Ireland’s relationship to alcohol is changing – the alcohol freedom trend is on the rise. In particular, the younger generation and midlife women are breaking free from habitual alcohol use and benefiting in ways you can’t even imagine. In this Wholesome Path Blog, I share the many diverse reasons women of today are taking control of their relationship with alcohol.
More and more women are break free and break up with the booze, choosing to step away from alcohol, and the reasons are as individual as they are. From health and fertility to parenting, menopause, recovery and simply wanting more from life. Intentional mindful moderation and alcohol freedom can mean different things to different women. You don’t have to have a drinking problem to decide that alcohol isn’t working for you anymore.
“You don’t have to have a problem with alcohol or an alcohol use disorder to choose to change your relationship with alcohol or give it up altogether.”
There is such a broad range of reasons why women choose alcohol freedom, and not just because they may have developed an alcohol use disorder. In my practice over the past three years, I see as many women coming to psychotherapy and coaching to learn to change their relationship and attitudes with alcohol, moderate and cut down or cut out as I do women who actually need help for an alcohol use disorder (AUD) and binge drinking.
Why are women choosing to give up alcohol?
There are so many reasons women choose to give up alcohol or cut down and I feel its important to understand this so that you do not feel any shame around the decisions you are making right now. Decisions that ultimatly benefit your health, wellbeing, sanity and bank balance.
“While some women may be in active recovery and establishing sobriety, the large majority of women will be attracted to an alcohol free lifestyle because the emphasis is on positive health, wellbeing and creating a life that feels better without alcohol.”
These days, women are choosing to break the cycle and habit of alcohol use for their health, for fertility reasons, because they are taking medication, to improve their overall quality of life, to save money, or as a preventative way to maintain their health and wellbeing.
Many women in their 30s and 40s are also making the conscious decision to give up alcohol because they want to be a better parent and to make parenting and mothering feel easier at this phase and stage of their lives. They want to feel more present, have more energy, sleep better, and get more enjoyment from their family life.
For some women, giving up alcohol may be about supporting a partner who is in recovery or with chronic illness. Others may already be in long-term recovery themselves and want to continue building a life that supports their sobriety and wellbeing.
Some women choose to give up alcohol to help them give up cigarettes. It sounds unlikely however, giving up alcohol does making giving up cigarettes easier.
We know scientifically that alcohol causes many types of cancer. Increasingly women are sensitive to making lifestyles changes to reduce the risk of cancer and chronic disease. Cutting out alcohol if one of the top recommendations for women who are wishing to improve diet and nutrition and improving digestive and gut health. Cutting out alcohol is a no brainer when it comes to getting the basics right. Forget the low risk weekly guidelines, elimination and reduce use is what is healthiest in the immediate long-term.
Another lesser know factor why women give up alcohol is for improved skincare, skin tone and complexion. Healthier hair, nails, skin even teeth. No more puffy eyes, dry dehydrated skin and flushed cheeks from drinking too much wine.
That bloated feeling and look that many women develop from in particular excessive white wine consumption – the flushed red dilated broken blood vessels seek on the face, cheeks and eyes called rosacea or chronic telangiectasia. These symptoms from excessive prolonged alcohol intake quickly reduce in the week after giving up alcohol.
Women in their 50s and beyond may choose alcohol freedom to support themselves through perimenopause and menopause, common aches and pains or increasing fatigue. They may want to find a more wholesome path through this phase of life and make choices that support their sleep, energy, mood and overall wellbeing.
Other women may have been diagnosed with inflammatory, chronic or autoimmune conditions and decide to give up alcohol as part of a positive commitment to their health and an improved quality of life.
There really is a myriad of reasons why women choose to give up alcohol. You don’t have to have a drinking problem to decide that alcohol isn’t working for you anymore.
While some women may be in active recovery and establishing sobriety, the large majority of women will be attracted to an alcohol free lifestyle because the emphasis is on positive health, wellbeing and creating a life that feels better without alcohol.
“No more puffy eyes, dry dehydrated skin and flushed cheeks from drinking too much wine. That bloated feeling and look that many women develop from in particular excessive white wine consumption – the flushed red dilated broken blood vessels seek on the face, cheeks and eyes.”
Giving up alcohol even for a set period of time or a season can be about experimenting and making positive choices for your health, your relationships, your family, your energy, your money, your confidence and your future.
And perhaps most importantly, it’s about discovering that an alcohol-free life doesn’t have to feel like something you’ve given up. It can feel like something you’ve gained – putting you back in control of your alcohol consumption. So whether you choose to cut out, cut down or give up forever, the more you practice the easier it gets. No shame, no embarrassment, no secrecy – just simple healthy choices and decisions for a better lifestyle and quality of life.
Ready to change your relationship with alcohol? Book an initial appointment with Orlagh Reid who is located in Kildare, Ireland for an online therapy consultation hosted on Doxy, a telemedicine platform for health professionals. Orlagh is an IACP Accredited Psychotherapist, Addiction Counsellor and Coach passionate about supporting women to promote positive health and alcohol freedom and recovery. CLICK HERE TO BOOK NOW
RECENT BLOG ARTICLES
- 30 Signs You May Have a Problem With Alcohol
- What to Expect From Your First Sexual Recovery Therapy Session
- Some of my top alcohol help resources for women in Ireland
- The Wholesome Path Blog for womens alcohol freedom and positive health is now on SUBSTACK
- How Do Irish People Actually Talk About Sex? My Latest ‘Just Between Us’ Podcast Interview with Jennifer Zamparelli
