My Thoughts After 200 Consecutive Days Alcohol-Free

200 consecutive days alcohol-free. 🥳 It’s so surreal hitting these milestones because I never think about drinking anymore. (If it weren’t for my sober app, I wouldn’t even know what day I’m on.)

There is no feeling of “I wish I could” when I walk by the liquor store, or even the wine store. Not even a small part of me misses feeling buzzed, drunk or even that first sip of alcohol after a long day or week. I can’t believe I’m the same person who loved alcohol so much, and for so long. 😆

How did I lose my desire for alcohol? No it wasn’t because of some terrible rock bottom, or a decision I made from a place of fear that my addiction would destroy me. Releasing alcohol was a choice I made in a moment of bravery. I could have keep drinking, but I wanted bigger and better things for my life. (I have them now, it worked!!!!) Alcohol was simply taking up too much space in my life. It had overstayed its welcome.

And I know far too much now. Im a certified alcohol-free expert & coach, and you just can’t unhear the truth. I know the “euphoria” we experience when we consume alcohol is an artificial source of pleasure, our brain’s chemical reaction to dopamine. I know that when we teach our brain we need it to feel good, or be social, or relax, over time we lose our natural ability to create those feelings on our own. I know that alcohol disrupts all the delicate and incredible systems in our bodies that make it possible for us to live healthily.. like our hormones, our gut, our brain and neuroplasticity, just to name a few. I know that even in small quantities alcohol increases our risk for cancer and a plethora of other diseases. And for what? A quick hit of dopamine.

I’ll never try to convince everyone that they should never drink. Everyone’s different and some feel the benefits of the occasional drink outweigh the (many, horrible) negatives. I’m just not one of them anymore. We are allowed to change. We are allowed to outgrow what no longer serves us.

If you have a hunch that alcohol is no longer serving you, you’re right. If you’d like to talk with someone about it, send me a DM.

Rooting for you always,
Coach Gretchen
Xx
Thepinkcloudcollective.com