One glass of wine for lunch, maybe two for dinner, an after-work gin-tonic on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s, and probably a couple more drink on the weekend. Sounds pretty normal, huh? Especially now, going through the pandemic alcohol sales increased enormously. According to Nielsen, the US has experienced a 54% increase in national sales of alcohol in March 2020, compared with 1 year before, and online sales increased 262% from 2019. And that’s how we go through life, being conditioned to drink socially as well as not socially on many occasions . It has become so normal that it is un-normal to say no to it. Nevertheless more and more people start thinking more critically about their alcohol intake, and movements like “Dry January” , or “Sober Curious” by Ruby Warrington have started. Being sober curious simply means reevaluating your relationship with alcohol. It means personally questioning the necessity of alcohol consumption with its pros and cons, as well as having the option to choose whether you want to have a drink or not. I feel like many times it is expected to have a drink, and people tend to not consciously think about the consequences of alcohol consumption anymore (and I’m not just talking about the hangover next day). Expressing that you’re sober, on the other hand, immediately brings up an uncomfortable situation, since being sober is automatically associated with having a drinking problem, and recovering from addiction. Being sober curious has nothing to do with that, but it’s a good lifestyle decision, when considering that alcohol belongs to one of the most addictive and dangerous substances that are available freely.
But let’s start with the question “Why do we drink?”
Well first of all, it definitely is a social activity. Meeting up for a drink already establishes some sort of connection, and people get excited because they know it’ll be a great time. Alcohol triggers the release of endorphins “feel good chemicals” in specific areas of the brain. The brain regions especially affected are the orbitofrontal cortex, associated with decision-making, and the nucleus accumbens, also known as the “pleasure center”. In addition to that alcohol might also provide relaxation after a long day, spark creativity, help with social anxiety and overall take some of that “weight” and “pressure” off at times. It seems like a quick fix for a number of things, and works pretty well, temporarily. Unfortunately, the bad news is, it is not a fix at all, and mostly even intensifies the struggles one is trying to overcome with a drink. There are solutions for every situation, struggle, anxiety out there that are far away from that convenient drink. It might take a little bit more time and work, but it will be a permanent fix.
Moving on to the next question: “Why try SOBER CURIOUS?”
Sober curious doesn’t mean sobriety in the sense of giving up alcohol completely. It means whatever you want it to mean. It can mean drinking more consciously, it can mean going without drinking for a week, a month, a year, or if you wish for good. It’s about focussing on yourself and questioning the role alcohol plays in your life. Considering the harm alcohol does to our body it is a valid question. We try to look pretty, watch what we eat, go to cosmetic treatments, but alcohol is still at the very end of things we want to give up. Maybe we should reconsider, because the physical and mental damages that come along with that casual drink here and there are detrimental. The most common physical damages include cancer (liver, breast, colon, mouth, throat, esophageal), irregular heartbeat, deranged digestion, high blood pressure, increased risk of stroke. In addition to that, the regular use of alcohol can result in mood changes, irregular sleep, low immune system, problems with concentration, changes in libido, and memory issues. Mental complications include bipolar disorder, phychotic disorder, depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder. Considering these side effects, is the quick fix really worth it?
Leading to the final question: “How to do SOBER CURIOUS?”
As mentioned by Ruby Warrington we drink out of habit to manage stress and to some extent because we are not familiar with many tools that promise the same things that alcohol does: relaxation, comfort in social situations, reduced anxiety, euphoria, and inspiration. Making the decision to try something new and join the sober curious lifestyle is an internal decision. You’re choosing to look beyond the quick fix and are trying to heal the issues you’d usually numb with alcohol. It’s a big step and requires work but the goal you’re committing to reach is worth it. With everything in life, it is important to not only focus on the destination and enjoy the process. A good way to heal internally, balance your mood, improve sleep, and be more focused is through yoga and meditation. Yoga will help your body get strong and flexible while building and shaping your focus. When meditating you are re-establishing the connection to your true self and your unconscious mind. Practised regularly you’ll feel the shift, be more present and relieved. This urge for the other fix will simply disappear. A good add on is trying to focus on the 7 chakras (root, sacral, solar plexus, heart, throat, third eye, crown), through guided chakra mediations and chakra corresponding gemstones. Another way to balance hormones, mood, energy and focus is through essential oil therapy. If you don’t feel like using essential oils directly on your body you can also get them as diffusers and create a wonderful atmosphere at home. The next step of course is translating that work into a social environment. You shouldn’t feel like you’re cutting out on something but rather focus on the benefits that come along with that choice. The better sleep, the better mood, the self-cultivated courage, ambition, and creativity. Those are things you can actually be proud of and that will make you feel extra good. And don’t worry you will not be stuck with some boring water all night, since more and more bars and restaurants are offering extended mocktail menus.
In my personal experience trying this trend has been very enlightening. Ever since I had my girls I couldn’t really go out and party like that anymore, but I still loved my wine on Birthday’s, Christmas, New Years etc… I started asking myself why? It usually only gave me a short period of uplift and afterwards I was just tired and irritated. So I just randomly decided to go without the wine on those occasions. I had more fun, more energy, less stress, and the next days always felt fresher and clearer. I don’t really know how long I will continue this, but as of right now, it feels good! I hope you enjoyed the read and I’m happy to hear from y’all in the comments section 💜