Are You Drinking Out of Habit?
Most people who drink have been drinking for an extended period. It probably started in the early twenties, if not sooner. If you grew up in the ’90s as a teenager, it was quite common to indulge in alcohol at an early age.
I remember my friend and I drinking straight cheap vodka behind our junior high school in 1994, the same year Kurt Cobain committed suicide.
The grunge era brought out the rebellious teenager in many of us. If you were growing up in a toxic environment, alcohol and drugs often became the exact escape you needed to numb the pain or fit into the scene.
The music, the angst, and the culture of the time seemed to normalize self-destruction as a way of coping.
For some, it was more than just a phase—it was a survival mechanism. When surrounded by chaos, unhealthy habits can feel like the only way to take the edge off or create a sense of belonging.
But over time, those coping mechanisms can take a serious toll on your mental and physical health, trapping you in a cycle that’s hard to break free from.
As the years pass and you transition into adulthood, perhaps creating a family of your own, the drinking becomes an ingrained habit—you begin to lose touch with who you truly are because you become buried under the fog of alcohol that has become your new normal.
Before you know it, everything about your social life revolves around alcohol. Not only that, you begin to rely on it to relieve stress and numb any pain you may feel.
What once felt like freedom and fun gradually becomes a cycle that’s hard to break because it’s so deeply woven into your lifestyle.
The good news is that once you become aware of how much drinking is affecting you, only then will you begin to change your lifestyle.
“Change might not be fast and it isn’t always easy. But with time and effort, almost any habit can be reshaped.” — The Power of Habit
A habit is a regular, often unconscious behaviour or routine built through learning and repetition. With alcohol, breaking the habit is replacing it with healthier options.
When I began to change my unhealthy lifestyle, I replaced it with education and went back to school. For me, I was drinking constantly due to my environment and social crowd, which eventually had me having to disconnect.
I rebuilt my life and still had many old friends, but now I was more aware of the importance of choosing wisely when inviting someone new into my life.
Breaking the habit of drinking is changing your mindset around alcohol.
Beliefs about alcohol may include:
Life is dull, and alcohol makes it more interesting.
Drinking helps me relax after a long day of working.
Everyone enjoys a drink.
Falling asleep is easier with a few drinks before bed.
It's easier to connect with others.
The truth around alcohol:
The consumption of alcohol can increase anxiety and contribute to stress, including — financial debt, strained relationships, and embarrassment.
The number of people who drink is not as high as you may think.
Alcohol is linked to several cancers, such as breast, liver and pancreas.
Interferes with the circadian rhythm, resulting in restless sleep.
Life can be dull, but it isn't boring. It only means less drama.
Changing your mindset and beliefs around alcohol can open up a world of fresh and enriching experiences that don't involve drinking.
By implementing healthy strategies to replace alcohol, you may find that cutting down or eliminating it is a benefit that is not worth ignoring.
If you are dealing with Alcohol Use Disorder, please seek professional help, but if you want to change your lifestyle through nutrition, feel free to contact me.
