Women are more proactive than men for health and wellness, including concerns with alcohol.

Harvard studies have shown women are more likely to talk to their healthcare professional (HCP) long before alcohol dependence.

The problem is an HCP often does one of two things: brushes it off sees her drinking as normal and the woman continues her drinking without any change OR routed the traditional treatment path identifying as alcoholic where she doesn’t fit and again, no change.

Women typically progress in their drinking habits much quicker and their health is negatively affected. There’s not a lot of studies and research on women and alcohol. Most have been done on men. So, there are no real answers.

Hormones and fat to muscle ratio are a few factors that cannot be ignored. But again, no real science supports that.

We as women tend to hold on to guilt, shame, and regret (GSR). I witnessed this with my mother and then myself. The problem is we smooth over it with alcohol and when the magic of the alcohol fades the feelings are then amplified and this plops us into what I call the drunk cycle. Without interception. the drunk cycle will increase in velocity and volume.

The more we drink, the more poor choices, the more pain, the more we drink…the drunk cycle will increase in velocity and volume without interception. 

This doesn’t mean you’re an alcoholic. It means you need to hit pause and take charge before alcohol takes over.

You can do this by doing some discovery work. Here are a few ideas for you to start with:

• Recognize the steps you take leading to drinking
• Identify the source of the GSR
• Overwhelm your desire to drink with life desires
• Create a plan that supports your intention
• Have some accountability

Pink Cloud Coaching offers a variety of options to support you where you’re at. Whether you would like to go strong and make a ninety-day commitment to your health and wellness, schedule an hour at a time, attend a sober curious class, or join our closed Facebook group, GALS Connect. It’s important to know that you are not alone. There are so many bright, successful, fully competent women who are rethinking their drinking. That’s what responsible women do.

There is a drinking continuum. We start with “normal” and end with “alcoholic.” But there is a lot to be considered in-between.

Teresa Rodden is the founder and owner of Pink Cloud Coaching, Author of Wholly Sober, creator of several woman based groups and organizations that recognize the unique needs and challenges of women.

She’s passionate about helping women identify their personal power and break the need to misuse life-sucking vices robbing women of their one and only precious life experience. Living Wholly Sober is not recovery! Click here to talk.

Watch Teresa Rodden being interviewed on KATU Afternoon Live