Why was drinking becoming a problem?
Since my teenage years, I’ve been a drinker. Unless I was pregnant or breastfeeding, the option of not drinking had never crossed my mind. It wasn’t like I was pouring vodka on my cornflakes in the morning or racking up countless drink driving offences – I was just a ‘normal’ drinker. Everyone I knew drankContinue reading “Why was drinking becoming a problem?“
Drinking too much when you’re stressed, anxious or angry?
Using alcohol to escape from stress, anxiety and anger is so common and one of the reasons why many of us slide into unhealthy drinking patterns. It was certainly a regular pattern for me. If I was stressed, anxious, angry or experienced any ‘negative feeling’, I would have a drink so I that I didn’tContinue reading “Drinking too much when you’re stressed, anxious or angry?”
What to say when you’re not drinking
When I first took a break from alcohol I was worried about how I would explain why I wasn’t drinking. To me it was such a big deal not to drink that I felt I needed an ‘excuse’ for why I was choosing to take a break. However, like a lot of concerns I hadContinue reading “What to say when you’re not drinking”
You need to drink to have a good time, don’t you?
I’ve recently had family visiting from overseas and, after three years apart, there has been a lot of catching up. We’ve had beach holidays, girls’ weekends, big family gatherings, lunches, dinners – and at all of these celebrations, there has been booze. In the past, I would have been indulging with everyone else and wouldContinue reading “You need to drink to have a good time, don’t you?”
Can alcohol-free drinks help you cut back or stop drinking?
The alcohol-free drinks market is booming, which is great news if you’re trying to control your drinking. Why? Because the greater the choice of alcohol-free options, the more chance you’ll find some alternatives to your usual tipple. In a recent interview with SmartCompany, I was asked to comment on why I thought there was such an increaseContinue reading “Can alcohol-free drinks help you cut back or stop drinking?”
What’s a grey area drinker and how to tell if you are one?
Are you worried that you’re drinking too much but you know you’re not an alcoholic? Your drinking is not causing chaos in your life – you are not racking up drink driving offences or neglecting your family and work commitments. However, you know that the way you are drinking is not good for your healthContinue reading “What’s a grey area drinker and how to tell if you are one?”
Top tips for Dry July … or any time you want to take a break from drinking
Happy 1 July, which officially means we’re in the second half of the year! It’s also the start of Dry July so if you’re planning to take a break from drinking this month, I’ve listed some tips below to help you to enjoy being alcohol free rather than white knuckling through the 31 days. SocialisingContinue reading “Top tips for Dry July … or any time you want to take a break from drinking”
How did you stop worrying about how much you were drinking?
For years I tried to moderate my drinking but everything I tried seemed to make things worse, not better. I would try to drink only two or three glasses of wine … then would feel like I’d failed when I ended up drinking more. I tried to restrict myself to only drinking on weekends …Continue reading “How did you stop worrying about how much you were drinking?”
Why do you like to drink and why it’s an important question to ask?
Last week I wrote about how powerful it was for me to write a list of all the reasons why I wanted to take back control of my drinking. Why was it so important? Because it confirmed to me that I needed to make a change to the way I was drinking. It made me realise thatContinue reading “Why do you like to drink and why it’s an important question to ask?”
The power in asking why you want to change your drinking
Several years ago I got to the point where I’d had enough of the way I was drinking and, more importantly, how it was making me feel. I was sick of thinking about it all the time (planning when and how much I would drink, worrying about it, planning ways to cut back) I wasContinue reading “The power in asking why you want to change your drinking”
How mindful drinking changed the way I drank
Mindfulness seems to be the mental health cure-all of our times. Feeling stressed and overwhelmed? Mediate every day. Eating too much? Try mindful eating. Want to shrug off the stresses of everyday life? Do some forest breathing (that’s walking in nature if you were wondering!) It seems that there is a mindfulness practice for everythingContinue reading “How mindful drinking changed the way I drank”
“I’m stressed and drinking too much – any advice?”
In the ‘Dear Rach’ series I answer questions about drinking and alcohol. If you have a question you’d like me to answer, please email me. Dear Rach, My life recently has been very stressful. My husband and I are going through a rough patch, my teenage daughter has become very withdrawn and I’m worried that myContinue reading ““I’m stressed and drinking too much – any advice?””
“How much did you drink?” Why I realised that was the wrong question
When I first decided to take a break from drinking, a few people asked me how much I was drinking. They didn’t come right out and say it but I could guess they were thinking something along the lines of “Oh my God – I didn’t realise she was that bad”! I would guess thatContinue reading ““How much did you drink?” Why I realised that was the wrong question”
How can I change the way I drink?
The question – “How can I change the way I drink?” – was recently sent through to me and I thought it was one that many of you may have. It was certainly a question I struggled with. After years of trying to moderate my drinking (spoiler alert: it didn’t work) I finally changed theContinue reading “How can I change the way I drink?”
Podcast interview: How to give up alcohol and still have a social life
I really enjoyed my conversation on the Menopause, Marriage and Motherhood podcast chatting with Karen O’Connor about the reasons I chose to go alcohol free. why I chose to take a break from drinking, why you don’t have to hit a rock bottom to rethink your drinking and that your social life doesn’t have toContinue reading “Podcast interview: How to give up alcohol and still have a social life”
Ask me anything: Why am I able to drink more than I used to?
