Sobriety Rocks - Who Knew! | Janey Lee Grace | TEDxNorwichED

I have a question I would like you to ask yourself what would be better my life physically and emotionally without alcohol is the question I asked myself regularly the answer was always yes but I didn't really like that answer I prefer to keep drinking so come with me back to 2017 or 2016 or in fact 20 years before that, it's 3 a.m. m. I woke up again, the ceiling is spinning Oh God, how much did I drink? Oh, I had one with lunch, we shared a bottle with dinner or was it two? Why can't I stop drinking? I'm going to make a deal with God Lord, if you will listen to me, please, I have a very busy day tomorrow, please let me avoid the hangover and I swear I will never touch a cacern again It's 6 p.m. the next day and a very cheerful voice is in my ear oh, this adds up to penol time for a sneaky glass of Sauvignon Blanc it's wine o'clock you're not drinking what are you talking about you're not drinking of course you're drinking sober and a gram from Boar's you've had such a busy day you deserve it it's your gift alcohol is good for you I've read it in the press it's good for your heart in moderation so just have one make it a great one the first voice that you heard was my conscience, the second was the voice of the wine, the Beast, the addictive voice in my head.

You see, I had an addictive voice in my head and an ex-American. Social worker Jack Shrinkie drank heavily for 20 years and refused to believe he was powerless against alcohol. He founded rational recovery and wrote a book of the same name and identified that some people have this addictive voice, but if we can recognize it, I can take full responsibility for our recovery. I also didn't have a switch to turn off when it came to alcohol. Finally I couldn't stop, although it was time and I decided to try it dry in January 2018 hoping to start again in February, but in fact I never did.

I looked back, a whole new world opened up before me, and I discovered, to quote author Katherine Gray's most perfect book title, the unexpected joy of getting sober only to make it clear that I never had a bottom moment. I didn't fall. By

grace

I didn't drive under the influence I didn't miss a day of work I didn't really have a hangover so God kept his end of the deal I was what is known as a high functional butt oh how I wish I had tried all kinds of therapies over the years I had kinesiology and reflexology I had aromatherapy and craniosacral therapy I saw EFT and TFT and NLP ABC therapists I saw the GP and sometimes I would ask him if he can help me.

I'm worried I'm drinking too much. and the answer was always a few glasses of wine a night seems pretty normal to me because alcohol is normalized in our society it's everywhere it's ingrained it's the social glue that holds everything together from baby showers baptisms rookie week weddings parties funerals barbecues celebrations condolences and everything in between and, you see, we have been brainwashed into thinking that there are only two types of drinkers: those who are dependent on alcohol to the core and everyone else is a happy social drinker who is occasionally a not very light and cannot support their weight. beer, in fact, the reality is very different, it is a spectrum.

I highly recommend getting off the alcohol elevator before it hits rock bottom. In her excellent TED talk, Joline Park identified gray areas in drinking. I estimate there are at least 50 shades of gray and definitely not. sexy and you know when people decide to give up alcohol so often that they are ridiculed when they are sober, shamed instead of being congratulated for the sober heroes they really are, you see there is something wrong with alcohol, alcohol is the only drug that we have to justify. I don't drink it and you know, here are just some little statistics for you based on alcohol change in the UK, alcohol is linked to 200 diseases including 7 different types of cancer, liver disease is on the rise, 29,000 people suffer from it and the cost to the NHS is £3.5 billion.

A year later, the World Commission on Drug Policy found that, when taking into account not only harm to the individual but also harm to others, family breakdown, the impact of crime on the economy, the impact on service For health, alcohol ranks first among the most harmful drugs, but I can already hear you thinking Next, that's not me, I don't cause anyone any harm, but a recent search for life survey found that 24 million people in the United Kingdom admit that they self-medicate by drinking alcohol daily to relieve their stress and anxiety. And that's really ironic because alcohol is a depressant, it doesn't cause mental health problems, but it sure exacerbates them.

There is good news: the tide is slowly turning and we are starting to stop drinking in the UK. Many Millennials are choosing not to. drink we have the rise of the sober, curious and conscious drinking movement, and this is confirmed by the huge rise in popularity of low and no alcohol drinks brought to us by the big players, as well as artists, bands and breweries. and you know that people who decide to stop drinking find some amazing benefits people report better sleep better sex weight regulated they report clearer skin better eyesight who

knew

and here's a thing sober hair yes, shiny and delicious appearance people report that their anxiety dissipates and they feel noticeably happier many people say they find a sense of purpose they discover that they can suddenly take on new challenges they can start a new career they can start a charity they can write the book they always wanted to write you see that alcohol it steals the joy that is needed away from your spirit literally and being sober can make you brave if you decided to review your relationship with alcohol you would be in very good company sober celebrities include, to name just a few, Zac Efron Kim Cattrall Elton John Russell Brand Zoe ball Brad Pitt I could go on, maybe that's why they look so good, so I'll ask you again: could my relationship with alcohol disappear?

Could I feel better physically and emotionally without him? If the answer is possibly yes, then I urge you to challenge yourself to 30 days 60 days 90 days even better because detox is good for absolutely everyone, but don't try to do it alone, seek support, encouragement and motivation so you can focus no in what you are giving up but in what we are gaining, you see that the opposite of addiction is connection and there is so much support now that it is literally changing. We all know about Alcoholics Anonymous and smart recovery, but there are online communities like Club Soda, there's a whole conscious drinking movement, including festivals. dry bars popping up in towns and cities across the UK sober meetups sober morning raves there are sober dating apps and sober karaoke I'd like to try that one there are huge amounts of quit smoking books, books on giving up and podcasts so try and make some new habits so you can forge new neural pathways in the brain.

I just have a word of warning for you, although when you've been sober for a few weeks or maybe months, you may find yourself somewhere where alcohol is available. it could be a bar it could be a party it could be your kitchen and suddenly the wine will come calling to you and she will whisper in your ear well done you got this you can have a drink now just the one I would like you to remember the excellent TED talk by Amy Cuddy. Your body language shapes who you are. Strike a power pose. Look at the wine, which one in the eyes and say: Here, thank you, now, out, thank you.