Alcohol steals happiness from tomorrow.
Not only does it steal it, but it makes you pay it back, with interest.
It’s the worst kind of lender, offering you the worst kind of deal.
In these uncertain times, we talk a lot about the cost of different things… but there’s never much chatter about the cost of ‘borrowing’ certain feelings from booze.
You’ll pay a high price for the feelings you hope alcohol will deliver.
That’s what this video is all about.
Key points:
A costly loan
Every single feeling you hope alcohol will provide you with, you will pay for by experiencing the opposite emotion later on. You want to drink to feel happy? Fine. But in a few hours you won’t feel that, you’ll be withdrawing from alcohol and feeling bad.
You want to drink to feel calm? Fine – but later on you won’t feel calm at all. You’ll have that morning-after hangxiety, the horrible mixture of alcohol-induced anxiety, a hangover and whatever else was making you feel anxious in the first place.
An inferior experience
The really big rip-off is that when you ‘borrow’ feelings from alcohol, all it can lend you is a poor-quality imitation. For example, the relaxation that you think you get with drinking, is never quite as good as the true bliss that comes from being genuinely relaxed.
The sense of connection you might experience with someone when you’re both drinking is never quite as meaningful as the connection you create when you’re both fully present and truly in the moment.
Work out what it’s costing you
If you’ve been looking at your monthly outgoings recently, why not take a moment to look at what alcohol is costing you financially and mentally?
Take note of what alcohol is costing you in cold, hard cash – it’ll be more than you think. Then look at the cost to your wellbeing. In uncertain times, your mental health is more important than ever. No matter what’s going on in your life, drinking won’t help. It doesn’t change anything or make it easier to deal with.
Ready to stop borrowing from the bank of booze? My Getting Unstuck coaching programme will help you break free and create an alcohol-free life you love. Click here for more details.
33 responses
Great message
Totally relate to this! The cost of “borrowing” from booze just got too high for me. Happily AF and enjoying my real emotions.
I love the way you break things down. Your examples really help. Im starting my journey today. I was doing so well then drank this weekend and feel rubbish mentally and physically today.. Its just not worth it!
You’re so right “it’s just not worth it”! Have you listened to my blog about weekend drinking? I think it might help you…https://thesoberschool.com/being-good-monday-thursday/
I so much enjoy your weekly/ bi weekly inspirations. It keeps me on track AF! Thank you and I am so much aware that drinking has it’s price…..a very high price emotionally and physically.
Thanks again
Cheryl
I am 14 days alcohol free but just finding it hard to stay focussed today. Good to refocus the mind on why I am trying to be AF x
Well done Toni, keep going! Have a listen to this blog I wrote earlier this year about reaffirming your reasons why choosing an AF lifestyle is the best way to live! https://thesoberschool.com/knowing-your-reasons-3-tips-for-finding-your-why/
Thanks Kate,I find your ideas really helpful, I have been trying to give up but fluctuating at the moment. No booze tonight thanks to you
Good for you Greta, you’ll thank yourself in the morning. 🙂 This is a good blog to revisit “playing the movie forward” because it reminds you that it’s not just the short term relief that you need to consider: https://thesoberschool.com/playing-the-movie-to-the-end/
This is great. I tried to “change the way I feel” with alcohol for over 22 years. To put it bluntly, it nearly killed me. I’ve been sober for just over 10 years – very grateful I stopped “borrowing”. I love the way your message simply states the no return aspect. All alcohol does in fact is take x
Absolutely!
Am I an alcoholic? Can I drink on a cruise or at a big party?
Try asking yourself a different question – is this good enough for me to stay the same? Here’s an earlier blog about the ‘alcoholic’ label, I hope it helps: https://thesoberschool.com/am-i-an-alcoholic/
Hi Kate , I’m starting my journey from today , your video puts me in a good mindset , thank you
Kathryn
You’re welcome and if you need any more support, my online ‘stop drinking’ course will help: https://thesoberschool.com/course/
wow going through a tough time was on anti depressents and now weaned off them and started to self medicate with alcohol to sleep your message has really made me think about things, thank you
It can be a lonely journey when you’re doing this on your own. If you need any support, my online coaching programme would be a great fit for you and there’s a class coming up in October. Here are some more details: https://thesoberschool.com/course/
So true. Thank you for the pep talk! ❤️
So very true and wll put! I certainly need to get out of this poisioness drinking cycle, my sober days are far in between but I wake up feeling good when I go to bed sober.
I’m not borrowing from the bank of booze they have been ripping us all off xx well done Kate
This really resonated with me Kate. I drink to relax and to numb my feelings after losing my daughter. I know it doesn’t help really but it numbs the pain temporarily. I want to stay AF but it is so hard. I hate my reliance on alcohol.
I’m so sorry to hear of your loss and I can help you with finding healthier coping mechanisms. I’d be honoured to work with you within my forthcoming ‘Getting Unstuck’ course that runs in October, details here: https://thesoberschool.com/course/
So true! But is there ever a time you don’t have thoughts about alcohol
Absolutely! As your world grows, your thoughts about alcohol decrease. Don’t take my word for it, have a listen to some of my previous students talking about their amazing breakthroughs: https://thesoberschool.com/success-stories/
I’m SO ready!
Just when I thought I’d heard it all Kate, you created this mind blowing, video that describes in great detail exactly what is going on here! Truth be told, I agree that alcohol is a mean, hungry shark that does not care about me and does in fact harm me!
Just quit again, last drink on 9/10/22. This video really hit me hard. It’s EXACTLY what I’ve been experiencing every single time that I drink. I want out of this fish bowl and away from the shark lol
❤️
I’ve read many blogs about trying to eliminate or decrease alcohol and have to say, yours are the most that resonates and makes sense to me. The biggest saying you made for me is that alcohol is a joy thief. It’s robbed me of many ‘next days’, weddings, lunch with friends, dog walks, appointments and so on. Constantly feeling ashamed and disappointed in myself. Turning up for work feeling awful and just waiting to sleep. That said, I’ve still not managed to stop my binge drinking of 2 bottles, 2-3,times a week. I have put myself down for October’s course.
It’s all about changing mindset and that’s exactly what I teach and coach women about inside my course. I look forward to working with you Sue, because the world is bigger and brighter on the other side 🙂
So true. I certainly don’t miss hangovers and regret. Waking up feeling refreshed and ready for the day ahead is priceless. Thankyou
A brilliant analogy. Day 67 for me, and feeling so much better. It is, though, always good to have another tool in the sobriety toolkit, and your analogy is exactly that. Thank you for the help you have given–and continue to give–me.
I literally connected with everything you said I feel terrible pretty much everytime I drink! I feel even worse than before I had the drink or two or three but literally feel dreadful physically and mentally after. I have been trying to find the perfect time to start but I can’t afford to waste anymore time nursing body aches and anxiety so I begin on a quest to be free and happy !
When is the perfect time to stop drinking? I guess you’ve probably asked yourself that question many times. I wrote a blog about this very topic, have a listen here: https://thesoberschool.com/right-time-to-quit-drinking/
Very thought provoking and makes so much sense. Thank you!