February 20, 2025 • 26 mins
Discover the hidden truths about alcohol's grip on women and why it's not just about sheer willpower. Join me, Christi Walker, as we unravel the societal myths that paint alcohol as a universal remedy for stress and celebration.
Learn about the biological cycles that keep you reaching for that next drink and how understanding the fleeting nature of alcohol's dopamine boost could be the key to breaking free. Hear how alcohol disrupts not only sleep and metabolism but also poses serious health risks. Together, we'll explore pathways to hope and liberation from alcohol dependency.
Transform your journey to alcohol freedom by turning excuses into growth opportunities. Feel the freedom of a clearer mind and more energy as you deepen connections with loved ones. You're not alone on this path, and I'm here to support and guide you every step of the way. Don’t forget to share this message and help others find the strength they might be seeking.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to the Catholic Sobriety Podcast, the
go-to resource for women seekingto have a deeper understanding
of the role alcohol plays intheir lives, women who are
looking to drink less or not atall for any reason.
I am your host, christi Walker.
I'm a wife, mom and ajoy-filled Catholic, and I am
(00:22):
the Catholic Sobriety Coach, andI am so glad you're here.
Welcome, welcome, friends.
Today we are going to talkabout why saying no to alcohol
can feel impossible and why it'sso much easier than you think.
(00:42):
If you have struggled to say noto a nightly glass of wine or
after-work drinks, you're notalone, and this episode is for
you, because we are going to diginto what makes alcohol feel so
hard to reduce or eliminate,and why it's not about willpower
(01:05):
and here's the exciting partwhy breaking free might actually
be easier than you think.
So if that sounds good, stickaround, because there is so much
hope and freedom waiting foryou in this episode.
Hope and freedom waiting foryou in this episode.
(01:25):
Now, how many times have youtold yourself I swear, I'm
cutting back tomorrow, I'm neverdrinking again, I'll only drink
on XYZ occasions, only to findyourself with a drink in your
hand by the end of the day.
Maybe you are like a lot of usand you are telling yourself I
(01:49):
just don't have the willpower, Icannot get it, there is
something wrong with me, I amfailing.
I hear this all the time and Iwant to stop you right there,
because you are not weak and youare not failing.
You are learning, you're humanand, most importantly, you are
(02:12):
not alone.
You can get this.
But right now, you're probablymost likely thinking with a very
limited mindset.
Thinking with a very limitedmindset, and here's the truth
that no one actually talks aboutit has nothing to do with
willpower.
Willpower is useless and it'snot about being strong enough to
(02:37):
get through it.
It's a lot about what alcoholactually does to your body and
your mind.
This is science, folks.
There's a biological andemotional cycle at work here, a
cycle that is powerful, but, myfriend, it is not unbreakable.
(02:58):
Now, when you reach for a drink,it's not just about the act
itself.
Yes, it is a habit.
It's a habit that you've formed, a well-worn habit path, but
it's also about what alcoholpromises you.
It promises relief, connection,celebration.
(03:20):
We have romanticized alcohol inour society.
We have romanticized alcohol inour society and our world to
the point where it feels like asolution to everything.
Had a long day, wineCelebrating Champagne, want to
connect with friends, there'shappy hour.
But here's another thing thatno one tells you what alcohol
(03:48):
actually offers is fleeting, andit's often a smokescreen for
what is really going on, becauseunderneath that initial buzz,
alcohol starts working againstyou.
Okay, let's get a littlescience geeky here.
Now, when you drink, your brainactually releases dopamine.
Dopamine has gotten a lot ofpress lately and I'm sure that
(04:11):
you know that it produces thosefeel-good chemicals that make
you feel relaxed and happy inthe moment.
So what's the problem with that?
Well, the problem is that happyis short-lived.
It's kind of like when you geta sugar rush and then you crash.
So once the dopamine drops,your brain starts craving more
(04:36):
to get back that high.
The more often you drink, themore your brain recalibrates
itself to expect alcohol, justso that you can feel normal
again.
This is biology, not weakness.
But it's not just your brain,because alcohol actually messes
(04:59):
with your entire body.
It affects your hormones,disrupts your sleep and slows
down your metabolism.
So all those weight lossefforts that you are doing, it's
just working against you.
That glass of wine that youhave before bed might feel
(05:19):
relaxing, but it's actuallypreventing you from getting the
deep, restorative sleep yourbody desperately needs.
Don't believe me.
