Dry July Day 1 - Checking In

Hey folks. I do Sober October and Dry January every year (just to give my beloved internal organs a rest), and I like that there are only two months between October and January, because the holidays tend to coincide with excess. However, for reasons I won't go into, I am extremely stressed right now, and have found myself drinking in excess in the middle of the year. Although a few beers always successfully calms my nerves, I'm calling an immediate sober month for myself.

I saw a couple of you saying you were participating in "Dry July." I'd never heard the term before a week or so ago, and I like the ring of it, so I thought I'd just check in. I'm doing it.

Why I'm participating:

1. I get really bad insomnia the night of drinking, usually waking up around 1am, and unable to go back to sleep
2. "Hangxiety" the next morning
3. Empty calories
4. Increased late-night snacking
5. Memory loss of bits and pieces of the previous night
6. Giving my beloved internal organs a much deserved break
7. I feel like I'm expecting people who count on me to let me "check out," but it may better suit me (and those around me) to be in the moment, and allow myself to think about my problems

If any of you feel like sharing your thoughts, I'd be happy to read it.