Many years ago I had a night away with a friend where, over the course of the evening, we polished off two bottles of wine. We were sharing our experiences of being newly separated single mothers who were struggling to make ends meet and, while it might sound a bit glum, we also had aContinue reading “Ask me anything: Why am I able to drink more than I used to?”
I knew my drinking had to change, I just didn’t know how to do it
For years I struggled with my drinking, wanting to cut back but finding it difficult to do so. The mental energy I spent on trying to figure out what I needed to do was exhausting. The conversation in my head went something like this: “But everyone around me drinks like me.” “It’s getting scary thatContinue reading “I knew my drinking had to change, I just didn’t know how to do it”
As a weekend drinker, long weekends were great … until they weren’t
When I was trying (and failing) to moderate I put all sorts of restrictions on myself, one of which was restricting myself to only drinking on weekends. Being a weekend drinker meant that long weekends were a real ‘treat’ as I was ‘allowed’ extra drinking days. This is actually how I bargained with myself –Continue reading “As a weekend drinker, long weekends were great … until they weren’t”
Acting like a 21-year-old at my son’s 21st
When I look back at my embarrassing drinking sessions there are a few – actually a few too many – situations that I am still hesitant to talk about. However, if you’re reading this you’re probably concerned about your drinking so I consider this a safe space. So, deep breath, here it goes. A fewContinue reading “Acting like a 21-year-old at my son’s 21st”
Take a break from drinking without white knuckling it
Whenever I would take a break from drinking, such as Dry January or FebFast, I would follow a similar pattern. The first few days I would be inspired and motivated so would find it fairly easy. “Nailing it” – I would think! But as each day went on, the novelty would wear off until byContinue reading “Take a break from drinking without white knuckling it”
Am I the only one who is questioning my drinking?
When I first started worrying about how much I was drinking and whether I was heading into dangerous territory, I thought I was alone. Friends and family who were drinkers fell into two groups: Those who barely drank – the ones who could sit on one glass of wine for two hours taking a smallContinue reading “Am I the only one who is questioning my drinking?”
Are you a keen exerciser but also enjoy a drink? You’re not alone
I saw the following post on my Facebook Memories the other day and it reminded me how I used to justify my drinking, even when I was trying to stay fit. The Facebook post, from nine years ago, reads: “Just finished Kokoda Grunt – a 13km run (7km uphill) with 26 challenges. The whole thingContinue reading “Are you a keen exerciser but also enjoy a drink? You’re not alone”
How I overcame my struggle to moderate my drinking
I can’t remember exactly when I decided that I wanted to moderate my drinking but I do know that period in my life was one of the most painful. I spent years trying all sorts of things to try to moderate wondering why it was hard and wanting to go back to being a ‘normal’Continue reading “How I overcame my struggle to moderate my drinking”
How to cope when it seems that chaos is on every corner
Right now it seems that the world is going to hell in a handbasket. A bit dramatic? Generally I try to be a glass-half-full person but it can be hard to stay positive when there is so much tragedy and chaos around. The Russia Ukraine conflict is devastating, COVID is still hanging around with threatsContinue reading “How to cope when it seems that chaos is on every corner”
Thinking of taking a break from drinking? Are you giving up or gaining?
Are you about to complete FebFast? Or maybe you are planning to give Dry July a go. If you’ve ever taken a break from drinking, how was the experience? Was it a month of feeling like you were missing out or did you enjoy it? When I was trying (unsuccessfully) to moderate my drinking, IContinue reading “Thinking of taking a break from drinking? Are you giving up or gaining?”
Ditching drinking – one of the biggest wellness trends right now
In an Australian Women’s Health story published this week, I shared my experience as an alcohol coach, commenting on the rise in people choosing to quit drinking. It certainly is something that I, and others in the industry, are seeing. I was quoted in the article, saying: “We are hearing from more and more peopleContinue reading “Ditching drinking – one of the biggest wellness trends right now”
How do you know if you’re drinking too much?
Have you ever Googled “Am I drinking too much?” or “How much alcohol is too much?”. A recent study published in the Drug and Alcohol Review journal, shows about 21 per cent of women between 45 and 60 are now drinking at ‘binge-drinking’ levels. That was definitely my situation but I didn’t consider it ‘bingeContinue reading “How do you know if you’re drinking too much?”
Unexpected benefits of taking a break from drinking
When I took a break from drinking I wanted to sleep better, no longer wake up with a hangover and never have hazy memories of what I said or did the night before! What I didn’t factor in were all the unexpected benefits of not consuming alcohol. It seems that your body and mind rewardContinue reading “Unexpected benefits of taking a break from drinking”
Are you sick and tired of feeling sick and tired?
Recently I was sick – not with COVID thankfully – but my symptoms did include headaches, fatigue and low energy levels. They were similar to the after effects of a night of drinking. Headaches from dehydration Fatigue from not sleeping well Low energy due to alcohol sapping my energy reserves When we are sick with aContinue reading “Are you sick and tired of feeling sick and tired?”
Ask me anything: Will taking a break affect my relationship?
Question: I want to take a break from drinking but I’m worried it will change my relationship with my partner. Any advice? Answer: One of my main concerns when I stopped drinking was how it would affect my relationship. I saw drinking as an important part of our lives and I was worried that thingsContinue reading “Ask me anything: Will taking a break affect my relationship?”