If you have a sleep tracker, Iencourage you to track your
sleep on those nights when youdrink or if you've had a string
of nights that you've hadalcohol every night.
(05:42):
It doesn't have to be likesuper over drinking, it could
just be like one glass and thenwhen you get a day or two or
three or maybe even a week ofsleep without having alcohol,
just compare your sleep on thosedays and you'll see just how
(06:04):
much alcohol is affecting yoursleep.
So no wonder you wake up tiredor burned out the next day.
And let's not forget yourmetabolism.
Alcohol slows it down whilespiking your blood sugar and
leaving you feeling jittery onemoment and completely drained
(06:25):
the next.
It's a total roller coaster andyour body is along for the ride
.
Not to mention, let's say, yougo out for a nice steak dinner
and you have a couple of glassesof wine with it.
Your body is going to workferociously to metabolize that
(06:46):
alcohol before it even touchesthat steak, that mashed potato
or baked potato and sour creamand all of the other things and
maybe dessert.
All of that's on the backburner until the alcohol is
metabolized, so that reallyadversely affects your
(07:06):
metabolism and your weight.
Now this is where it getsreally real.
Beyond those day-to-day physicaleffects, alcohol is actually
putting you at risk for someserious health conditions Before
we even get to that.
If you have any thoughts of howalcohol might be helping your
(07:32):
health, I suggest you go checkout episode 98, is your Glass of
Red Wine a Health Hero or Hype?
I provide some veryenlightening information in that
episode that you might findhelpful or maybe you don't want
to know about at all.
But when I'm talking aboutserious health conditions, I'm
(07:56):
talking about things like liverdisease, high blood pressure,
heart problems, not to mentiondigestive issues.
And here's another thing Didyou know that alcohol is
strongly linked to an increasein seven types of cancer?
I said seven, and that includesbreast cancer, liver cancer and
(08:22):
colon cancer.
We don't often talk about theserisks because we've been
programmed to romanticizealcohol.
Society sells us this idea thatalcohol is glamorous.
It's a reward we deserve.
I was just out to dinner with myfamily at a restaurant, a
(08:44):
Mexican restaurant Delicious.
We love this place and Iusually go there for lunch.
So when we went there for anevening dinner with my family, I
was in shock.
I mean, I shouldn't have beenin shock it's called Margarita
Factory but I still was kind ofin shock at how was in shock at
(09:06):
how over the top these drinkswere.
I mean, my sons, thankfully.
We've had lots of talks aboutalcohol and what it can do to
your body and all of that.
But there was drink after drinkwith, like they had strobing
lights frozen in ice cubes inthese drinks.
They looked super fun, superbeautiful.
(09:29):
This one lady got a martini, ablue martini, delivered to her
in a Tiffany box, like a Tiffanystyled box that you like.
Open up and there's the martiniand it was just crazy.
This was glamorizing thealcohol.
(09:51):
It looked beautiful, but thereality is it's so bad for us
and we just don't think about itand people just don't want to
talk about it.
It's a very, very touchy subject.
I know this from experiencebecause of the work that I do
(10:12):
but people do not want to talkabout it.
They don't want to think aboutit.
And I'm so glad that you'relistening to this podcast
because you're educatingyourself.
I'm not saying that you cannever drink alcohol or should
never drink alcohol.
I'm not telling you never todrink alcohol.
But I heard Dr Andrew Hubermansay know what you're doing, just
(10:36):
know what you're doing.
Be aware, have all the facts,and that's what I try to do with
the work that I do and thispodcast.
Okay, enough about that.
Let's talk about why breakingfree is probably so much easier
than you think.
If all of this soundsoverwhelming, I want to share
(10:58):
some awesome news with you.
Breaking free from alcoholmight feel impossible, yes, but
it's not, and here's why itstarts with understanding.
When you know what is happeningin your body, you can start to
work with it rather thanfighting against it.
You also don't have to do itall at once.
(11:21):
Forget the idea that changerequires you to have this
gigantic goal and get it figuredout all at once.
All it actually takes is onesimple step, one direction, one
shift and then another and thenanother, and, before you know it
(11:41):
, those small steps add up andyou are creating a life filled
with freedom, instead of cycles,instead of being attached to
that habit, to the alcohol,going back to it time and time
again, despite what you want ordon't want.
(12:03):
The other thing I want you to dois shift your perspective on
your excuses.
