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Sloane Heffernan: The sobering truth about Dry January

WRAL contributor Sloane Heffernan gets real about what she has learned about herself while not drinking any alcohol in January this year.

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Dry January
By
Sloane Heffernan
, WRAL contributor
RALEIGH, N.C. — “I need a drink.” It’s a thought that has crossed in my mind several times during the month of January.

It’s been nearly a month since I have had a drink of alcohol. My husband and I participate in Dry January every year. Each year it is an eye opening experience.

Some people do it for health reasons, others do it to prove that they can. For me, it’s about recognizing my triggers. What “drives me to drink”?

When I first started Dry January, the kids were little. Parenting could be exhausting, so I thought that the kids would be the trigger. I quickly realized that it was not the kids that were causing me to reach for the bottle of wine at night. If anything, I felt the ‘trigger’ at the end of a long day chasing news stories and racing to meet deadlines in the world of TV news.

I am no longer working in TV news for the first time in decades, so I was curious what the triggers would be this year. What would cause me to say, “I need a drink."

My plan was to really listen to what I was feeling when that familiar January phrase “I need a drink” crossed my mind.

Here’s what I heard:

  • I feel stressed.
  • I feel overwhelmed.
  • I don’t want to deal.
  • Alcohol will help.

Whoa! That last ‘feeling’ was troubling. What I was hearing was that I would rather swallow my feelings than face them. I would rather numb them than deal with them.

After 6 years of participating in Dry January, I finally realized that the ‘triggers’ are not external. It’s not the kids or my job or anything else on the outside. The “triggers: are internal. It’s my ability (or inability) to cope. That was an uncomfortable realization because I could no longer point a finger at someone or something. The problem and solution begins and ends with me….

Without something or someone to blame, I began to look for ways to cope this month. I found something as simple as taking a few deep breathes helps. I have also enjoyed playing cards while listening to music at night with my family. Eventually, the stressed or overwhelming feeling would melt away, and I would feel better.

Like many of us, I have a history of alcoholism in my family. I have seen how it can damage lives. This Dry January has been a sobering reminder that I need to be aware of my relationship with alcohol and make better choices, not just in January, but all year long.

Resources:

If you or a loved one has a problem with alcohol:
Sloane Heffernan is a two-time Emmy award-winning journalist and former WRAL-TV anchor/reporter. In June 2021, Sloane transitioned from journalism to launch Storymore, a brand storytelling business. Sloane now uses her storytelling skills to help businesses clarify their message and create a deeper connection with their desired audience.

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