Episode 77: Your Top Questions Answered, Part 1

Jul 15

In today's episode of Euphoric The Podcast, Karolina answers the most common questions she hears when it comes to alcohol and an alcohol-free lifestyle. In part 1, she takes on the role of alcohol-free drinks (are they okay?) and how to answer whether or not you’re an alcoholic. Get excited about the growing alcohol-free drink movement and why the paradigm of alcoholic versus normal drinker is exactly the black and white thinking the alcohol industry wants you to believe.

The Become Euphoric Group Coaching Program is open for enrollment this week! This intimate, high-level, high-touch experience will completely renegotiate the role of alcohol in your life over 10 weeks. Registration begins now and the program begins on July 26th, 2021!

The role of alcohol-free drinks

Science has proven that although drinking gives the illusion of calming you down or helping you unwind, it actually releases stress hormones in the body. Alcohol kills brain cells, so when you feel like you're unwinding, it is because your brain is shutting down and unable to function properly. A few hours after drinking, the body begins releasing cortisol, adrenaline, and dynorphin. It makes you feel on edge, anxious, and depressed after drinking.

You can unwind with a drink, but it would actually work better if it didn’t have any ethanol in it!

There are new alcohol-free drink companies that create complex, adult beverages that have a huge depth of flavor. Some of these new companies mimic wine, beer, and even spirits, while others focus more on creating something entirely different.

The beauty is that you get to discover and explore what works for you. It may be something simple like coconut water or Spindrift. Maybe you want something more complex like Kin Euphorics, Curious Elixirs, Seed Lip, or Monday Gin. If you are looking for a wine alternative you could look into Acid League.

The point is, finding alcohol-free beverages that you love is a unique experience. Have fun exploring so you don’t feel deprived.

While drinking alcohol is the predominant culture right now, we’re seeing a huge shift towards more alcohol-free options. By supporting companies that are taking on the alcohol industry, we are showing them and others that it is possible to enjoy life in abundance without alcohol.

Get curious and have fun. Becoming alcohol-free does not mean depriving yourself. Exploring and trying new drinks is a way to continue feeling pampered and glamorous and enjoy life without negative side effects.

Understanding labels and their impact

Did you know the American Psychiatric Association no longer uses the terms “alcoholic” and “alcoholism”? As of 2013, individuals are now diagnosed with Alcohol Use Disorder, a spectrum which is broken into three vastly different categories: mild, moderate, and severe.

Severe Alcohol Use Disorder is characterized by a physical addiction to alcohol, drinking heavily and most likely daily, and experiencing very serious consequences and negative side effects as a result of alcohol.

On the other end of the spectrum, Mild Alcohol Use Disorder is quite common and can be diagnosed through answering yes to two simple questions:

“Have you ever had a craving for alcohol?”

“Have you ever regretted drinking?”

How would most drinkers answer those questions?

Studies show that most adults do not drink in the stereotypical alcoholic way, but they do drink unhealthily.

Health guidelines state that a female should limit their alcohol use to one drink per day while a male shouldn’t have more than two drinks per day. However, these amounts have been declining as more information is discovered about the impact and risks of consuming alcohol.

Despite these recommendations, the reality is most people do not stop after one drink. Between the years of 2000 and 2020, the rate of alcohol consumption has increased, especially for women. During the 80’s and 90’s, “mommy juice” and neighborhood breweries were virtually non-existent. Today, entire communities exist around each of them.

Unlike the term alcohol-free, the labels “alcoholic” and “alcoholism” create a black and white perspective on drinking. It’s either normal to drink or abnormal to not drink. When the narrative is that only alcoholics quit drinking, it prevents others from seeing an alcohol-free lifestyle as an option.

If our culture normalized an attitude of being curious about your relationship with alcohol, it’s likely that more people would question the role that alcohol plays in their life and choose to experiment with breaks or become alcohol-free.

Questioning your relationship with alcohol is one of the most counter-cultural, brave, and strong things that a person can do today in our society.

Challenging mental blocks and changing your relationship with alcohol

Alcohol is a $252 billion dollar industry that feeds off our insecurities.

Challenging these societal narratives and learned belief systems is an opportunity to create freedom and possibility in your life. Going alcohol-free opens the door to design a life that you love.

Twice a year I host a 10-week group coaching program that allows women a space to renegotiate the role alcohol plays in their life. Meeting each week, you’ll create relationships with incredible women making alcohol insignificant in their lives so they can step into their bigger dreams. This program is an intimate, high-level, and high-touch experience that will empower you to transform your life.

Starting on July 26th, discover more joy, passion, and adventure as you change your relationship with alcohol and go after your biggest dreams.

If you're interested in a highly intuitive, super spiritual, loving, scientific, and positive psychological approach to changing your relationship with alcohol you need to join us in the Becoming Euphoric Group Coaching Program

“Most people, like I said, don't drink alcoholic-ly; they drink unhealthily. So if we just agree that most people are drinking unhealthily, then when you question the relationship of alcohol in your life, you are actually becoming one of the most brave, intuitive, and forward thinking people in your circle. You are a leader in this.” Karolina Rzadkowolska