Yes, excuses can feel superpowerful and most excuses are
rooted in fear the fears likeI'm too stressed to quit right
now, or I've tried before and itdidn't work.
But if those excuses wereactually signs of the areas in
(12:27):
your life that really need theattention, signs of the areas in
your life that really need theattention the most, healing
Really look at them, get curiousand see them as opportunities
to grow.
Acknowledge your fears, but donot give them power.
Your excuses are valid in themoment, but if you want true
(12:51):
freedom, it's going to requiremoving through the discomfort,
and the good news is you haveexactly what it takes to do that
.
By virtue of your baptism, youare equipped with some amazing
supernatural superpowers.
(13:11):
Go back and listen to my lastepisode If you want to learn
more about that.
I talked with Jill Simons fromMany Parts Ministries about
unlocking the power of charismsfor a purpose-driven life.
We talked about charisms, giftsof the Holy Spirit and the
fruits of the Spirit that comefrom using those gifts.
(13:33):
So if you want more peace, ifyou want more patience, if you
want more joy, then use thosegifts.
You can use them as you areworking toward alcohol freedom
from disentangling yourself fromthe grip that alcohol has on
you so that you can take it orleave it with peace.
(13:56):
So we want to shift our mindset.
You want to start thinkinginstead of I have no willpower,
think I am building my sobermuscles, I am working towards
something.
If you're thinking I have nowillpower, I'm never going to
get it, you're going to feeldefeated.
And when you feel defeated, youare going to take an action of
(14:20):
just giving in and drinking, andthen you're going to get a
result that you don't want.
That result is going to beincreased anxiety, poor sleep,
all of those things we mentioned.
But if you can take thatthought and change it and say,
hey, that's just an excuse, whatcan I do?
(14:41):
What can I think to have anemotion that is going to move me
to action, to get the resultthat I want.
What does that need to be?
That thought needs to be I'mbuilding my sober muscles.
Then you're going to feelencouraged, you're going to feel
equipped, you're going to knowthat you can get there, you will
feel hopeful, and then youraction may be an inaction of not
(15:07):
drinking, of choosing not todrink, or your action may be
doing something else in itsplace, which I strongly suggest,
when you remove alcohol fromthe equation, put something else
back into that time.
Is that increased reading,journaling, walking?
Do you have a sparkling waterwith a twist of lime in it?
(15:32):
Just changing that mind shiftis going to help you so so much
and make things much, mucheasier, because you will have
confidence in your ability.
So what's it going to look like?
What is a life that is notcontrolled by alcohol look like?
(15:54):
What does it look like when youdo not have that chaos anymore
that alcohol is causing?
You're going to wake up withenergy instead of grogginess.
Your head is going to be clear.
Your body is going to feelbetter.
It's going to be a lot morepleasurable to move, and then
(16:15):
you're going to feel hopeful.
You're going to feel ready totake on the day.
The other amazing, wonderfulthing that will happen is your
hormones are going to stabilize.
So if you are perimenopausal,like me, you may notice that
your perimenopausal symptomsincrease like hot flashes, poor
(16:39):
sleep.
All of those things increasewhen you drink alcohol, but when
you don't drink it, yourhormones are going to stabilize,
your sleep is going to bebetter and your metabolism is
going to work the way it issupposed to.
You will no longer feel likeyou are at war with your own
(17:01):
body, and that is going to feelamazing, my friend.
But it's more important thanjust health, because, without
alcohol in the picture, yourrelationships deepen, because
you are fully present, you areliving fully alive.
You may find that you are morepatient and you are able to
truly connect with the peoplethat you love.
(17:23):
You may be more motivated to dothings than you do when you are
tied to alcohol.
When you have to think, oh, Iwant to go to this restaurant
because I know it has myfavorite drink, you're liberated
from that.
And then, of course, there'sthe time you gain.
You really don't realize howmuch time is wasted on alcohol,
(17:46):
not just the drinking it, butthe preparing and the planning
and the thinking of it.
How are you going to get it?
When are you going to get it?
What are you going to have?
Do you need to hide it becauseyou don't want somebody to know
you're drinking?
Do you need to hide how muchyou've drank?
Do you need to take thosebottles to the gas station and
put them in that garbage can sothat your spouse doesn't know
(18:10):
just how much you're consuming?
You are going to have time topursue new hobbies, or maybe
there's something that you'vealways wanted to do or volunteer
for, or people that you wantedto work with, or maybe you'll
simply enjoy the little momentsthat you were too distracted to
(18:32):
notice before your life expandsin ways that you didn't even
realize were possible, andthat's the beauty of it.
