Stop Over-drinking and Start Living

My husband and I went to NYC for the weekend and a theme emerged, ASSUMPTIONS.

So many assumptions happened for both of us and one involving a complete stranger.

Our mind likes to make assumptions to save us energy and time. An assumption is a thing that is accepted as true or as certain to happen, without proof.

Tune in and hear 3 completely different stories on assumptions, from brunch to a phone charger to a stranger yelling at us in Central Park.

What assumptions are you making about other people that are HURTING YOU?

Like, 'they are excluding me.'

What assumptions are you making about alcohol that isn't serving you? Like 'if I don't drink, it will be boring.'

Assumptions can help you or hurt you.

If you find out you were wrong for assuming something, can you learn from this, let it go, or laugh instead of getting angry or blaming your assumption on someone else?

I'd love to hear what assumptions you make that you have found out aren't true.

Hire me as your private coach: https://form.typeform.com/to/x8tcz6lm

Grab one of the last two spots in the Seattle retreat. Put your deposit down now: https://www.angelamascenik.com/2024retreatsandcoaching

Get on the Alive AF! waitlist: https://www.angelamascenik.com/aliveaf

Tags: Stop Over-drinking, Angela Mascenik, stop drinking podcast, how to feel, how to overcome addiction, how to drink less wine, change your relationship with alcohol, coach for women who want to drink less alcohol, help to stop over-drinking, stop over-drinking, life coach to help stop over-drinking, self-love, importance of self-love, online membership to stop over-drinking, program to help quit alcohol, how to quit drinking, spouses, partners, food, overeating, moderation, sober retreat, how to prioritize yourself, make yourself a priority to drink less, masked desires, covert wants, disguised desires, self serving acts, say yes to drinking less, do I have a problem, allowing discomfort, getting uncomfortable, how to drink less, stop over-drinking, how to drink less wine, I drink too much, why do I drink too much, how to drink less not quit, addiction recovery, life coach for women who want to drink less or quit

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. 

It affects how we think, feel, and act. 

It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices. 

Over-drinking is usually a sign that our mental health is in need of some help. 

Over-drinking is a symptom. For a lot of my clients, it's a symptom of stress, high levels of anxiety, overwhelm, loneliness, grief, big painful life changes or traumatic events like a high conflict divorce or a major medical diagnoses. 

Using alcohol as a way to cope is a sign that your mental health could use some support. 

It's not something to be ashamed of or to keep a secret. 

If you've been struggling with alcohol use and you identify as someone who is using alcohol as a way to cope (or another sign is, finding it very hard to stop automatic behavior and can't identify the cause of your over-drinking) it's time to get help. 

Tune into this podcast episode and hear the intersections of mental health and over consumption of alcohol.Here's a resource I used in creating this episode:
https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/sites/default/files/2022-06/MHF-Alcohol-and-mental-health-guide.pdf

Another resource:
SAMHSA’s National Helpline, 1-800-662-HELP (4357) (also known as the Treatment Referral Routing Service), or TTY: 1-800-487-4889 is a confidential, free, 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year, information service, in English and Spanish, for individuals and family members facing mental and/or substance use disorders. This service provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations.

In North Carolina:
https://trosainc.org/finding-free-programs/

MY LINKS:
Retreat/coaching packages-
https://www.angelamascenik.com/2024retreatsandcoaching

Join the Alive AF! waitlist-
https://www.angelamascenik.com/aliveaf

Apply to work with me privately-
https://form.typeform.com/to/x8tcz6lm

Tags:
Stop Over-drinking, Angela Mascenik, stop drinking podcast, how to feel, how to overcome addiction, how to drink less wine, change your relationship with alcohol, coach for women who want to drink less alcohol, help to stop over-drinking, stop over-drinking, life coach to help stop over-drinking, self-love, importance of self-love, online membership to stop over-drinking, program to help quit alcohol, how to quit drinking, spouses, partners, food, overeating, moderation, sober retreat, how to prioritize yourself, make yourself a priority to drink less, mental health, mental health and alcohol use

What does this even mean?

Have you ever noticed how uncomfortable you get when you perceive other people feeling some sort of discomfort or negative feelings?

If you have noticed this and then tried to 'make everyone feel better' or 'try to diffuse' a situation so the peace gets kept or whatever it is, how does this work out for you?

Does it exhaust you, make you feel anxious, overwhelmed, or edgy? And then what do you do? Drink, eat, scroll, avoid, fight...or cause a bigger issue than what actually existed?

