Let’s start a new conversation around alcohol. One about wellness.
People talk openly about lots of things that benefit their health and wellness, like cutting back on gluten or carbs. Or cutting down on caffeine and sugar. Alcohol should not be any different. But conversations around our drinking habits are often hidden, and usually not honest. Many people stay quiet and don’t share their true concerns, for fear of being labeled, or fear of being deprived of what they believe is the elixir of life.
Let’s think about this in everyday, practical situations.
People are exploring a variety of methods to boost their health and wellness, from cutting out gluten to practicing intermittent fasting — and these choices are widely accepted and encouraged. But turn down a drink, and you might get rapid-fire questions of why along with gentle nudges to just have one. It’s weird. We don’t force carb-loaded breadsticks on our gluten-free friends. Why do we push “one glass of wine” on someone who is sober-curious?
Let’s stick with the dining out example. If every time I ordered a piece of key lime pie you saw me struggle to keep it to only one or two pieces…and sometimes when the waiter came back around, I gleefully said, “Just bring the whole pie!” You would probably think that behavior abnormal and unhealthy. But we don’t do that with alcohol. Bring another bottle! No other food or drink do we over-consume with such approval and acceptance. It’s bizarre.
There are countless examples of how society gives alcohol a pass. I don’t say this because I’m anti-alcohol, I say it because I am pro-health and pro-wellness. I don’t care if other people drink. But for me, I’m choosing not to drink for wellness reasons. So, no, I do not want just one glass.
From being sober-curious to quitting altogether
Let’s clear one thing up. I can drink, I just have no desire to drink. That’s something I never thought I’d say. Wine was a big part of my life. Often too big. I wasn’t wrecking lives, losing jobs, or hitting rock bottom. I was disciplined, productive and successful, except for this one thing. Wine was not making me my best self. I was a “moderate” drinker by society’s standards, but I knew something wasn’t right. It felt like a dysfunctional relationship. A wrecker of sleep. Anxiety increaser. Productivity thief. Meanwhile, I thought it was the elixir of life. What a conundrum.
When I examined my consumption with a compassionate, critical eye, I went from being sober-curious to quitting drinking altogether. Ultimately, I didn’t want to wake up another day even a little foggy. It wasn’t worth it anymore. Now I have more productivity, less anxiety, more energy, and peace of mind. My productivity has skyrocketed. I earned my Master’s in Psychology, pursuing new hobbies, and feeling mentally and emotionally healthier.
It was Annie Grace’s transformative, science-based book This Naked Mind that sparked this change. As opposed to thinking I was broken, I found out it was really an insidious battle with cognitive dissonance. Armed with this science-backed knowledge, I challenged myself through various experiments and went from someone who used an extreme amount of willpower to “moderate” wine consumption to someone who has no desire to drink. I challenged the “truths” my mind and culture were telling me about drinking, and I found out they were not true.
This Naked Mind has helped thousands of people like me build a better relationship with alcohol. It’s not an anti-alcohol book. Rather, it’s pro-health and pro-science. Through science-backed philosophies, author Annie Grace helps readers get curious and explore their relationship with alcohol, addressing the reasons behind why we drink. Some readers quit drinking altogether, while others learn to cut back and become more mindful drinkers. Either way, it’s like a magic trick.
A binary with blurred lines
Another weird thing is that society seems to have binary thinking with alcohol: You are either an alcoholic or a responsible drinker. But we know that life is lived in the grey areas, within the spectrum between two extremes. I didn’t identify as an alcoholic, but I wasn’t a responsible drinker either. I was somewhere in between, and increasingly aware of how alcohol wasn’t helping me reach my best self.
This “in between” is a spectrum called alcohol use disorder, and is what the medical profession now uses to talk about alcohol use and misuse. It’s not black and white. It’s not solely genetic. It’s highly influenced by your environment, culture, and life experiences. And you do have control.
The latest research shows that alcohol (even in moderate amounts) is linked to cancer, depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues. You don’t have to be an “alcoholic” for drinking to negatively impact your mental and physical health. Many research studies call alcohol “a colossal global health issue” and encourage abstinence, citing no health benefits from drinking. In fact (cue the Debbie Downer music), alcohol ranks as the most dangerous drug ahead of heroin and crack cocaine.
Think about the past three years: Drinking skyrocketed during the pandemic. It is more important than ever to get curious about our relationship to alcohol. Is alcohol helping or hurting your wellness?
A new conversation is starting
You would be surprised at how many suffer in silence, as well as how many are starting to speak out boldly. Like entrepreneur and venture capitalist phenom Arlan Hamilton. She knew something was holding her back. She was making a tremendous impact on the startup ecosystem and building a venture capital fund from the ground up. But alcohol was holding her prisoner. This Naked Mind helped set her free.
This Naked Mind helps people to become more mindful drinkers and garner the many health benefits from consuming less or quit drinking altogether. Either way, the book teaches how to make alcohol less of a big deal and go on living a life of positive health and wellness.
As the saying goes, the best time to plant a tree was years ago. The second-best time is now.
If you’ve ever questioned your drinking, or wished you drank a bit less, This Naked Mind will help you become more in control of your drinking…or ditch it altogether. Stop suffering in silence. You are not broken. You are not alone. And you don’t have to apologize for not wanting to consume a drug that is scientifically proven to be harmful to your mental and physical health. Let’s start a new conversation around alcohol. One about wellness.
