When we stop drinking, we often hope for better health. That’s one of the top reasons people give me for wanting to cut back or stop drinking. Everyone hopes that they will feel better – sleep better, have lower blood pressure, lose weight. But, if our drinking has compromised our health, we may believe that stopping will simply delay the inevitable, that our only option is, as my podcast guest shares, “let the chips fall where they may”.
When I set out to interview a variety of midlife women about their journey to stop drinking, one guest had an atypical story. Lisa Ryan, a fellow This Naked Mind coach and an Aussie, shares her dark and difficult journey from the brink of death to a life worth living and loving. Many of my podcast guests and many of my clients are gray area drinkers; those of us who haven’t reached ‘rock bottom’ but choose to stop drinking simply because we want more out of life. Lisa’s story is not one of gray area drinking. She shares that she had many Day 1’s and a frank discussion with her doctor that alcohol might be the end for her. It was a scary time.
In 2014, Lisa decided to try the old tools again. She had tried meditation and breath work and exercise but felt they were powerless against her debilitating panic attacks. With nothing left to lose, Lisa decided to try again. This time, she persevered and began noticing subtle changes. She kept at it and began to realize how powerful these tools really are. Eventually, she realized that her anxiety and panic attacks were a gift; a way to dialogue with her body and prioritize true wellness. Today, Lisa is gratefully alcohol-free, and helps others change their own drinking story. Lisa marvels at just how ‘juicy’ life can be!
I am grateful to Lisa for sharing her story that it is never too late to start changing our relationship with alcohol, even when a happy ending is not guaranteed.
To find out more about Lisa and her work, you can connect with her at:Keep Looking Upwards, where she specializes in helping other wellness professionals break up with alcohol.
You can check out your own ‘tools’ at Stop Drinking Now
