When I first started questioning my drinking habits the first thing that I did was go online and take a survey/test to see if I was a normal drinker. Some say that if you are looking up an answer to that question, then you have an unhealthy relationship with drinking. Not that it means you are an alcoholic, that is a word that is up for a lot of debate these days. I wasn't looking for a label, I just wanted to see what is "text book" healthy drinking.
The next thing I did was look into how to get some help. Back then there weren't very many options. It was either rehab, or going to AA meetings. I didn't think my over drinking was rehab level, and I knew that for me, going to a meeting where I had to declare powerlessness or define my over drinking as a disease was not where I'd fit in. I looked for a pill, I just kept looking for something that fit my needs.
So, I kept drinking and feeling like there was something wrong with me. However, I did keep searching. Eventually, I found podcasts that focused on well being and empowering women. Finally, I came across a podcast that was all about recovery (Home podcast- which is still available but there aren't anymore new podcasts aired). Since then I have found that there is a huge forum of blogs, podcasts, meet-ups, weekend retreats and local gatherings that are centered around being sober and empowering women to be the best that they can be.
I knew I'd eventually find a community. You will too. Being here right now and a part of the Weekdays Without Wine is your community. Just keep showing up here and doing the daily work of collecting your urges, making a drink plan, and not judging yourself. Live in curiosity.
You just need to keep coming back to the thoughts that you want more than a life of over drinking. You need to keep working on your thoughts and daily actions- even the minute by minute thoughts, feelings and actions. Little by little the shift will happen. You will find others that you can connect with. You will see that there are deeper pleasures in life than the false pleasure of over drinking.
The littlest shifts can make a big difference in your outcomes. I heard of an analogy: If an airplane takes off in L.A. and heads to N.Y. and the pilot shifts the course by even 1/4 of degrees the airplane will not land in N.Y. The trajectory of the flight changes ever so dramatically even with the smallest shift. That is how you need to look at the small changes that you are making today and everyday here after. Your small shifts today will make your future unimaginably better.
✅ P.S. Need a simple to follow step-by-step process to drink less? Check out my signature programs HERE.