FMP 050 • My Relationship With Alcohol – A Breakup Long Overdue

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“Alcohol is subtractive by its very nature”

My Relationship With Alcohol

In this solo episode today, I talk about the influence alcohol has had on my life. I am quick to state that I am not an alcoholic. I have no tragic story about how alcohol has destroyed my family or caused cancer. However, I do have a story about my relationship with alcohol and how it is easily the most subtractive activity that I participate in.

If you are considering making changes to your alcohol use, we suggest two apps, both of which are reviewed in today’s episode. If you are interested in controlling your alcohol consumption, “Less” is a great place to start. If you are interested in abstaining from alcohol and want to jump into an online community, “I Am Sober” is a great choice.

If you follow our work on Finding My Psych, you know we are big fans of the work by Andy Ramage. His proactive wellness focused approach to changing is own relationship with alcohol, avoids the traditional pathogenesis focus of the traditional abstinence community. Its a really good place to start if you are curious about decreasing your consumption.

Episode Outline

Welcome to Episode 050: My Relationship With Alcohol

1. What We Do:
   • Behavioural Medicine and Health Psychology
   • Providing easily accessible content designed to help you design your own transformative experience.
2. Today:
   • I share my own storey about the influence of alcohol in my life, good and bad.
   • I discuss two apps that can help you change your own relationship with alcohol wherever you are at in your journey.
3. Feedback?
   • Likes something you heard, or did something get under your skin? Connect with an FMP team member through phone or email (support@findingmypsych.com or podcast@findingmypsych.com)

Alcohol – A Breakup Long Overdue

1. Why I want to tell my story:
   • COVD19 Realization
   • Im getting older.
   • I realize the subtractive nature of alcohol in my life.
   • I am not an alcoholic – I hate the influence it has on my life.
2. My Story:
   • My Family:
     • My parents and alcohol
     • My Grandmother
       • Alcohol and and bipolar disorder
   • Age 14 – My first drink.
   • University – Alcohol as coping (coming out)
   • Falling for the French Paradox
   • Most weekends in the past 35 years has involved alcohol
3. Observations:
   1. Alcohol is subtractive in nature.
   2. Alcohol consumes time and productivity.
   3. Alcohol consumes emotions (next day guilt, hurting others, etc.)
   4. Alcohol story telling is not unifying and does not build meaningful relationships.
   5. Hanovers are over in a day, or two. Post episode anxiety lasts for days.
   6. The work-hard — Alcohol reward cycle consumes us in the end.

Venturing and Alcohol Free Commitment

1. Andy Ramage Influence.
2. Avoiding AA and NA approach (pathogenesis)

Two iOS Apps

1. “I Am Sober” (IAS) – It is great!
2. “Less” which is more of a controlled drinking approach

Our Wellness Challenge

1. Check out our 90-Day Alcohol Free Challenge where I share my experience abstaining from alcohol and record the impact.