What do we think about changing our relationship with drinking the way Alisa has? Personally I find if refreshing because the mental attitude is different from the what I normally here. But, make no mistake she will tell you she had struggled as seen in some of her posts. Let me see if I can find one....
oh, I've definitely struggled. There are moments when I've had a glass of wine to soothe a very frayed nervous system at a dinner party, but it always comes at a cost to sleep quality... and then when I think about relationships... I never want to be Liz Taylor on a Tuesday night... one cocktail away from an Albee play... it's far too exhausting at my age. Better to savor the elegance of sobriety and sleep!
Like Eleanor I ended my relationship with alcohol quite a few years ago. There was no rock bottom, no big issues for me, it just wasn’t working for me anymore. Wine was taking more than it was giving. For me this happened before sobriety hit the mainstream cultural consciousness of being cool - sobercurious didn’t exist yet - so many people were shocked that I ‘needed’ to quit drinking but I knew if I didn’t make a change I would be giving my best self away.
I written about this occasionally and love the active sober community here on Substack.
Happy New Year, Donna! I go in and out of drinking. I'm out now...I knew that I was quitting again so, it's a relief to be at that marker. Then, I'll eventually have a nice glass of champagne or a beer and trend that way. But, agreed, not drinking is the best option health and brain-wise. I don't think of my age group, mid 50s as a "sober-curious" group...that is a trend and by now we know what we need and what we don't. I think my kids def are of the sober curious generation and I love it for them. Any excuse to not drink for a 20 something is good enough for me. I have 3 girls and alcohol is not great for them.
Hi, Kim, thanks. Well, I’ve been a drinker my life and, yes, it is deeply ingrained in our society. I struggle with OCD and anxiety have always used alcohol as a “calming” agent. But, we know that’s not what it does. Over the last couple of years I’ve made an effort to severely limit my intake. I want to quit, period. That said, I get on the wagon for a few days, and then, after experiencing how much I feel, as well as look, I think, “I can handle this. One isn’t going to hurt.” You get it. It’s an ancient story. I’ve written about it, several times. My story, “Sherry, Why Do You Drink?”’is about this very thing. I so envy the “Take it or leave it” folks, you know?
I completely hear you, Sherry! And, it’s a societal sign of weakness to admit it’s difficult to not drink. It’s deeply personal and yet, isn’t that the problem? I feel mental health has made great strides lately, especially SSRI prescriptions and menopause. But when it comes to drinking it’s embarrassing to talk about not it’s an”issue”. And an issue is not addition. Or is it? Thank you for your honest thoughts on the subject.
I am so glad I stepped away from drinking alcohol years ago. In my 30s, I never thought I wouldn't enjoy a glass of wine, but now in my late 40s, my sleep is much more valuable to me than that drink. I found that even just a small glass of wine wrecked absolute havoc on my sleep- it just wasn't worth it. These days I agree with Alisa - better to savor the elegance of sobriety (and my sanity)!
What do we think about changing our relationship with drinking the way Alisa has? Personally I find if refreshing because the mental attitude is different from the what I normally here. But, make no mistake she will tell you she had struggled as seen in some of her posts. Let me see if I can find one....
oh, I've definitely struggled. There are moments when I've had a glass of wine to soothe a very frayed nervous system at a dinner party, but it always comes at a cost to sleep quality... and then when I think about relationships... I never want to be Liz Taylor on a Tuesday night... one cocktail away from an Albee play... it's far too exhausting at my age. Better to savor the elegance of sobriety and sleep!
I, like Eleanor, am a lot nicer a lot more often when I am not drinking at all for over a few weeks. It’s not surprising.
No alcohol = Sleep ✔️ Brain chemistry ✔️ Less puffy eyes ✔️ Less hot flashes ✔️ and on and on ❤️
Like Eleanor I ended my relationship with alcohol quite a few years ago. There was no rock bottom, no big issues for me, it just wasn’t working for me anymore. Wine was taking more than it was giving. For me this happened before sobriety hit the mainstream cultural consciousness of being cool - sobercurious didn’t exist yet - so many people were shocked that I ‘needed’ to quit drinking but I knew if I didn’t make a change I would be giving my best self away.
I written about this occasionally and love the active sober community here on Substack.
Happy New Year, Donna! I go in and out of drinking. I'm out now...I knew that I was quitting again so, it's a relief to be at that marker. Then, I'll eventually have a nice glass of champagne or a beer and trend that way. But, agreed, not drinking is the best option health and brain-wise. I don't think of my age group, mid 50s as a "sober-curious" group...that is a trend and by now we know what we need and what we don't. I think my kids def are of the sober curious generation and I love it for them. Any excuse to not drink for a 20 something is good enough for me. I have 3 girls and alcohol is not great for them.
Are older people allowed to weigh in or am I dead? I’m more “late life.” And, it’s still a struggle. Especially with the U.S. imploding.
Oh heck yes, please weigh in Sherry.
Hi, Kim, thanks. Well, I’ve been a drinker my life and, yes, it is deeply ingrained in our society. I struggle with OCD and anxiety have always used alcohol as a “calming” agent. But, we know that’s not what it does. Over the last couple of years I’ve made an effort to severely limit my intake. I want to quit, period. That said, I get on the wagon for a few days, and then, after experiencing how much I feel, as well as look, I think, “I can handle this. One isn’t going to hurt.” You get it. It’s an ancient story. I’ve written about it, several times. My story, “Sherry, Why Do You Drink?”’is about this very thing. I so envy the “Take it or leave it” folks, you know?
I completely hear you, Sherry! And, it’s a societal sign of weakness to admit it’s difficult to not drink. It’s deeply personal and yet, isn’t that the problem? I feel mental health has made great strides lately, especially SSRI prescriptions and menopause. But when it comes to drinking it’s embarrassing to talk about not it’s an”issue”. And an issue is not addition. Or is it? Thank you for your honest thoughts on the subject.
I am so glad I stepped away from drinking alcohol years ago. In my 30s, I never thought I wouldn't enjoy a glass of wine, but now in my late 40s, my sleep is much more valuable to me than that drink. I found that even just a small glass of wine wrecked absolute havoc on my sleep- it just wasn't worth it. These days I agree with Alisa - better to savor the elegance of sobriety (and my sanity)!
I wish I had the maturity at your age to quit, Susan. But we need not focus on the coulda shoulda woulda! No time like the present!
https://substack.com/@eleanoranstruther/note/c-102589685?r=gpjs8&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action