My glass. My drink. My life.

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I grew up in a family where alcohol was highly valued, and I unquestioningly accepted it’s importance. Over the years I used it to celebrate, bond, ease boredom, grieve, boost energy, gain confidence, and many other reasons that led me to feel like my evening was incomplete without it. Above all, I had an underlying belief that drinking alcohol was an essential part of being an adult, and life without it was undesirable and unimaginable.

While participating in a Dry January in 2018, my eyes were opened to how much my drinking had been negatively affecting me. I had been sleeping poorly, was constantly stressed, and felt terrible. I had attributed it all to middle age and the daily grind, but with even a short break, the improvement in my mood and energy was remarkable. I could no longer deny what I had suspected for some time, but had not wanted to admit. Alcohol was taking more than it was giving, and my actions had a direct impact on my health and wellbeing.

Conflicted over how easy it was to fall back in to old habits even with my new knowledge, I started to search for answers and discovered “This Naked Mind” by Annie Grace. Suddenly it all made sense- why it was so difficult to have just one, and why we are driven to pour the drink in the first place. With new understanding I started investigating my drinking and disrupting my patterns, taking longer and longer breaks as I found confidence, and reaped the rewards of a healthier lifestyle.

I decided to commit to a whole year alcohol free in 2020, and that turned out to be the best decision I could have made. As stress mounted worldwide, I found a resilience that I didn’t know I had. As a healthcare professional in a busy hospital, dealing with the strain of continuing to work during such uncertain times was intense. Selfcare was paramount, and I was already doing the single most impactful thing I could do to protect my sleep and manage my anxiety.

We don’t need to keep on drinking just because it is what we have always done.

 I want to support anyone who is questioning their relationship with alcohol and how it is serving them. Using “This Naked Mind” methodology I can offer a non-judgmental, safe space to explore the role alcohol plays in our lives. Whether you want to take a break or embrace a life free of alcohol, I can help you find the answers that will empower you to make the right choices for yourself.