Well, I happen to have been aware of myself being really uncomfortable and tight and edgy and grippy when I perceive some else's discomfort in a whole bunch of situations.

And that sucks because when I feel that way, I immediately want to 'make it better' for them and that feels graspy and honestly it's a big energy suck AND it doesn't work.

DANG IT.

So that's my work this month. And I invite you to come along with me and choose something that is a big discomfort for you.

Is it urges for alcohol, snacking at night or something else? What do you have a big discomfort over? The key to being more comfortable in this area is to ALLOW the initial discomfort you feel right now.
You have to be willing to go through it for it to feel better. That's the process.

This episode dives into how to do that and I share a little bit of what I am working on as an example.

Let's get uncomfortable together, friends!Join Say YES for Drinking Less:
https://www.angelamascenik.com/say-yes

Hire me as your private coach:
https://form.typeform.com/to/x8tcz6lm

Grab one of the last two spots in the Seattle retreat. Put your deposit down now: https://www.angelamascenik.com/2024retreatsandcoaching

Get on the Alive AF! waitlist:
https://www.angelamascenik.com/aliveaf

Tags: 
Stop Over-drinking, Angela Mascenik, stop drinking podcast, how to feel, how to overcome addiction, how to drink less wine, change your relationship with alcohol, coach for women who want to drink less alcohol, help to stop over-drinking, stop over-drinking, life coach to help stop over-drinking, self-love, importance of self-love, online membership to stop over-drinking, program to help quit alcohol, how to quit drinking, spouses, partners, food, overeating, moderation, sober retreat, how to prioritize yourself, make yourself a priority to drink less, masked desires, covert wants, disguised desires, self serving acts, say yes to drinking less, do I have a problem, allowing discomfort, getting uncomfortable

This episode helps you discover if YOU have a problem with alcohol.

Most people have an image in their minds about what someone with an alcohol problem looks like.

And for most of my clients they don't match that description.

Often people who want to cut back get pushback from their loved ones who don't understand why they are focusing on cutting back when 'they don't understand, you don't do anything bad, or nothing bad is happening from your drinking.'

Sometimes these external messages confuse our desire to cut back or quit.

You might then tell yourself, 'I work full-time, take care of the kids, take care of everything, surely I can have a couple glasses of wine at the end of the day!'

And then you dismiss your own truth.

This episode dives into this and helps you understand YOUR situation with alcohol better so you can remain clear on what you want and then can clearly communicate to others if you need to.

If you are struggling and haven't been able to make the changes you want on your own, please get help.

Join Say YES for Drinking Less taking place April 29-May 1st, 2024 register HERE:
https://www.angelamascenik.com/say-yes

Hire me as your private coach: https://form.typeform.com/to/x8tcz6lm

Grab one of the last spots in the Seattle retreat: https://www.angelamascenik.com/2024retreatsandcoaching

Get on the Alive AF! waitlist: https://www.angelamascenik.com/aliveaf

You deserve to move past whatever issue you are having with alcohol.

The people who get help are more successful, don't wait any longer!

Ep 275 Navigating Skepticism: What to Do When Loved Ones Dismiss Your Desire to Cut Back:
https://www.angelamascenik.com/podcasts/stop-over-drinking-and-start-living/episodes/2148585758

Tags:
Stop Over-drinking,  Angela Mascenik,  stop drinking podcast,  how to feel,  how to overcome addiction,  how to drink less wine,  change your relationship with alcohol,  coach for women who want to drink less alcohol,  help to stop over-drinking,  stop over-drinking,  life coach to help stop over-drinking,  self-love, importance of self-love, online membership to stop over-drinking, program to help quit alcohol, how to quit drinking, spouses, partners, food, overeating, moderation, sober retreat, how to prioritize yourself, make yourself a priority to drink less, masked desires, covert wants, disguised desires, self serving acts, say yes to drinking less, do I have a problem

This episode dives into what to do when someone you care about shares that they don’t think you need to cut back or wishes you wouldn’t cut back or dismisses your desire to quit or cut back.

Mostly, when people dismiss your desire to cut back it’s just because they don’t want to cut back.

They don’t want anything to change. So when you say you are going to do something differently, it often will make them look at their own habits around alcohol. And they might unconsciously feel a bit threatened about their own attachment to alcohol.

What really matters is that YOU acknowledge you want to cut back and that you do something about it.

And that it’s not black and white. Just because you don’t present like a down and out alcoholic doesn’t mean that your alcohol consumption isn’t a concern to you. 

