This week, we explored Jason’s incredibly honest journey from being a committed social drinker to embracing full alcohol freedom. Here are the key takeaways from our conversation:

The Insidious Nature of Habit: For many, the struggle with alcohol isn't a dramatic "rock bottom" moment, but rather the quiet, insidious habit that creeps up by stealth. Jason shares how easily consumption rises from a glass with dinner to a few glasses, turning into a cycle of drinking and recovery.

The Delayed Epiphany: Jason reminds us that we shouldn't wait for a sudden, magical moment of clarity. For him, the true realisation of sobriety's benefits only occurred after he tried drinking again, allowing him to see the stark contrast between his drinking and non-drinking self.

Challenging the "Reward" Myth: The biggest barrier to quitting is the belief that alcohol is intrinsically linked to relaxation and fun. We discussed how reframing this is vital; you are not missing out on the reward, you are just replacing short-term dopamine spikes with sustainable oxytocin (long-term wellbeing and connection).

Shifting Focus to Living Well: Sobriety eventually stops being about "not drinking" and starts being about discovering how to live the best version of your life. As Jason notes, this includes having the energy to play with your children and tackling major life challenges, like moving across the world.

Jason’s Practical Advice:

Allow yourself a period of time off to gain understanding and question old habits.

Reintroduce social situations gradually (start with one or two close friends).

Don't be afraid to use modern non-alcoholic options; as Jason found, nobody is usually the wiser!

Reframe your social role: Volunteering to be the designated driver can provide a positive, satisfying form of feedback.

Jason’s three words to describe becoming an Alcohol Freedom Finder were: Freedom, Emotions, and Happiness.

Our 30-day group programme:
https://www.cleanlifecoaching.org/aff-group

The podcast home page
https://podcast.alcoholfreedomfinders.com/

Justine Clark
https://justineclarktherapy.co.uk/
https://www.instagram.com/wellwithjustine/

Barry Condon
https://www.cleanlifecoaching.org/
https://www.instagram.com/clean.life.coaching/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/barry-condon-577b85294/