You are not just giving upalcohol.
So often we think about whatwe're giving up.
Often we think about what we'regiving up, but I promise you
you will gain so much more.
(19:00):
All right, so you're probablywondering that all sounds great,
christy, but where do I evenstart?
I'm going to give you a fewpractical steps that are going
to help you get started.
You can start this today, anddefinitely this week.
So the first is to hydrate.
Like you mean it, alcoholdehydrates your body, which
(19:21):
makes those cravings even worse.
So I know I know we hear thisover and over again drink water,
drink water, drink water.
I drink water constantly.
I would also add to haveelectrolytes as well.
That will help your body absorbthe water that you are drinking
and keep you more hydrated.
(19:43):
So keep a bottle of water withyou throughout the day, have
electrolytes one or two times aday and whenever you feel like
reaching for a drink, just tryhydrating first to see how you
feel.
I always recommend, when you'rein the moment and you feel that
urge, come on, you're feelingthat craving, to check in with
(20:05):
yourself and say what do Ireally need?
Because you really don't needalcohol, I promise you.
Yes, your brain is going totell you you need alcohol, but I
promise you you do not needalcohol, but you do need
something.
What is it?
Are you hungry?
Are you angry?
(20:25):
Are you lonely?
Are you tired?
Are you bored?
Are you overstimulated?
Do you need some peace?
Think about those things andthat is going to help immensely.
Also, balance your meals,because stabilizing your blood
sugar is a huge game changer.
(20:46):
So choose meals with a balanceof protein, healthy fats, fiber
Think a hearty salad withgrilled chicken or grilled steak
, roasted vegetables withavocado.
Gut health is super importantand really really helps with
cravings as well.
So eating that sauerkraut Iused to hate sauerkraut, but I
(21:10):
really love fermented foods now.
So I highly recommend havingthose things or taking a
probiotic or prebiotic.
These are going to help so much.
Another thing that helpsstabilize your blood sugar is,
after you eat a meal, going fora 10 minute walk or doing 10 to
(21:32):
30 squats.
This is really, really helpful.
It's going to help with yourmetabolism and it'll just help
reduce those alcohol cravings.
The other thing you can do is tostart a new ritual.
This is essential, actually.
So if you associate eveningswith drinking, swap it out for
(21:54):
something else.
Try again sparkling water withlime, or herbal tea.
I love golden milk, which is aturmeric tea.
You can even try a calmingroutine like journaling or
reading, because small changes,small, tiny changes, are going
to make a big impact.
(22:15):
So just find out those thingsthat work for you.
Write down different things.
You can do so.
When you do feel like you're inthat moment and you can't
really think about it, you canlook at that list and pick
something that sounds good toyou.
And the last one is to seeksupport.
You do not have to do thisalone.
(22:35):
So whether it's a trustedfriend, your spouse, a coach, a
group of like-minded people,having support can make all the
difference.
That's why my Sacred SobrietyLab we have group coaching and a
community, and it's beautifulseeing all the women supporting
(22:57):
each other and also getting somuch out of hearing the others
get coached, because even if ourcircumstances aren't exactly
the same.
We can learn so much from eachother.
But even if you don't have that, just having a supportive
friend or, again, your spousewho can just kind of cheer you
(23:20):
on and support you in thosesituations especially like
social situations and things canbe super beneficial.
Okay, before we wrap up, I justwant to let you know this you
are not stuck, you aredefinitely not broken, and you
are absolutely capable of livinga life free from alcohol's grip
(23:41):
.
It is about progress and notperfection.
One small decision at a time isgoing to take you closer and
closer to the life you desire, alife filled with energy,
clarity, joy and health.
(24:01):
So if you're ready to take thatfirst step, I would love to
help you.
You can book a freeconsultation with me and we can
discover what's keeping youstuck and create a plan that
works especially for you.
Thanks for hanging out with metoday.
If this episode resonated withyou, please share it with a
(24:21):
friend or rate and review it.
It will help more people findmy podcast and get the help that
they need, and also it willhelp them know that they are not
alone.
You've got this.
I'm cheering for you and I willsee you next time.
Well, that does it for thisepisode of the Catholic Sobriety
(24:42):
Podcast.
I hope you enjoyed this episodeand I would invite you to share
it with a friend, who mightalso get value from it as well.
