If you’re like most of the women I coach, then I’m guessing your drinking tends to happen behind closed doors, in the kitchen or on your sofa at night. Hardly anyone else knows about it, because you do such a great job of hiding it. You don’t skip work or miss deadlines – you push through a hangover, no matter what. Because your drinking isn’t something you speak about, it often feels as if you’re the only woman in the world behaving this way. But the thing is, you’re not alone – as I explain in today’s video… Key points The only one? There are a few things that nearly all worried drinkers d ..read more

The morning after I’d been drinking, I’d often wake up in the early hours and wonder: “What the hell is wrong with me?” “Why do I keep doing this?” “Why can’t I just get my act together?” Lying in bed with my eyes closed and my head pounding, I had no idea that I was asking myself all the wrong things. If you’ve been drinking when you promised yourself you wouldn’t, there’s a much better question you should be asking instead. I explain what it is in this week’s video… Key points A better question to ask If you’re struggling to quit, the thing to ask yourself is this: “How does my drinking ma ..read more

Opening a bottle used to be my reward whenever I felt I’d worked hard or achieved something. So when I tried to “be good” and not drink, I’d last a few days, only to go and ruin it with wine Looking back now, it was crazy. But it may well be a pattern you can relate to. If it is, today’s blog will help! Key points Why this is such a sneaky thought It seems as if you’re just acknowledging your hard work and effort. But the “I’ve been so good” thought also creates feelings of deprivation and permissiveness. That combination of feelings stops sobriety from feeling good for you. So if this thou ..read more

In my drinking days, I must have googled “Am I an alcoholic?” so many times. I didn’t think I actually was an alcoholic, but my drinking was making me feel really bad. Fast forward to today and an awful lot has changed. Not only am I ten years sober, but my thoughts on the “alcoholic” label are a whole lot clearer. If you’re feeling as stuck and confused as I was, I hope today’s blog helps… Key points What is an alcoholic anyway? It’s a genuine question. How do you define it? Is it someone who regularly drinks above the recommended guidelines or often has more than they intended to? Or is it ..read more

Last night’s Oscars got me thinking about what makes a great movie. In all honesty, if a director had to make a film about my drinking story, it would be incredibly dull. Watching me fall asleep on the couch after ploughing through a bottle of wine, then going to work hiding a hangover? Not very interesting. But… that’s kind of my point. Real life isn’t like the movies. You don’t have to wait until something dramatic happens before you quit. That’s what I’m talking about in today’s video. Key points Playing the movie forward This is a visualisation technique you can use when you’re tempted t ..read more

Why do you drink? What benefit or service are you hoping alcohol will deliver? The answers to these questions look different for different people. But there’s one thing I can say for sure: No matter what problem you’re trying to mask or fix, alcohol will always ensure you end up with MORE of what you don’t want. Seriously. Whether it’s boredom, loneliness or something else… alcohol is quietly creating more of that problem for you, as I explain in today’s video. Key points Short-term distraction, long-term pain If you drink because you’re bored, alcohol will help you kill a bit of time initia ..read more

When I coach women to quit drinking, the topics I love the most are mindset and thought work. There’s so much deep stuff in there to explore. But before we get to that, I always spend some time making sure they’re getting the basics right. We all have some basic human needs that must be met. But you’d be surprised how many women aren’t doing this stuff at all! Watch this week’s video to make sure you’re not skipping over this either… Key points Why the basics matter Urges to drink will be stronger and more frequent when you aren’t taking care of yourself. When you fail to meet your basic hum ..read more

In my drinking days, I used to open a bottle for all kinds of reasons. Sometimes I’d drink because I wanted to feel less stressed. At other times I’d knock back a glass to help pep me up and get me into party mode. And then there were the days I drank to chill out and go to sleep. But when you really think about it… how can one liquid do all those different things? How can it provide all those different services? I think the idea that alcohol can do everything is a lie – and that’s exactly what today’s video is about. Key points A multi-purpose pill? Can you imagine if your doctor prescribed ..read more

If you’re reading this, I suspect you’re in a serious, long-term relationship with alcohol. ​Or perhaps you’ve recently separated? Or are on a break? Or maybe you eventually agreed to go your separate ways, only to keep hooking up at weekends? ​As the song goes, breaking up is hard to do. ​If you’re trying to end things with alcohol but are finding it difficult, the thoughts I share in this week’s video might help… Key points Like it or not, you have a relationship with alcohol Maybe you and alcohol are in an unhappy marriage right now? Or perhaps you’re having some time apart? Whatever stag ..read more

One of my clients said to me the other day: “Pouring a drink is just so EASY. It’s the easy option after a bad day.” Can you relate? I can. I totally understand why she believed that to be true, because I remember feeling the same way. And at first glance, pouring a glass of wine can certainly seem like the easy option… but the reality is actually the opposite. Not convinced? Don’t worry – I explain more in today’s video. Key points Why drinking can seem like the easy option If you’re comparing pouring a glass of wine to going to the gym, heading out for a walk or arranging a massage, then y ..read more