was a worthless drunk , so forgive me if I am not treating this subject and the speech-slurer’s with the dignity and respect I should be.

 

[Killing Floor]

I had a beer last night at dinner.

 

[blowtorch]

12 to 16 beers a month

The last time I had that amount in a month it was all in one day, last summer.
Miserable.
I mean, that used to be a Friday night, no problem, and Saturday night likely a repeat

I really think I have cracked the code and found the hack on drinking.
It is (for me) getting older and simply wanting nothing to do with it any longer

 

[SixStringSlinger]

I would think the idea would be to quit gradually (whatever that looks like) under the supervision of a medical professional. No idea if that would mean an inpatient admission or what.

Anyway, regardless of what anyone thinks of people in the mess (or why they think it, which may all be very valid), the simple fact is that drinking to a certain degree and then quitting cold turkey can literally kill you. Seems a shame to get to the point where you're willing to do the work to surmount that problem only to have that kill you.

And again, I don't know how it works, but the treatment may very well involve continuing to drink (though, again, guided by a doctor). Medicine (and, more specifically, curing your medical problems) is often messy.

 

[telemnemonics]

Unless you go camping way up in the hills for your dry January, the DTs will send you running for a beer.

 

[Eddiebaby1]

Nobody into drinking bad enough to die from sudden abstinence is likely to do Dry January.
It's more for the steady drinkers 'Who don't have a problem but can give up anytime they want."
We all know a few.
I'm probably one.

 

[Toto'sDad]

The last time I had that amount in a month it was all in one day, last summer.
Miserable.
I mean, that used to be a Friday night, no problem, and Saturday night likely a repeat

I really think I have cracked the code and found the hack on drinking.
It is (for me) getting older and simply wanting nothing to do with it any longer

I had my last drink New Year's Eve 1997. I didn't even think about it this year. I know you can't, perhaps predestination had already ruled that my drinking would cause me so many problems, but how I wish I had never had my first drink of alcohol. While I was at it, I'd have never smoked a cigarette. We can't change a single past moment though.

 

[BigDaddyLH]

I have all these half-empty wine bottles. Maybe after I finish them all.

 

[Toto'sDad]

I have all these half-empty wine bottles. Maybe after I finish them all.

I feel exactly the same way about those chocolate covered cherries in my pantry. I'm going to quit eating those things, right after I finish what I have on hand. (Until next Christmas) (maybe)

 

[ale.istotle]

Which , is apparently people starting off the year by abstaining from alcohol until February (or longer because you realize you don’t miss it ? )

Anyway, this article went heavy on the “is it safe for you to suddenly abstain?” angle.

Meaning, do you drink so much that you will have possibly dangerous alcohol withdrawal symptoms?

It was at this point while reading that my brain did a backflip, and I said , to no one in particular -

“ Are they going to suggest that if you drink so much that your body will have a violent/possibly fatal reaction because it is being starved of alcohol that you should keep drinking ? then I’m gonna go whoa whoa whoa, and call BS on the whole enterprise !”

Luckily, my ADD got the better of me and I quickly lost interest in the whole thing knowing that my estimated 12 to 16 beers a month will produce no drama in the emergency room/no sudden joy in those that wish me ill.

So - you heard it here first - if you got a problem with booze , skip “Dry January” and power through I guess ?

No guts no glory ?

My old man was a worthless drunk , so forgive me if I am not treating this subject and the speech-slurer’s with the dignity and respect I should be.

The headline was clickbait of the worst kind for sure. The actual article was more about what the symptoms of withdrawal are. @Eddiebaby1 had it right when he pointed out that the intersection of dry january people and likely withdrawal sufferers is near zero.

Had a relative with a health emergency who was put on an alcohol drip while in the ICU, so yeah, they essentially have you keep using and ramp you down to avoid the worst withdrawal risks - seizures and DT's.