And make sure you subscribe soyou don't miss a thing.
I am the Catholic SobrietyCoach, and if you would like to
learn how to work with me orlearn more about the coaching
(25:03):
that I offer, visit my website,thecatholicsobrietycoachcom.
Follow me on Instagram at theCatholic Sobriety Coach.
I look forward to speaking toyou next time, and remember I am
here for you, I am praying foryou, you are not alone.
Welcome to the Catholic Sobriety Podcast, the
go-to resource for women seekingto have a deeper understanding
of the role alcohol plays intheir lives, women who are
looking to drink less or not atall for any reason.
I am your host, christi Walker.
I'm a wife, mom and ajoy-filled Catholic, and I am
(00:22):
the Catholic Sobriety Coach, andI am so glad you're here.
Welcome, welcome, friends.
Today we are going to talkabout why saying no to alcohol
can feel impossible and why it'sso much easier than you think.
(00:42):
If you have struggled to say noto a nightly glass of wine or
after-work drinks, you're notalone, and this episode is for
you, because we are going to diginto what makes alcohol feel so
hard to reduce or eliminate,and why it's not about willpower
(01:05):
and here's the exciting partwhy breaking free might actually
be easier than you think.
So if that sounds good, stickaround, because there is so much
hope and freedom waiting foryou in this episode.
Hope and freedom waiting foryou in this episode.
(01:25):
Now, how many times have youtold yourself I swear, I'm
cutting back tomorrow, I'm neverdrinking again, I'll only drink
on XYZ occasions, only to findyourself with a drink in your
hand by the end of the day.
Maybe you are like a lot of usand you are telling yourself I
(01:49):
just don't have the willpower, Icannot get it, there is
something wrong with me, I amfailing.
I hear this all the time and Iwant to stop you right there,
because you are not weak and youare not failing.
You are learning, you're humanand, most importantly, you are
(02:12):
not alone.
You can get this.
But right now, you're probablymost likely thinking with a very
limited mindset.
Thinking with a very limitedmindset, and here's the truth
that no one actually talks aboutit has nothing to do with
willpower.
Willpower is useless and it'snot about being strong enough to
(02:37):
get through it.
It's a lot about what alcoholactually does to your body and
your mind.
This is science, folks.
There's a biological andemotional cycle at work here, a
cycle that is powerful, but, myfriend, it is not unbreakable.
(02:58):
Now, when you reach for a drink,it's not just about the act
itself.
Yes, it is a habit.
It's a habit that you've formed, a well-worn habit path, but
it's also about what alcoholpromises you.
It promises relief, connection,celebration.
(03:20):
We have romanticized alcohol inour society.
We have romanticized alcohol inour society and our world to
the point where it feels like asolution to everything.
Had a long day, wineCelebrating Champagne, want to
connect with friends, there'shappy hour.
But here's another thing thatno one tells you what alcohol
(03:48):
actually offers is fleeting, andit's often a smokescreen for
what is really going on, becauseunderneath that initial buzz,
alcohol starts working againstyou.
Okay, let's get a littlescience geeky here.
Now, when you drink, your brainactually releases dopamine.
Dopamine has gotten a lot ofpress lately and I'm sure that
(04:11):
you know that it produces thosefeel-good chemicals that make
you feel relaxed and happy inthe moment.
So what's the problem with that?
Well, the problem is that happyis short-lived.
It's kind of like when you geta sugar rush and then you crash.
So once the dopamine drops,your brain starts craving more
(04:36):
to get back that high.
The more often you drink, themore your brain recalibrates
itself to expect alcohol, justso that you can feel normal
again.
This is biology, not weakness.
But it's not just your brain,because alcohol actually messes
(04:59):
with your entire body.
It affects your hormones,disrupts your sleep and slows
down your metabolism.
So all those weight lossefforts that you are doing, it's
just working against you.
That glass of wine that youhave before bed might feel
(05:19):
relaxing, but it's actuallypreventing you from getting the
deep, restorative sleep yourbody desperately needs.
Don't believe me.
If you have a sleep tracker, Iencourage you to track your
sleep on those nights when youdrink or if you've had a string
of nights that you've hadalcohol every night.
(05:42):
It doesn't have to be likesuper over drinking, it could
just be like one glass and thenwhen you get a day or two or
three or maybe even a week ofsleep without having alcohol,
just compare your sleep on thosedays and you'll see just how
(06:04):
much alcohol is affecting yoursleep.
