Spring clean your thought triggers to drink

Let’s discuss the “I just want to stop thinking” trigger or prompt to drink.

Drinking to avoid remembering, knowing, and feeling. We sometimes just use a shortcut for these reasons to drink and say something like, “I just want to stop thinking.”

I get it! Hell, I get it so good I am still haunted at times by memories that seem to pop out of nowhere trying to convince me that I am bad and deserve to suffer. I would be lying if I said I never fall victim to their seduction to shame.

For me, it’s often in the middle of the night and when life is going well. I’ll wake up and start thinking about a night when I had been drinking and woke up with a boy next to me from my teen years! Yeah, I’ve beaten the shit out of myself more than enough for those moments.

There is NOTHING in this world that can change my past.

So, what do I do since I don’t misuse alcohol to help put these random angry ghosts from my past back in the “do not open” drawer? I explore them for information. What do I need to learn from this ghastly memory to be free of it?

What’s the truth?

I was an uninformed teen who didn’t know to value my body. I was taught to misuse alcohol to cope and experience a sense of freedom. I love her and proud of the woman she has become.

It took me several years into my sober journey to be able to face that girl and flood her with love, acceptance, and gratitude for surviving – without her; I wouldn’t be me. She may have been reckless, sloppy, and drunk a lot, but she was also courageous, tenacious, and willful.

This work is not easy.

This work is not easy and I’m not trying to suggest it is. But I promise this kind of hard work, the pain of going through this type of process, has incredible rewards—the first being freed from the need to misuse alcohol.

If you’re not sure where to start simply break out a notebook, get curious, and start asking questions.

Start with, what am I resisting? Or what am I afraid of?

Keep it simple and straightforward.

I’m here if you need me. 

Of course, I love helping women explore their thoughts, feelings, beliefs, hopes, and dreams. If this is something you’re interested in, just reach out, and let’s discuss what that would be like.

If you’re not ready for that level of commitment, be sure to sign up on my mailing list. I have a lot of exciting news to share, and I don’t want you to miss out on any of it!

And don’t forget, “Before You Drink, Think PINK!”

Much love, Teresa