‘Sober’ Months are a ‘Thing’
Get curious for longer…
You could be surprised what you discover about yourself!
Well, I think we'd all agree that January went by in a flash, and now it's late Feb!
'Dry January' has been and gone, we're in 'Feb Fast', and before we know it ', Dry July' will be here again!
There now seem to be many months of the year dedicated to taking a break from alcohol, including 'Sober October' and 'November' plus the months mentioned above, which is fabulous. Don't get me wrong, but what if you were to get curious about taking an extended break and not just for 30-day stints? Enough time to truly feel and see the positive benefits of not consuming alcohol.
Alcohol is a carcinogenic (cancer-causing), toxic substance for your body. It's a drug just like heroin and cocaine with myriad adverse health effects. Still, it is legal and socially acceptable (go figure!).
“A strong woman knows she has strength enough for the journey, but a woman of strength knows it is in the journey where she will become strong.”
This yoyo effect can be like the cycle of yoyo dieting. You start with good intentions, but the end result, once the old patterns start up again, is that the weight, or shall we say the number of drinks consumed, seems to increase, and then it's back to square one.
The perpetual loop of detox to 'retox.'
For the mind and body, this can be exhausting.
A UK study carried out in 2018 and published in the British Medical Journal found that one single month free of alcohol has the following five benefits:
1. It lowers high blood pressure.
2. It reduces the risk of diabetes.
3. It lowers high cholesterol.
4. It reduces levels of cancer-related proteins in the blood.
5. It improves sleep quality.
Imagine the extra health benefits you could gain from an extended break!
According to the very latest research and new alcohol guidelines from Canada, health experts suggest:
People shouldn't drink more than two standard alcoholic drinks per week to be in the low-risk category for adverse health conditions, and
States that no alcohol at all is the only safe limit.
This is a sharp drop from previous guidelines of no more than ten standard drinks for women and 14 for men.
The benefits of taking a break from alcohol are limitless.
I personally embarked on my sober journey in July 2018. Some of the wonderful and noticeable benefits I experienced after embracing a zero-alcohol lifestyle were:
some weight loss (not that this is important as you are perfect as you are)
clearer skin
mental clarity
less anxiety
more energy, and
generally feeling so much better in myself
However, changing any habit is not easy. It takes work and commitment. It takes courage to step up and behave differently around those closest to you. It's confronting to begin looking at the underlying cause or reasons why you may be drinking more than you know is ok. Considering perhaps you're using alcohol to self-soothe or self-medicate is also hard.
Rather than feel our emotions, we often reach for something outside ourselves, like alcohol, to numb the pain.
Our triggers can be sadness, grief, guilt, shame, anger, loneliness or boredom, even feeling the need to hide from ourselves or others.
Using alcohol can give a false illusion of experiencing peace and happiness. This is mainly due to the spike in dopamine (the neurotransmitter responsible for feelings of pleasure). We've trained our brain to associate drinking with having a good time and giving a sense of 'relief' from a busy day, stressful event, or any day ending in "y."
Because that’s how we’ve been conditioned to think…
But, this feeling is short-lived. Our amazing, clever body wants to return to balance, or homeostasis, by increasing the levels of the stress hormones cortisol and adrenalin to counteract the dopamine surge. This results in us waking at 3 am (or around 5 hrs after your last drink), and the next day 'hangxiety' (hangover + anxiety).
Changing habits requires learning new coping skills to deal with stress in healthy, positive ways. It also requires understanding your triggers, how to manage the urge effectively, and the underlying subconscious messaging.
As a Grey Area Drinking coach for women, I help you unpack the underlying reasons you may have for drinking more than you want to. Then, I help you discover new ways to manage stress and create healthier coping skills using a holistic approach.
Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), or Tapping, is just one modality I use to help change negative thinking patterns from our subconscious that drive our behaviour.
EFT is a form of energy psychology based on traditional Chinese Medicine. EFT involves tapping on acupressure points on meridians in the body while focusing on a particular emotion. It's a little like acupuncture but without the needles! It's a pain-free and effective method for behavioural desensitization, which can help clear past reactions to traumatic events, relieve stress and cravings, and release negative emotions.
EFT can free you from what has been holding you captive emotionally, so you won't need alcohol to self-medicate.
So you can live a life you longer want to escape from!
Perhaps getting curious about how EFT can help you change your beliefs and your life. This curiosity can also lead to no longer having only a sober 'month' off but a new alcohol-free reality!
Now that's freedom… every month!
Contact me to find out how I can help you Find Your Freedom.
SPECIAL OFFERS
Over the last 12 months, I've been upgrading my EFT knowledge and qualifications and have graduated as a Certified Accredited Practitioner of evidence-based, clinical Emotional Freedom Techniques. I'm super excited about this achievement as it will better enable me to support my clients on their wellness journey.
Let me give you the chance to try it out for yourself!
Choose from 2 offers below*:
1. INTRO TO EFT*:
Package of 4 x EFT 1hr sessions (Discovery call + 3 x EFT sessions) to experience this amazing modality plus learn a self-help tool to manage stress.
You get to choose how much you pay! Minimum price set at $150, RRP $600.
2. COACHING + EFT*:
I'm opening up four new 1:1 coaching mentoring spaces in March and April and will include 4 x 1 hr EFT sessions as a FREE BONUS when you book my 6-week signature coaching package (10 sessions - BONUS VALUE $600).
Value to change your life – priceless!
*These offers are for a limited time only. Four spaces only. Coaching is to commence in March 2023 or April 2023.
Namaste,
Cindy