So no wonder you wake up tiredor burned out the next day.
And let's not forget yourmetabolism.
Alcohol slows it down whilespiking your blood sugar and
leaving you feeling jittery onemoment and completely drained
(06:25):
the next.
It's a total roller coaster andyour body is along for the ride
.
Not to mention, let's say, yougo out for a nice steak dinner
and you have a couple of glassesof wine with it.
Your body is going to workferociously to metabolize that
(06:46):
alcohol before it even touchesthat steak, that mashed potato
or baked potato and sour creamand all of the other things and
maybe dessert.
All of that's on the backburner until the alcohol is
metabolized, so that reallyadversely affects your
(07:06):
metabolism and your weight.
Now this is where it getsreally real.
Beyond those day-to-day physicaleffects, alcohol is actually
putting you at risk for someserious health conditions Before
we even get to that.
If you have any thoughts of howalcohol might be helping your
(07:32):
health, I suggest you go checkout episode 98, is your Glass of
Red Wine a Health Hero or Hype?
I provide some veryenlightening information in that
episode that you might findhelpful or maybe you don't want
to know about at all.
But when I'm talking aboutserious health conditions, I'm
(07:56):
talking about things like liverdisease, high blood pressure,
heart problems, not to mentiondigestive issues.
And here's another thing Didyou know that alcohol is
strongly linked to an increasein seven types of cancer?
I said seven, and that includesbreast cancer, liver cancer and
(08:22):
colon cancer.
We don't often talk about theserisks because we've been
programmed to romanticizealcohol.
Society sells us this idea thatalcohol is glamorous.
It's a reward we deserve.
I was just out to dinner with myfamily at a restaurant, a
(08:44):
Mexican restaurant Delicious.
We love this place and Iusually go there for lunch.
So when we went there for anevening dinner with my family, I
was in shock.
I mean, I shouldn't have beenin shock it's called Margarita
Factory but I still was kind ofin shock at how was in shock at
(09:06):
how over the top these drinkswere.
I mean, my sons, thankfully.
We've had lots of talks aboutalcohol and what it can do to
your body and all of that.
But there was drink after drinkwith, like they had strobing
lights frozen in ice cubes inthese drinks.
They looked super fun, superbeautiful.
(09:29):
This one lady got a martini, ablue martini, delivered to her
in a Tiffany box, like a Tiffanystyled box that you like.
Open up and there's the martiniand it was just crazy.
This was glamorizing thealcohol.
(09:51):
It looked beautiful, but thereality is it's so bad for us
and we just don't think about itand people just don't want to
talk about it.
It's a very, very touchy subject.
I know this from experiencebecause of the work that I do
(10:12):
but people do not want to talkabout it.
They don't want to think aboutit.
And I'm so glad that you'relistening to this podcast
because you're educatingyourself.
I'm not saying that you cannever drink alcohol or should
never drink alcohol.
I'm not telling you never todrink alcohol.
But I heard Dr Andrew Hubermansay know what you're doing, just
(10:36):
know what you're doing.
Be aware, have all the facts,and that's what I try to do with
the work that I do and thispodcast.
Okay, enough about that.
Let's talk about why breakingfree is probably so much easier
than you think.
If all of this soundsoverwhelming, I want to share
(10:58):
some awesome news with you.
Breaking free from alcoholmight feel impossible, yes, but
it's not, and here's why itstarts with understanding.
When you know what is happeningin your body, you can start to
work with it rather thanfighting against it.
You also don't have to do itall at once.
(11:21):
Forget the idea that changerequires you to have this
gigantic goal and get it figuredout all at once.
All it actually takes is onesimple step, one direction, one
shift and then another and thenanother, and, before you know it
(11:41):
, those small steps add up andyou are creating a life filled
with freedom, instead of cycles,instead of being attached to
that habit, to the alcohol,going back to it time and time
again, despite what you want ordon't want.
(12:03):
The other thing I want you to dois shift your perspective on
your excuses.
Yes, excuses can feel superpowerful and most excuses are
rooted in fear the fears likeI'm too stressed to quit right
now, or I've tried before and itdidn't work.
But if those excuses wereactually signs of the areas in
(12:27):
your life that really need theattention, signs of the areas in
your life that really need theattention the most, healing
Really look at them, get curiousand see them as opportunities
to grow.
Acknowledge your fears, but donot give them power.