 

[johnny k]

The headline was clickbait of the worst kind for sure. The actual article was more about what the symptoms of withdrawal are. @Eddiebaby1 had it right when he pointed out that the intersection of dry january people and likely withdrawal sufferers is near zero.

Had a relative with a health emergency who was put on an alcohol drip while in the ICU, so yeah, they essentially have you keep using and ramp you down to avoid the worst withdrawal risks - seizures and DT's.

can you choose the alcohol in the drip ? I think i will have a cabernet sauvignon if you please mister nurse bartender.

 

[Midgetje94]

The last time I had that amount in a month it was all in one day, last summer.
Miserable.
I mean, that used to be a Friday night, no problem, and Saturday night likely a repeat

I really think I have cracked the code and found the hack on drinking.
It is (for me) getting older and simply wanting nothing to do with it any longer

Yup. Kinda like fighting. I used to love it. The aggression. The adrenaline. Now… it hurts too much. The next day I’m not really sure who actually won the fight.

I used to be able to drink all night and be fine within a couple hours of waking up. Now hangovers are much more harsh and take a lot more to shake off. I get I’m not old. But I’ll leave the drinking games to the kids. I’ll have a beer here and there socially.

 

[BuckNekkid]

I worked as a volunteer at a medical alcohol treatment center for 18 years. I can tell you with absolute certainty that withdrawal from alcohol can be worse than withdrawal from heroin. In fact, one counselor told me, "You can die from alcohol withdrawal. You can't die from heroin withdrawal."

If the NIH is to be believed, they say this, "Heavy drinkers who suddenly decrease their alcohol consumption or abstain completely may experience alcohol withdrawal (AW). Signs and symptoms of AW can include, among others, mild to moderate tremors, irritability, anxiety, or agitation. The most severe manifestations of withdrawal include delirium tremens, hallucinations, and seizures. These manifestations result from alcohol-induced imbalances in the brain chemistry that cause excessive neuronal activity if the alcohol is withheld. Management of AW includes thorough assessment of the severity of the patient’s symptoms and of any complicating conditions as well as treatment of the withdrawal symptoms with pharmacological and nonpharmacological approaches. Treatment can occur in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Recognition and treatment of withdrawal can represent a first step in the patient’s recovery process."

In other words, when in doubt, "Don't try this at home, folks."

 

[blowtorch]

Yup. Kinda like fighting. I used to love it. The aggression. The adrenaline. Now… it hurts too much. The next day I’m not really sure who actually won the fight.

I used to be able to drink all night and be fine within a couple hours of waking up. Now hangovers are much more harsh and take a lot more to shake off. I get I’m not old. But I’ll leave the drinking games to the kids. I’ll have a beer here and there socially.

Yep
The last two beers I had were separate and social occasions
They did in fact lubricate the discussion
I enjoyed them, very much.
And found zero need for more than the one

 

[Uncle Daddy]

I'm off it. Antibiotics for the mother of all chest infections. Four more days, not that I'm counting.

 

[ale.istotle]

can you choose the alcohol in the drip ? I think i will have a cabernet sauvignon if you please mister nurse bartender.

Nope. Just pharmaceutical ethanol in IV fluids. Likely the most expensive you'll ever buy and you'll never taste it.

 

[Tarkus60]

I like beer......

 

[loopfinding]

i see it having value if you are teetering on getting out of control with your use. or the idea of it as a call to finally start considering or start the process of getting treated if you have a full blown problem.

but for those with that "OMG i noticed my skin is just glowing now!" stuff it strikes me as one more deluded yuppie/yupster health thing, like cutting gluten out when you don't have celiac disease.

 

[Fretting out]

Unless you go camping way up in the hills for your dry January, the DTs will send you running for a beer.

yeah…. If you are addicted to alcohol I would not listen to some fad and take that as my sign to quit cold turkey

Edit: whoops actually read the o.p I guess that’s what this is about

 

[NoTeleBob]

If you drink so much that stopping will be a problem, you have a drinking problem.