Desiree Taylor was drinking a bottle or two of wine a day before she quit. Here’s what changed, and the three habits that helped her stay sober.
From the outside, I looked like I had it together. I ate well, exercised and was successful at work. But most days I was drinking a bottle or two of wine.
Alcohol was my reward, my stress relief and my sleeping pill. It was also behind the bloating, headaches, dry skin, weight gain, brain fog and low moods I kept putting up with. It took getting seriously ill for me to stop.
What I had to relearn
Giving up was hard. I had to work out how to go to parties without a drink, deal with stress another way, and switch off at night. I also had to face the anxiety and insecurity that drinking had been covering up.
What changed
The changes came quickly:
- My energy came back.
- My skin cleared.
- My digestion improved and the brain fog lifted.
- I lost weight without trying.
- I felt clearer and more creative.
The biggest surprise was going to a party sober and feeling confident instead of anxious.
Three habits that helped me
- Keep the ritual, lose the alcohol. At events, I order sparkling water in a wine glass. It feels familiar, and I still feel part of things.
- Meditate. It helps me deal with the stress and feelings I used to drink away.
- Be kinder to yourself. A daily affirmation such as “I love and accept myself unconditionally” helped me feel strong enough to socialise sober.
Thinking about cutting back?
If you’re the person who eats well all week and then drinks heavily at the weekend, or you use alcohol to manage stress or anxiety, it may be worth rethinking. A month off, such as Dry July, is a good way to test it.
If you’re worried about your drinking, talk to your GP, especially before stopping if you drink heavily every day.