Your excuses are valid in themoment, but if you want true
(12:51):
freedom, it's going to requiremoving through the discomfort,
and the good news is you haveexactly what it takes to do that
.
By virtue of your baptism, youare equipped with some amazing
supernatural superpowers.
(13:11):
Go back and listen to my lastepisode If you want to learn
more about that.
I talked with Jill Simons fromMany Parts Ministries about
unlocking the power of charismsfor a purpose-driven life.
We talked about charisms, giftsof the Holy Spirit and the
fruits of the Spirit that comefrom using those gifts.
(13:33):
So if you want more peace, ifyou want more patience, if you
want more joy, then use thosegifts.
You can use them as you areworking toward alcohol freedom
from disentangling yourself fromthe grip that alcohol has on
you so that you can take it orleave it with peace.
(13:56):
So we want to shift our mindset.
You want to start thinkinginstead of I have no willpower,
think I am building my sobermuscles, I am working towards
something.
If you're thinking I have nowillpower, I'm never going to
get it, you're going to feeldefeated.
And when you feel defeated, youare going to take an action of
(14:20):
just giving in and drinking, andthen you're going to get a
result that you don't want.
That result is going to beincreased anxiety, poor sleep,
all of those things we mentioned.
But if you can take thatthought and change it and say,
hey, that's just an excuse, whatcan I do?
(14:41):
What can I think to have anemotion that is going to move me
to action, to get the resultthat I want.
What does that need to be?
That thought needs to be I'mbuilding my sober muscles.
Then you're going to feelencouraged, you're going to feel
equipped, you're going to knowthat you can get there, you will
feel hopeful, and then youraction may be an inaction of not
(15:07):
drinking, of choosing not todrink, or your action may be
doing something else in itsplace, which I strongly suggest,
when you remove alcohol fromthe equation, put something else
back into that time.
Is that increased reading,journaling, walking?
Do you have a sparkling waterwith a twist of lime in it?
(15:32):
Just changing that mind shiftis going to help you so so much
and make things much, mucheasier, because you will have
confidence in your ability.
So what's it going to look like?
What is a life that is notcontrolled by alcohol look like?
(15:54):
What does it look like when youdo not have that chaos anymore
that alcohol is causing?
You're going to wake up withenergy instead of grogginess.
Your head is going to be clear.
Your body is going to feelbetter.
It's going to be a lot morepleasurable to move, and then
(16:15):
you're going to feel hopeful.
You're going to feel ready totake on the day.
The other amazing, wonderfulthing that will happen is your
hormones are going to stabilize.
So if you are perimenopausal,like me, you may notice that
your perimenopausal symptomsincrease like hot flashes, poor
(16:39):
sleep.
All of those things increasewhen you drink alcohol, but when
you don't drink it, yourhormones are going to stabilize,
your sleep is going to bebetter and your metabolism is
going to work the way it issupposed to.
You will no longer feel likeyou are at war with your own
(17:01):
body, and that is going to feelamazing, my friend.
But it's more important thanjust health, because, without
alcohol in the picture, yourrelationships deepen, because
you are fully present, you areliving fully alive.
You may find that you are morepatient and you are able to
truly connect with the peoplethat you love.
(17:23):
You may be more motivated to dothings than you do when you are
tied to alcohol.
When you have to think, oh, Iwant to go to this restaurant
because I know it has myfavorite drink, you're liberated
from that.
And then, of course, there'sthe time you gain.
You really don't realize howmuch time is wasted on alcohol,
(17:46):
not just the drinking it, butthe preparing and the planning
and the thinking of it.
How are you going to get it?
When are you going to get it?
What are you going to have?
Do you need to hide it becauseyou don't want somebody to know
you're drinking?
Do you need to hide how muchyou've drank?
Do you need to take thosebottles to the gas station and
put them in that garbage can sothat your spouse doesn't know
(18:10):
just how much you're consuming?
You are going to have time topursue new hobbies, or maybe
there's something that you'vealways wanted to do or volunteer
for, or people that you wantedto work with, or maybe you'll
simply enjoy the little momentsthat you were too distracted to
(18:32):
notice before your life expandsin ways that you didn't even
realize were possible, andthat's the beauty of it.
You are not just giving upalcohol.
So often we think about whatwe're giving up.
Often we think about what we'regiving up, but I promise you
you will gain so much more.
(19:00):
All right, so you're probablywondering that all sounds great,
christy, but where do I evenstart?
I'm going to give you a fewpractical steps that are going
to help you get started.
