Whispers of an ‘alcoholic’ father felt constant in Elizabeth’s home as a child, leading her to associate alcohol with secrecy and shame. With this stigma in mind, she successfully kept alcohol at the fringes of her life for many years. It wasn’t until she moved after college that alcohol started to find its way in - as a crutch to lean on to make new friends in a new place. As the years passed and alcohol slipped more deeply into Elizabeth’s day-to-day life, the word ‘alcoholic’ lurked continually in the back of her mind, but she didn’t know if the term truly applied to her. Then, a joke her children made, calling her an alcoholic, made her stop in her tracks. Was she? This led Elizabeth to try her hand at moderation, but like so many of us it did not work at all. Thinking she needed something more, Elizabeth took a break from drinking. In that break she experienced something majorly eye opening - the pure joy she could feel during a night of sober partying. She didn’t need alcohol to have fun! It was then that the puzzle pieces started to come together. Finally, This Naked Mind and Quit Like a Woman clued her into the ways in which alcohol was harming her, and during her preparation for a vacation where alcohol would be center stage she realized… she didn’t want to drink anymore. In that moment she became spontaneously sober! Elizabeth is now four months sober and she wants you to know: Yes, sometimes it is hard, but you will never regret a night when you don’t drink. Are you searching for a community to support you in your sobriety? Try our NEW and IMPROVED Cafe FREE for a week! We have more meetings, more hosts and even more connection. Join here for $40/month and get a week free! In addition to daily peer support meetings, you’ll get access to the exclusive Cafe social feed, our monthly book club, the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, merch discounts and so much more. We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you’ll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed (like Facebook, but better!), the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting. My mocktail recipe book, ‘No Ethanol Needed’ is finally here! Grab your copy here: https://mykindofsweet.com/2024/01/the-no-ethanol-needed-mocktail-ebook-is-here/ Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices