Substance Misuse and Abuse

“Only one drink today, I promise.”

Thomas* often wakes up overwhelmed with shame at drinking. Tammy* is hiding drinking from her partner. Both have tried so many strategies to moderate their use only to fall back into the same pattern again.

Sometimes they only drank after 5 pm or only on weekends. They tried setting a limit for a night out or alternating alcohol with water.

It wasn’t for lack of trying or wanting to. They just couldn’t seem to find a plan that worked for them. And truly, they started to fear they might have a “real” problem. Maybe alcohol was more than just a bad habit.

Setting goals failed to solve the problem.

Both Thomas and Sally went back to drinking as much or more than before setting specific goals.

Life didn’t seem fun or tolerable without alcohol. They craved the escape alcohol gave them and missed the ability to let loose when they weren’t drinking.

Time and time again, one drink turned into way too many – resulting in blackouts, hangovers, and so much shame.

“I can’t believe I did this again. Why don’t I stop like everyone else?”

“But how do I know if I have a problem?”

When Thomas looked around him, it seemed that everyone drank as much as he did, and it’s a lot if he’s honest. He and his friends go out for drinks after work; they drink during activities on the weekends and at dinner.

Drinking at home is where it gets confusing for Thomas. He wonders, “Is everyone else drinking more when they get home, or is it just me?”

Tammy has been hiding her drinking, and tension is building in her relationship. No ultimatums yet, but she worries it might not be far off.

Being told what to do infuriates Tammy. She wonders, “What am I, a child? I never miss work, take care of the kids and the dogs. I’ve never been fired and never got a DUI. It can’t be that bad.”

Deep down, both Tammy and Thomas dread seeing the truth – that they can’t remember the last day they didn’t drink. They can’t remember when they had only one drink as they promised. And they fear for their futures if they keep drinking like this.

What is healthy drinking, anyway?

It can be challenging to determine what moderate or “healthy” alcohol use looks like in a culture that promotes alcohol for every emotion and situation.

Take a mountain adventure and have drinks during and after. Go to a party tonight and have a few drinks to get warmed up, more at the party, and more afterward.

Hard day at work? Take the edge off and relax with a drink and a big sigh of relief. Hangover? Maybe just a little bit to ease the pain.

You know choices have consequences, and you’re experiencing more negative effects from drinking than positive these days. Some of those consequences include fighting with your partner, drinking in secret, and obsessing over your next drink or your latest plan to moderate.

Drinking leaves you exhausted and miserable at work. Sometimes you drive under the influence, praying not to get pulled over. You feel irritable or pissed-off, and it’s starting to show at work. And the worst is how you feel about yourself – guilty, disgusted, ashamed, and hopeless.

It doesn’t have to be this way!

Our collaboration provides a safe, neutral, and knowledgeable space where we’ll explore your beliefs and behaviors and develop a plan to align your choices with your values.

I will work with you to explore your relationship with alcohol and what role you’d like it to play in your life. My commitment is in finding what works for you, whether that’s a sober lifestyle or moderate drinking where you feel in charge of your choices.

Research shows that change is a process, not an event, and people often seek help at different points in this process. We will tailor our work together to match where you are in the change process because finding this balance can help build and maintain your motivation for change, whatever change looks like for you.

There are no quick fixes.

Too often, it seems the quick fix of a drink is all there’s time for, but a balanced life you love is possible!

I will help you tell the truth about what you genuinely want and identify ways to meet your needs that feel genuinely nourishing and supportive.

Call for a free consultation, and let’s start talking about it!

*Character names and stories are fictional. Client confidentiality is strictly protected.