You can start this today, anddefinitely this week.
So the first is to hydrate.
Like you mean it, alcoholdehydrates your body, which
(19:21):
makes those cravings even worse.
So I know I know we hear thisover and over again drink water,
drink water, drink water.
I drink water constantly.
I would also add to haveelectrolytes as well.
That will help your body absorbthe water that you are drinking
and keep you more hydrated.
(19:43):
So keep a bottle of water withyou throughout the day, have
electrolytes one or two times aday and whenever you feel like
reaching for a drink, just tryhydrating first to see how you
feel.
I always recommend, when you'rein the moment and you feel that
urge, come on, you're feelingthat craving, to check in with
(20:05):
yourself and say what do Ireally need?
Because you really don't needalcohol, I promise you.
Yes, your brain is going totell you you need alcohol, but I
promise you you do not needalcohol, but you do need
something.
What is it?
Are you hungry?
Are you angry?
(20:25):
Are you lonely?
Are you tired?
Are you bored?
Are you overstimulated?
Do you need some peace?
Think about those things andthat is going to help immensely.
Also, balance your meals,because stabilizing your blood
sugar is a huge game changer.
(20:46):
So choose meals with a balanceof protein, healthy fats, fiber
Think a hearty salad withgrilled chicken or grilled steak
, roasted vegetables withavocado.
Gut health is super importantand really really helps with
cravings as well.
So eating that sauerkraut Iused to hate sauerkraut, but I
(21:10):
really love fermented foods now.
So I highly recommend havingthose things or taking a
probiotic or prebiotic.
These are going to help so much.
Another thing that helpsstabilize your blood sugar is,
after you eat a meal, going fora 10 minute walk or doing 10 to
(21:32):
30 squats.
This is really, really helpful.
It's going to help with yourmetabolism and it'll just help
reduce those alcohol cravings.
The other thing you can do is tostart a new ritual.
This is essential, actually.
So if you associate eveningswith drinking, swap it out for
(21:54):
something else.
Try again sparkling water withlime, or herbal tea.
I love golden milk, which is aturmeric tea.
You can even try a calmingroutine like journaling or
reading, because small changes,small, tiny changes, are going
to make a big impact.
(22:15):
So just find out those thingsthat work for you.
Write down different things.
You can do so.
When you do feel like you're inthat moment and you can't
really think about it, you canlook at that list and pick
something that sounds good toyou.
And the last one is to seeksupport.
You do not have to do thisalone.
(22:35):
So whether it's a trustedfriend, your spouse, a coach, a
group of like-minded people,having support can make all the
difference.
That's why my Sacred SobrietyLab we have group coaching and a
community, and it's beautifulseeing all the women supporting
(22:57):
each other and also getting somuch out of hearing the others
get coached, because even if ourcircumstances aren't exactly
the same.
We can learn so much from eachother.
But even if you don't have that, just having a supportive
friend or, again, your spousewho can just kind of cheer you
(23:20):
on and support you in thosesituations especially like
social situations and things canbe super beneficial.
Okay, before we wrap up, I justwant to let you know this you
are not stuck, you aredefinitely not broken, and you
are absolutely capable of livinga life free from alcohol's grip
(23:41):
.
It is about progress and notperfection.
One small decision at a time isgoing to take you closer and
closer to the life you desire, alife filled with energy,
clarity, joy and health.
(24:01):
So if you're ready to take thatfirst step, I would love to
help you.
You can book a freeconsultation with me and we can
discover what's keeping youstuck and create a plan that
works especially for you.
Thanks for hanging out with metoday.
If this episode resonated withyou, please share it with a
(24:21):
friend or rate and review it.
It will help more people findmy podcast and get the help that
they need, and also it willhelp them know that they are not
alone.
You've got this.
I'm cheering for you and I willsee you next time.
Well, that does it for thisepisode of the Catholic Sobriety
(24:42):
Podcast.
I hope you enjoyed this episodeand I would invite you to share
it with a friend, who mightalso get value from it as well.
And make sure you subscribe soyou don't miss a thing.
I am the Catholic SobrietyCoach, and if you would like to
learn how to work with me orlearn more about the coaching
(25:03):
that I offer, visit my website,thecatholicsobrietycoachcom.
Follow me on Instagram at theCatholic Sobriety Coach.
I look forward to speaking toyou next time, and remember I am
here for you, I am praying foryou, you are not alone.
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