If you think you drink too much and it’s been hard to cut back, it needs to be addressed. 

Don’t let someone else’s opinion deter your desire to cut back. You know if it’s too much and that is what matters.

Click here to join us in Say YES to Drinking Less:
https://www.angelamascenik.com/say-yes

Check out my retreat/private coaching packages:
https://www.angelamascenik.com/2024retreatsandcoaching

Apply for private coaching with me:
https://form.typeform.com/to/x8tcz6lm

Tags:
Stop Over-drinking, Angela Mascenik, stop drinking podcast, how to feel, how to overcome addiction, how to drink less wine, change your relationship with alcohol, coach for women who want to drink less alcohol, help to stop over-drinking, stop over-drinking, life coach to help stop over-drinking, self-love, importance of self-love, online membership to stop over-drinking, program to help quit alcohol, how to quit drinking, spouses, partners, food, overeating, moderation, sober retreat, how to prioritize yourself, make yourself a priority to drink less, masked desires, covert wants, disguiseddesires, selfservingacts, sayyestodrinkingless, negativeskepticism, dismissed

This is a HOT episode friends, you must listen ASAP. 

Have you secretly done something for someone else whit it's really what YOU want? 

Truth telling time! 

You must turn in to hear about this very sneaky behavior that I'm guessing WE ALL SHARE. 

Especially, people pleasers! 

I share a story of when I recently asked my son if he wanted donuts and discovered that I was doing that because I WANTED DONUTS. 

He didn't even ask about donuts, but I pretended it was something that he would have wanted and put myself in a situation that probably wasn't the best for me. 

You must tune in and listen to hear what happened! 

It's also the delusion of altruism. 

People with active addictions will tell themselves all sorts of stories 'it's for them!' 'I'm being a good host' 'it's what a good host does' 'they would appreciate this' 'I know they love xxx' 

We mask our own desires with pretending it's for someone else.

Learn how to recognize if you are doing this and how to step out of it! 

Enjoy and I'd love to hear your own story of doing this!

Check out my retreat/private coaching packages:
https://www.angelamascenik.com/2024retreatsandcoaching

Apply for private coaching with me:
https://form.typeform.com/to/x8tcz6lm

Get your hand picked stop over-drinking support kit, with items that I personally use to help me stay alcohol free! 
https://aliveafbox.angelamascenik.com/pages/support-kits

Tags:
Stop Over-drinking, Angela Mascenik, stop drinking podcast, how to feel, how to overcome addiction, how to drink less wine, change your relationship with alcohol, coach for women who want to drink less alcohol, help to stop over-drinking, stop over-drinking, life coach to help stop over-drinking, self-love, importance of self-love, online membership to stop over-drinking, program to help quit alcohol, how to quit drinking, spouses, partners, food, overeating, moderation, sober retreat, how to prioritize yourself, make yourself a priority to drink less, masked desires, covert wants, disguiseddesires, selfservingacts

I was scrolling through some of my favorite sober Instagram accounts the other day and came across a graphic that said  ‘5 ways to stop drinking.’ 

The first one was ‘prioritize yourself.’ 

I thought, yah, I know what that means but if you are reading a post on how to stop drinking, it’s likely YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS. 

So, I thought, I’d explain if for y’all in this podcast episode. 

Often when we see, hear, or read these messages of advice, we think in big extremes. 

Ok, I gotta prioritize myself, and that means I have to say NO to everything, cancel all my plans and go hide for 3 months. 

And that is not something most people who want to stop over-drinking want to do, so then they don’t do anything and they continue on their path of over-drinking and staying stuck. 

In this episode, I describe the small nuances and decisions I make when I prioritize myself and my health and my life and how I want to feel in it. 

And the truth is, you do need to prioritize yourself when you are on this journey. It’s a requirement. Nobody is going to make sure your life has space in it for this work, that’s your job. And do you really want someone tracking you, asking you if you journaled, planned your food, drank your water, got good sleep every single day? Probably not. 

Of course, I can help you do that inside my coaching programs, but ultimately it’s on you to actually do it.

Listen to this episode and learn EASY ways you can make yourself a priority!

