BODY

Week 7 – Alcohol Lied to Me: An Emotional Healing Coach's Year Without Alcohol

Q: Why quit alcohol completely instead of just cutting back?

For some people, taking a complete break can provide a clearer way to understand their relationship with alcohol and identify habits, triggers, and situations that make drinking difficult to moderate.

Q: Is alcohol really that inflammatory?

Alcohol can affect inflammatory and immune processes in the body, and higher or regular consumption is associated with a range of health risks. Individual effects can vary depending on drinking patterns and other factors.

Q: How does an emotional healing coach think about drinking habits?

An emotional healing coach may encourage you to explore the emotions, habits, social situations, stress, or fears that influence drinking rather than focusing only on the drink itself.

Q: What if I only drink socially, not daily?

Social drinking can still be influenced by habits, peer pressure, expectations, or fear of missing out. Reflecting on why and when you drink can help you decide whether your current pattern aligns with your goals.

Q: Is it normal to feel nervous about social events without alcohol?

Yes. If alcohol has been part of your social routine, changing that pattern can feel unfamiliar or uncomfortable at first. Planning alternatives and understanding your reasons for the change can make social situations easier to navigate.

hannanabid2000@gmail.com September 4, 2026

Welcome to Week 7. It’s a big one. I’m taking a major step by removing alcohol for 12 months, a habit I’ve delayed addressing. I have already eliminated five inflammatory foods: sugar, coffee, gluten, dairy, and preservatives, and now it’s time to confront the one habit I truly enjoy.

Quick Summary: An Emotional Healing Coach’s Reason for Quitting Alcohol

My dad used to say, “I don’t drink for the effects; I drink because I love it.” The apple didn’t fall far from the tree with me. However, if I’m serious about reducing inflammation and creating a healthier body, I can’t ignore alcohol any longer. As an emotional healing coach, I know habits like this are rarely about the drink itself; they’re about what the drink is covering up.

Why Alcohol Was the Hardest Habit to Face

I have always had the biggest FOMO when it comes to social drinking. I love to be the first to arrive and the last to leave, and in those moments, one drink can easily turn into ten, leaving me with blurred memories. As an emotional healing coach, I recognise that FOMO is what it is: a fear worth naming rather than drinking through. I want to learn how to enjoy social occasions without relying on alcohol, to confidently say no, and navigate our prevalent drinking culture without feeling left out.

The Series So Far

For years, I’ve used alcohol as a coping mechanism, drinking a bottle or two of wine a night to manage stress and fit into Australia’s ingrained drinking culture. But here’s the truth: alcohol is toxic. Beyond its reputation as a social lubricant, it contributes significantly to inflammation, forcing the liver and endocrine system to work overtime, producing stress hormones like cortisol and toxic byproducts that accumulate in the body.

What Alcohol Actually Does in the Body

My husband gave up alcohol seven years ago, and the book that helped him through that first year was Craig Beck’s Alcohol Lied to Me. I downloaded it too, and I’d recommend it if you’re thinking of removing or reducing alcohol. Craig argues that the “relaxation” we feel from a drink isn’t genuine pleasure; it’s the body briefly easing early withdrawal, meaning the system is constantly battling alcohol’s toxic effects even while we’re supposedly unwinding. That reframe was a wake-up call.

Research shows that even moderate alcohol consumption can elevate inflammatory markers in the blood over time. This cumulative toxin load damages physical health, disrupting sleep, impairing cognitive function, and upsetting hormonal balance, but it also undermines emotional well-being- the exact overlap an emotional healing coach looks at; the physical and emotional are never really separate.

Why an Emotional Healing Coach Asks “Why Am I Really Drinking?”

I’m currently diving into research on how these toxins affect the body, and it comes down to one question: do I care enough about my future? At 51, the choices I make now are different from those I made in my 20s, 30s, or 40s. I’m feeling the effect of age now, and if I want my future self vibrant, I need better decisions today.

The good news is I’ve already broken my daily bottle of wine habit, and that’s a huge win. Last year, at a low point in my health, I had to stop drinking altogether. Now that I’m on the mend, I enjoy the ritual of a drink and quickly realise I can’t handle it the way I used to. I keep asking myself: do I drink because of stress, out of habit, or fear of missing out? This is the same self-inquiry an emotional healing coach walks clients through, and the same one I explore with women inside Reclaim Her, part of the same 52-week journey that started with caffeine and sugar.

Conclusion

So here’s to Week 7: a 12-month, alcohol-free commitment. This journey isn’t just about health; it’s about changing habits, reconnecting with my body, and rebuilding a lifestyle that truly nourishes me from the inside out. I know it won’t be easy; I’m human after all, but I’m ready. It’s the same honest, no-quick-fix work I do as an emotional healing coach inside Transformational Coaching.

FAQs

Why quit alcohol completely instead of just cutting back?

Because moderation kept quietly failing me, the same way it did with sugar and caffeine. As an emotional healing coach would say, a full commitment gives a clearer answer than another round of “just one.”

Is alcohol really that inflammatory?

Yes. Even moderate drinking can raise inflammatory markers over time and puts extra strain on the liver and endocrine system.

How does an emotional healing coach think about drinking habits?

Less about the drink itself and more about what it’s covering: stress, habit, or fear of missing out, so the real pattern can be addressed.

What if I only drink socially, not daily?

The FOMO and social pressure around drinking can be just as hard to shift as a daily habit; it’s worth asking the same honest questions either way.

Is it normal to feel nervous about social events without alcohol?

Completely. Navigating a strong drinking culture sober takes practice, and it gets easier with a clear reason behind the choice.