Ep 180: Am I An Alcoholic?

Jul 13

Am I an alcoholic?

It’s the question you might be asking yourself after having too many drinks at a party. It’s the question you might be asking yourself Monday morning after a weekend of heavy drinking.

The problem with this question? It’s too black and white. It doesn’t give many solutions to move forward. Today, Karolina dives deep into the framing of this question, and how to ask even better questions, like “Is alcohol aligned with my values?”

Our goal is to help you find strength in your alcohol-free story so you can reevaluate the role of alcohol in your life and help create a powerful legacy that changes our drinking culture – because ditching alcohol can be empowering no matter how much you drink!

IN THIS EPISODE:

How the question – am I an alcoholic? – assumes you’re either a “normal drinker” or an alcoholic; in reality, most find themselves in the messy middle
Consumption levels in the U.S.; though only a small percentage of people drink severely, the majority of drinkers drink much above health guidelines
Better questions to ask, such as, is this making me happy? Is alcohol aligned with my values? Does alcohol help me achieve my goals and dreams?
Alcohol’s normalized, glorified role in American culture today, and how, as an adult, it’s a way to socialize, celebrate, commiserate, etc.
The problem with the label “alcoholic” and the new terms for drinking in health and wellness circles
Instilling in future generations that they don’t need to consider themselves problem drinkers to reevaluate the role of alcohol in their lives

REFLECTION QUESTION:

What questions did you ask yourself before striving for an alcohol-free life? Did you ask yourself the big question – am I an alcoholic? Or were your questions more nuanced?

“Instead of asking myself seven years ago, ‘am I an alcoholic?’ If I just would have asked myself, ‘is alcohol making me happy?’ I would have had such a better, clearer answer. If I would ask myself if it's aligned with my values, I would have known. If I asked myself, ‘is it helping me achieve my goals and dreams?’ I would have clearly, clearly known those answers. But because I wasn't taught to ask those questions – I was taught to ask, only, ‘Am I the A-word?’ – I wasted time.” - Karolina Rzadkowolska

“According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, upwards of 60, if not 70% of all drinkers are drinking way above the health guidelines. So when you look at the statistics, you look at consumption levels across - it is this huge bell curve. There's your very light, very, very, very infrequent drinkers that make up the smallest portion of the population on one side. And then you have your very, very heavily addicted people who are drinking all day, every day, on the other side of the bell curve. And everyone else is finding themselves in the messy middle.” - Karolina Rzadkowolska

LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED

Join Karolina and Teri Patterson August 4-6, 2023 in Nevada City, California for an intimate mastermind weekend retreat, just for alcohol-free life coaches! Recharge your business and get the roadmap to scale your business to 6-figures and beyond. Sign up here and use code LOVELOVE to get $500 off!

Karolina’s book is available in hardcover, Kindle, and as an audiobook. Be sure to get your copy of Euphoric: Ditch Alcohol and Gain a Happier, More Confident You today and leave your review.

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