In this week’s episode of The Baggage Reclaim Sessions, Jolene Park, wellness coach, speaker, and former Baggage Reclaim student, joins me for a necessary conversation about gray area drinking. We delve into how our relationship with alcohol intersects with our emotional and psychological well-being.
Jolene shares her personal journey with alcohol, how it ties into dealing with anxiety, and the physiological aspects of drinking. I also share my personal journey with alcohol. We discuss the impact of trauma, societal norms around drinking, and the importance of addressing underlying issues. Whether you’re a gray area drinker or curious about your own relationship with alcohol, this episode provides valuable perspectives and practical advice.
IN THIS EPISODE…
- 00:48 On being an Adult Child of an Alcoholic
- 04:39 Introducing Jolene Park
- 07:49 What is gray area drinking?
- 09:55 Jolene’s story
- 13:35 Personal biochemistry, including GABA, and the effects of alcohol on the body
- 19:47 “That’s how I drink” – Connecting with our stories and experiences
- 21:23 The going back and forth on ourselves
- 23:25 The decision to quit alcohol
- 26:46 Relationship sobriety and Build Your Self-Esteem
- 30:49 Natalie’s story of her relationship with alcohol
- 32:21 Cultural and familial influences on drinking
- 37:39 The pivotal moment in Natalie’s twenties that began to shift her relationship with alcohol
- 38:38 Health challenges and sobriety
- 39:02 Social perceptions of drinking
- 40:12 Changing relationship with alcohol
- 40:56 Reflecting on alcohol’s impact
- 42:39 Evaluating personal alcohol use
- 53:40 The definitive line about alcohol from medical research
- 54:34 GABA, high histamine response, blood sugar responses and depletions and deficiencies
- 56:38 Fight, flee, fawn and freeze plus attachment and abandonment’s influence on why we drink
- 59:00 Societal comparisons and personal health
- 01:12:05 Next steps for addressing alcohol Use
- 01:14:19 Conclusion, final thoughts, and resources
LINKS MENTIONED AND RECOMMENDED RESOURCES
- Jolene Park’s website
- Jolene’s Instagram
- Jolene’s online program The Sober Choice TM
- 12 Weeks of Self-Esteem Torment
- ‘Tis The Season NOT To Crush Your Self-Esteem (The 12 Weeks of Self-Esteem Torment) (ep 115)
- I am anxious about *something* (ep 210)
- Dating Anxiety & Why Efforts Don’t Equal Outcomes (ep 130)
- Jolene’s Gray Area Drinking Ted Talk
- GABA and alcohol (Cleveland Clinic)
- Alcohol and breast cancer – Breastcancer.org
- Alcohol and breast cancer – Cancer Research UK
- Future Faking
- Download my Feelings Diary Guide
- Build Your Self-Esteem
- The activated charcoal tablets I use
- Join the waitlist for Reclaimed membership and save 50% off forever as a founding member
- Jolene’s newsletter and her note about the influencer culture around sobriety
- Emma Gannon talking about being ‘sober curious’ for The Guardian: I knew I didn’t have a drinking problem – but I had a problem with drinking
- Why Does Alcohol Mess With My Sleep? | NYT
- How Much is Too Much to Drink? | Columbia University
- Addiction. The Next Step. Crisis Toolkit
- NHS alcohol support resources
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- Baggage Reclaim Facebook page
The post Gray Area Drinking and Our Relationship with Alcohol appeared first on Baggage Reclaim with Natalie Lue.