And beyond It’s common sense, really. If you keep avoiding alcohol you’ll continue to see more benefits. If you’re enjoying Dry January, there’s no reason to stop. One month sober doesn’t have to be the end of your journey. And if you’re concerned about your relationship with alcohol, there’s no harm in extending your break from the booze.
Doing Dry January might make you reflect on how much you drink and why. The reality is that while Dry January can absolutely make a difference, some of us may need to commit to sobriety more fully. Dr Campbell says: ‘Dry January makes many people pause and think about their drinking habits, and where they do most of their drinking – after work, at office functions, at home. As a concept, it’s partly based on the premise of social contagion. You’ll find more people not drinking in January than at other times. That herd mentality can be supportive.
‘But if people have a serious alcohol problem, being ‘dry’ for just one month doesn’t cut it. Very often, if men and women ‘white knuckle’ it through January not drinking, they are back on the booze with a vengeance afterwards. They are not looking at the impact on their work, their relationships. ‘I know compulsive drinkers who have stopped for several Januarys in years gone by, but just counted the days until February. They are drinking enough to affect their lives and for people around them to notice – a work colleague, a spouse, a friend. That’s the test. ‘They think ‘because I have stopped, I can stop anytime’. It’s rarely the case.
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