Tune in and join Alive AF!
https://www.angelamascenik.com/aliveaf

Get your hand picked stop over-drinking support kit, with items that I personally use to help me stay alcohol free! 
https://aliveafbox.angelamascenik.com/pages/support-kits

Check out my retreat/private coaching packages:
https://www.angelamascenik.com/2024retreatsandcoaching

Apply for private coaching with me:
https://form.typeform.com/to/x8tcz6lm

Tags:
Stop Over-drinking, Angela Mascenik, stop drinking podcast, how to feel, how to overcome addiction, how to drink less wine, change your relationship with alcohol, coach for women who want to drink less alcohol, help to stop over-drinking, stop over-drinking, life coach to help stop over-drinking, self-love, importance of self-love, online membership to stop over-drinking, program to help quit alcohol, how to quit drinking, spouses, partners, food, overeating, moderation, sober retreat, how to prioritize yourself, make yourself a priority to drink less

This week’s episode talks about the creeping effect of drinking alcohol. 

Have you recognized: 

1) Your drinking has increased over time in how many days a week you drink or how many drinks you have each time you drink? 

2) When you try and cut back and then you are ‘loose’ with your rules around alcohol, you notice it creeping back in to your old habits? 

Tune in and hear how I describe this phenomenon. 

Alcohol is invasive it’s like a weed with a strong root that takes hold, and sometimes we need to do more than we think to get our drinking under control. 

Song mentioned in the podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0TMA0GRBV0

Check out my retreat/private coaching packages:
https://www.angelamascenik.com/2024retreatsandcoaching

Apply for private coaching with me:
https://form.typeform.com/to/x8tcz6lm

Tags:
Stop Over-drinking, Angela Mascenik, stop drinking podcast, how to feel, how to overcome addiction, how to drink less wine, change your relationship with alcohol, coach for women who want to drink less alcohol, help to stop over-drinking, stop over-drinking, life coach to help stop over-drinking, self-love, importance of self-love, online membership to stop over-drinking, program to help quit alcohol, how to quit drinking, spouses, partners, food, overeating, moderation

This is another question I received and wanted to dive into this specifically. 

This can feel like a dilemma. You notice someone you care about over-drinking. Maybe they are stumbling at the end of a night out. Maybe they can't drive to pick up their kids, maybe they get really sad or cry after a night out.... and it's not just a one time incident. You notice this frequently. 

Do you say something?

 Do you not? 

Is it your place? 

Will you be able to change them? 

Tune in and I address this very specific question. 

If you know someone who over-drinks it can be hard to be in a relationship with them. 

There is help for them and you. 

One thing you can do is share my podcast on your socials and emails. 

It's a great way to say help without coming right out and saying, 'You need to listen to this podcast.' 

Ala-non is a great resource for family members of someone who struggles with alcohol abuse.

Tune in and join Alive AF!
https://www.angelamascenik.com/aliveaf

Check out my retreat/private coaching packages:
https://www.angelamascenik.com/2024retreatsandcoaching

Apply for private coaching with me:
https://form.typeform.com/to/x8tcz6lm

Tags:
Stop Over-drinking, Angela Mascenik, stop drinking podcast, how to feel, how to overcome addiction, how to drink less wine, change your relationship with alcohol, coach for women who want to drink less alcohol, help to stop over-drinking, stop over-drinking, life coach to help stop over-drinking, self-love, importance of self-love, online membership to stop over-drinking, program to help quit alcohol, how to quit drinking, spouses, partners, food, overeating, moderation

I'm answering another listener question today on the podcast. I am diving into this question: 

'I think the thing I wonder most is "is it truly possible to go from decades of nightly wine addiction to moderating easily".

'Are there people that can switch to drinking 4 or 5 times a month without thinking about it constantly? I'm so tired of thinking about it all the time. I sometimes think it'd be easier just to quit all together.' 

Tune in this week and hear what I think about moderation versus quitting. 

The truth is, it's complicated and everyone is different. 

This podcast episode will help you understand that your journey on reducing how much you drink is unique AND see what we all have in common. 

REMINDER: Alive AF! is closing down registration on March 23rd, join now!Tune in and join Alive AF!
https://www.angelamascenik.com/aliveaf

Check out my retreat/private coaching packages:
https://www.angelamascenik.com/2024retreatsandcoaching

Apply for private coaching with me:
https://form.typeform.com/to/x8tcz6lm

Tags:
Stop Over-drinking, Angela Mascenik, stop drinking podcast, how to feel, how to overcome addiction, how to drink less wine, change your relationship with alcohol, coach for women who want to drink less alcohol, help to stop over-drinking, stop over-drinking, life coach to help stop over-drinking, self-love, importance of self-love, online membership to stop over-drinking, program to help quit alcohol, how to quit drinking, spouses, partners, food, overeating, moderation