Manage Your Emotions, Find Self-Love, and Explore Alcohol-Free Living with EFT Tapping

Over six years ago, I found myself at a major turning point in life—a serious health wake-up call that forced me to take an honest look at my relationship with alcohol. I’d ignored my health for so long that the Universe took it upon herself to send me a strong message!

Like so many people, for years, I had used wine as a go-to for everything: stress relief, socialising, and even just unwinding after a long day. I didn’t know anything different – or anything better… Wine was there for me, always socially acceptable, and always easy to reach for. Feeling sad? Have a drink. Feeling stressed? Wine will help you relax. Celebrating? Well, of course, a drink is a must! It was my trusty companion through all occasions.

But the universe has a way of making sure we hear the messages we’ve been ignoring, and for me, the signs were getting so loud I could no longer ignore them. When I realised I needed to ditch alcohol, I was terrified. How would I navigate life without it? Drinking had become so ingrained in my identity and my social life that I couldn't imagine stepping away from it.

How could I challenge such a deeply embedded cultural norm—especially in a country like Australia, where it’s un-Australian not to drink, and drinking is almost a national pastime?

So, I started my journey. Curious about unlearning the habits I had relied on for so long, I dived into the world of sobriety—devouring quit lit, listening to podcasts, and finding resources to shift my mindset. Anything I could find to help me get through the day. There weren’t many tools available back in 2018, but I found my way through with resources like This Naked Mind by Annie Grace and The Sober Diaries by Clare Pooley. Suddenly, I wasn’t alone. I discovered other women, just like me, stuck in the cycle of relying on alcohol and looking for a way out. The connection with these women was transformative—it was the beginning of my ‘unbecoming.’

As Johann Hari says, “The opposite of addiction is connection.”

And connection was the key for me.

Through meditation, which became a valuable tool early in my sober journey, I learned to embrace stillness and silence without self-judgment. This inward reflection led me to an important realisation: self-love, or the absence of it, is often at the root of many harmful behaviours. These patterns are deeply ingrained in our subconscious, often shaped by early life experiences and conditioning.

The Power of Self-Love in Sobriety

Self-love was the missing piece of my puzzle: I needed to learn to treat myself with kindness, compassion, and respect. Self-love is not just about treating yourself to bubble baths or quiet evenings with a good book. It’s about recognising that you are worthy—no matter your past, no matter your struggles.

My journey was a long and difficult experience as I worked through all my emotional layers. But it was through this journey that I came to realise self-love is the foundation of lasting sobriety. When you start to love yourself, you see that alcohol isn’t helping you—it holds you back. It’s a temporary escape that ultimately causes more harm than good.

Self-love shifts your focus from self-judgment to self-care, giving you the strength to make healthier choices.

Self-love isn’t a luxury—it’s essential. It enables you to prioritise your well-being, forgive yourself, and commit to a life that truly honours your health and happiness. As I learned to practice self-love, I found that the emotions I had been numbing weren’t so scary after all. Sure, there were plenty of tears along the way, and it wasn’t glamorous, but facing those emotions head-on became a lot easier once alcohol was out of the picture.

Life without alcohol doesn’t mean sunshine and rainbows every day, but it does mean waking up without a hangover, feeling more present in your life, and being better equipped to handle stress and challenges as they arise. And let me tell you—waking up clear-headed every morning never gets old!

Healing with EFT Tapping (Emotional Freedom Techniques)

A few years into my sober journey, I discovered a tool that transformed my ability to manage emotions: EFT, also known as Tapping. This simple but powerful technique, based on traditional Chinese Medicine, helps release energy blockages and ease emotional stress. Think of it as acupuncture without needles—just gentle fingertip tapping on specific points of your body.

EFT helps neutralise the emotional triggers that can lead to drinking, bringing a sense of calm and peace to the nervous system. For me, it became a profound tool for healing, allowing me to dissolve deep-rooted feelings of anxiety, shame, and sadness. As I tapped, I learned to release the emotional burdens that once drove my desire to escape with alcohol, replacing them with feelings of self-compassion and acceptance.

When paired with self-love, EFT becomes even more effective, empowering you to heal from within. It’s a tool that’s easy to learn and can be used anytime, anywhere—making it the perfect ally for anyone who wants to manage emotions without reaching for a bottle.

The Path to Lasting Sobriety

Sobriety isn’t just about quitting alcohol—it’s about transforming your relationship with yourself, peeling back all those layers and rediscovering the person you truly are beneath the coping mechanisms. By embracing self-love and utilising tools like EFT, you can heal the emotional wounds that may have fueled your drinking.

The journey isn’t always easy—unprocessed emotions and physical tension may surface as the body releases stored trauma. But it’s worth it. Feeling fully alive and experiencing all the highs and lows is far better than numbing out.

So, can you take back control over alcohol? Absolutely! You CAN learn to be kind to yourself. You CAN learn to feel your emotions in safe spaces. You CAN heal. And the best thing? You’re not giving anything up—you’re gaining everything!

Let’s face those emotions together and learn how to heal—no bottles required. 🥰

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Cindy x

AF Cocktail of The Month!

Lyre’s PiÑa Colada

INGREDIENTS

• 75ml Lyre’s White Cane Spirit

• 75ml Fresh, young coconut water

• 20ml White sugar syrup (1:1)

METHOD

1. Muddle/press pineapple chunks in a shaker

2. Add remaining ingredients, ice and shake hard

3. Strain into a Highball Glass

4. Add extra ice

5. Garnish with plump mint sprigs and pineapple wedges

Enjoy! 🍹

In-Person Services!

See me in person for your Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) Session and Grey Area Drinking (sobriety) Coaching.

By Appointment Only at Meraki Store & Wellness Hub, Shop 1/45 Kinghorne St Nowra.

Book Your In-person or Online sessions with me HERE

How EFT Can Help You...

As a Grey Area Drinking coach incorporating Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT or Tapping), I can help free you from what has been holding you emotionally captive.

I can help you address and release the emotional contributing factors that led to your unhealthy relationship with alcohol or other self-sabotaging behaviours.

Releasing these negative emotions can help make it easier to maintain your sobriety or reach other health goals, as you will have the tools required to successfully navigate the stressors of day-to-day life and challenging thoughts.

Book an EFT “TASTER” BUNDLE of 4 sessions and break free of limiting beliefs and what’s holding you back from living your best life.

Get Your EFT Bundle Now!