Dry January

I can't remember when I first heard about the concept of "Dry January" — the trend of trying to stop drinking at the start of the year — but Google says it wasn't a popular search term until the 2010s. Since then, every late December and early January the search term gets very popular.

I think there are several reasons for this. The first is the tradition of setting New Year's Resolutions. People often use the new year as a reset button, a time to set positive intentions, a time to rededicate themselves to their goals and passions.

But I think the darker reason is that the holiday season can be a very difficult time for alcoholics and drug addicts. Being around family can create incredible stress — especially if we have unresolved trauma. Traveling creates discomfort, as does over-eating and social events full of people. Drinking and being merry is expected — but once we get to a certain point, drinking isn't fun — it's a necessity. We often overindulge and embarrass ourselves, creating shame — which always leads to more use of our drink or drug of choice.

The result is that January is a time many of us look in the mirror and say "I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired." Many sober alcoholics I know have a sobriety date in January. It's a great time to get sober — but getting sober is really hard to do alone. As a Sober Coach, I help people get on track and stay on track. Recovery Coaching is a powerful tool — especially if you want one-on-one attention tailored to your specific situation and needs.

This year, I have resolved to exercise more, and it's been going well so far! But my experience is that without support and accountability, I will start strong and slowly taper off until I'm back at my baseline of exercising once a week.

Contact me to talk about how I can help hold you accountable while you quit drinking or drugs — and turn that Dry January into long-term sobriety — a new way of life!