How To Change Your Relationship With Alcohol
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Today, I’m excited to share with you my very first interview for Hello Peaceful Mind with my friend Marika from Dirtie Dog Photography.
She has been sober for four years and wanted to share her experience with alcohol with you.
In this interview, you will find resources to help you evaluate your relationship with alcohol, how to support loved ones who are struggling with it, and so much more!
Takeaways from the interview
Alcohol and depression
When you have depression, alcohol can be tempting to help stop thinking about life struggles. But then you can feel bad about drinking and drink more to forget about it, ending up stuck in a vicious circle.
For Marika, it was getting in the way of living her dream and healing from her past.
Why alcohol can be bad for your depression:
- You can feel guilty about drinking
- It can get in the way of your dreams
- It can become a distraction
- You can lose yourself
Should you stop drinking?
Some people, like Marika and my husband, find that they need to stay away from alcohol completely.
It could be for different reasons, like not being able to stop after one glass or just because you feel better without a drop of alcohol in your life.
Others, like me, prefer to change the way they consume alcohol.
When I was in college I was drinking a lot, like A LOT. But now I drink one glass every 3 or 6 months.
Now I don’t feel the need to drink when I go out.
I’m comfortable with who I am and don’t need alcohol to be social and have fun. Even if all of my friends are ordering a beer, I don’t feel the need to do the same to feel like I belong.
Still, I like to get a glass of champagne when we are celebrating something or a pear cider when I just feel like it.
For me, it’s important to not see it as this forbidden fruit because I will want it more, it is more about being aware of who I am and how my body and mind will feel if I get a glass.
But it might be different for you. We all have a different experience with alcohol so you need to figure out how your relationship with alcohol should be.
Things to take into consideration:
Does your relationship with alcohol take away:
- Joy
- Safety
- Love
- Your ability to live the life that you want
The journey that will change your relationship with alcohol
It will take years and several attempts to be in a place where you are comfortable with alcohol. You don’t need to beat yourself up if you fail, you’re learning from it.
For Marika, it took a year to learn how to function in society without a drink in her hand or in her body before being able to take action and follow her dream.
To help, find something that you wouldn’t normally do that you can focus on and is for yourself. For example, Marika signed up for the Out Of The Darkness Overnight Walk in Seattle organized by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. During the walk, she realized that she was walking for herself.
The truth is that you need to do it for you.
What will help you:
- Talking about it
- Accountability
- Hugging your pet
- Work toward your dreams
- Meditation
- Make things happen
- Go to the spa
- Hangout with friends
- Go kayaking
- Do this for you
What to order when you don’t want alcohol
- Tea, coffee, hot cocoa
- Cherry Coke
- Juices
- Smoothies
- Mocktail
What you will feel after
- It takes 40 days for the liver to regenerate
- Healthy mind
- Hope
- Compassion
- Stop feeling guilty and shaming yourself
- More opportunities
- Less afraid
Books that will help you define your relationship with alcohol
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Drinking: A Love Story by Caroline Knapp
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The Sober Revolution: Women Calling Time on Wine O’Clock by Sarah Turner and Lucy Rocca
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Your Six Week Plan: Join The Sober Revolution and Call Time on Wine o’clock by Lucy Rocca and Sarah Turner
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Obstacles to stopping drinking:
- Being around drunk people
- Feeling nostalgic for the social aspect of drinking
- Temptation of drinking
- Telling people
- Finding new ways to cope with stress and anxiety
- People should be able to talk about it without feeling bad
- Fear of missing out and being left out
Tips for people struggling with alcohol
- See a doctor in case you need medical assistance
- Find a replacement for when you are feeling like drinking:
- Meditation
- Walk
- Reading
- Yoga
- Make your own mocktails
- Find a support group
How to support someone struggling with alcohol
- Be kind
- Limit your drinking
- Make mocktails for them
- Encourage them to go after their dreams
- Give them space
- Listen to what they need
- Don’t try to take control of it
Where you can find Marika
Article Marika wrote for her 1-year anniversary: Alcohol Stopped Ruining My Life 365 Days Ago
Instagram: @marikamoffitt , @dirtiedogphotography
Facebook: @marikagarika, @dirtiedogphotog, @womenandhorsesbymarika
Website: www.dirtiedogphotography.com
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Further reading
- Alcohol Stopped Ruining My Life 365 Days Ago by Marika Moffitt
- How To Bring Awareness To Suicide And Mental Illness
- 5 Signs That You Have Depression And Need Help
- 12 Hobbies That Will Reduce Your Anxiety And Make You Feel Fulfilled
- 3 Reasons To Remove Facebook From Your Phone
Over to you
What is your relationship with alcohol? Do you drink? Do you stay away from it?
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