Dry January is kind of like…going to the gym

What is Dry January? Most people who hear about Dry January know it takes place in January and that it’s 30 days of cutting or reducing alcohol from their diet. But, over the years it has evolved from a month-long movement to one that can last as long as a year, ten years, or even a lifetime.

People should not place limits when attempting sobriety, especially when it’s a concern in relation to their health. As someone who has worked with scores of patients who have had alcoholic hepatitis, I know too well of how the pressures of society can negatively impact a person’s life .

For those who struggle to limit their alcohol use, I recommend those individuals to think of the Dry January movement like going to their favorite gym. Take my story for instance: Recently, I started attending classes at a gym near my apartment. At first, I really didn’t want to go. I enjoyed my sedentary lifestyle. But I also realized that I was losing stamina, felt tired, and had the potential of developing some health problems. Once I slowly began attending the gym every day, I started to see positive changes in my daily life. This encouraged me to start going to the gym every day to keep up the consistency and continue to improve. Even today, I can point to new things in my life that continue to improve!

In reality, going to the gym every day and feeling good is kind of like reducing your alcohol intake or eliminating it completely. At first, it will feel really difficult because it is a habit or physical feeling you have learned to associate with positive feelings. Society has conditioned us - through media and entertainment - to enjoy the buzz or social aspect that comes with drinking, but the truth is that if you drink alcohol, you are doing your body a disservice in the long run. Decreasing your intake little by little has the potential to make you feel a little better each day to a point where you don’t feel the need to drink anymore.

Sounds pretty simple right? It’s not. It might even feel like a rollercoaster ride, but it is absolutely possible with the right support system. When I started going to the gym, the first thing I noticed was the camaraderie between the people there, especially those who had been going for a long time. Everyone quietly supports each other and it’s another part that makes me have the urge to keep going. The Dry January movement is remarkably the same. There are tons of people out there who are on this journey towards sobriety and they’re part of groups that aim to promote inclusivity and non judgement.

Dry January® USA is one of those groups. Think of us like a gym. We’re a judgement free group who wants to give everyone a chance to explore sobriety in any shape or form that it may take. We will be there to support you every step of the way.

Give Dry January USA a follow at dryjanuary_usa on Instagram. See it as a way to be given pre-planned exercises that we know has helped others and will certainly help you. As always, tune in to drmichaelcaldwellmd.com for more on our blog.