“You can continue drinking for now”.
This is what I say to clients who turn to alcohol to cope with stress.
They look at me surprised!
“No, you probably didn’t understand. This is why I came to you. I need your help”.
“We will remove that habit but alcohol is not the real problem”, I say.
Alcohol is actually a solution—a temporary solution to your stress.
It’s a coping mechanism.
It helps you relax, switch off, and manage negative emotions.
Your life has become more stressful after Covid.
You’re struggling with the lack of structure in your working day.
You’re expected to be logged on 24/7.
Hitting the bottle is a coping mechanism.
You can continue to drink excessively until we have identified and you have tested alternative ways that do for you what excessive drinking does.
Step 1 is always more self-love and less guilt.
You can’t control what others say but at least you can stop beating yourself up.
It’s crazy but in my experience of working with people, that first step is often half the solution!
Then we can go deeper, look at unconscious beliefs and the deeper reasons for your negative emotions.
And replace a drinking habit with a better habit.
Until then, while enjoying your drink, ask yourself, “how am I feeling today?”
Write it down or say it out loud. Be specific.
That’s all for now. One step at a time.
Loving you, Angelos