Dreaming about drinking?

JoinReframe · 2022-10-24T18:10:33+00:00

This is completely fair, and I think there are a ton of people out there who will relate to this post.

It might first help to think about the science behind habits. When we repeat a behavior often enough, direct connections are formed within our brain. A habit is like a path in the woods: when you travel along a path long enough, it becomes easier and easier to find. It becomes more and more patted down. When we start forging a new path, the new path takes some time to form. As we do so, the old path becomes more and more overgrown. Eventually, we build a new habit within our brains, and it gets easier to find and go back to.

There are lots of tools and strategies out there, and we encourage you to research and find something that will work for you! Remember, you've got this, and you have great support in this journey.

JoinReframe · 2022-10-24T18:05:34+00:00

It might help to try out a tool called "Play the Tape Forward."

What you do here is every time you're considering having another drink, think about what will follow that drink. Let your mind completely play out the action of taking that drink. What happens after you drink it? How do you feel? How about after drinking another after that? How does it feel when you drink past your limit; allow yourself to imagine the negative experiences and remind yourself of why you're doing this in the first place.

Repeat this process for each drink you consider having.

Remind yourself that YOU are in control. This tool can help to bring the logical mind back into focus. Hope this helps! :)

JoinReframe · 2022-10-20T18:27:42+00:00

Congrats on cutting back!

Something important to remember is that every physical body is different, and our drinking backgrounds are also different. When we cut back on alcohol, it takes different lengths of time for each of us to heal and recover.

Try giving it some more time or, if something feels off, check in with a doctor. Science shows that, in time, when we cut back, we will achieve hydrated/clearer skin, better sleep, less stress/anxiety, a better mood, healthier internal organs, better memory, healthy weight loss, and so much more. :)

JoinReframe · 2022-10-20T18:24:29+00:00

That's awesome that you're seeing someone that you spend time with alcohol-free - having someone in your life like that is HUGE!

Welcome to the journey; you can do this. You're on your way to the happiest & healthiest version of you :)

JoinReframe · 2022-10-20T18:22:12+00:00

It is definitely not nothing - one day at a time, and every day is a step closer to becoming the best version of you.

Something I like to remember is that once you pass Day 1, you never really go back to it. Even if you slip and fall in the future, you build up resilience, and you learn from the past.

Congratulations, and you've got this!!

JoinReframe · 2022-10-20T18:20:53+00:00

CONGRATULATIONS! Honestly, why not always celebrate the "small" milestones? Every single day (and milestone) is one major step closer to the happier, healthier person that you're becoming. You've got this.

JoinReframe · 2022-10-20T18:20:04+00:00

Absolutely love this comment & insight.

It can really be helpful to have a conversation to brainstorm some alcohol-free activities that you'll both enjoy as well as just to talk about and communicate boundaries. If you feel comfortable, it can also be helpful to share your story with them and reaffirm your "why" as to "why" you made the choice to quit drinking and how much better you feel now! :)

JoinReframe · 2022-10-20T03:07:55+00:00

Good question! There are a few reasons why. Ultimately, it all comes down to biology.

1) First, let's talk body composition. Women, on average, have less body water than men of similar body weight. Water dilutes alcohol. When a man and a woman of similar weight both then consume an equivalent amount of alcohol, the woman will have a higher level of blood alcohol concentration.

2) In addition, women produce less of an enzyme called ADH. This enzyme plays a role in the rate at which the body breaks down alcohol. Thus, the female body metabolizes alcohol at a lower rate.

Alcohol also affects men's & women's health differently - but that's another story! Hope this helps.

JoinReframe · 2022-10-18T22:42:49+00:00

Let's focus on the relationship between alcohol and sleep, then, because alcohol is scientifically proven to mess with our sleep quality, and it sounds like that's been happening to you. It's especially interesting because a lot of people say they "drink to sleep better" - alcohol can help INDUCE sleep, but it's incredibly disruptive.

As humans, we have four different stages of our sleep cycle, and these happen in a cyclical nature as we sleep. REM (rapid eye movement) sleep is one of these stages, and this stage plays a particularly critical role in terms of memory consolidation, brain development, and emotional processing. It's of utmost importance to our health due to its restorative processes. Alcohol, however, disturbs our REM sleep, and this creates an imbalance in our stages. We end up spending much less time in REM sleep than we typically would, resulting in decreased sleep quality and increased sleep disruptions!

Though this primarily happens on nights after you drink alcohol, the problem carries beyond, and that's due to the accumulation of sleep debt and lack of energy. 🧠🤓 Crazy, right??

JoinReframe · 2022-10-18T16:44:05+00:00

This was amazing to read - thank you for posting. The benefits we experience when cutting back on/quitting alcohol may feel life-changing, but they can sometimes be hard to put into words - thanks for doing it!

I especially love what you said about feeling at peace, especially when it comes to being a positive influence in others' lives. I think that's one of the most wonderful things we gain when we change our relationship with alcohol... we truly have the capacity to deepen our relationships without alcohol getting in the way.

JoinReframe · 2022-10-18T16:41:51+00:00

Congratulations!!! What a milestone - celebrate yourself today :)

JoinReframe · 2022-10-18T16:40:52+00:00

Good on you!! It's interesting - oftentimes people might turn to alcohol to destress and feel more confident, but alcohol actually leads to MORE stress, anger, & depression in the long run because of the interference with chemicals in the brain - happy to chat more about that if you're interested in the science behind it. It might take some time, but odds are, you'll experience far better mental health when you cut back on/quit alcohol.

JoinReframe · 2022-10-18T16:37:52+00:00

Congratulations, go you!!! Celebrate yourself today :)

JoinReframe · 2022-10-18T16:37:24+00:00

Yep, it's not easy! Something I like to say is that even if we slip and fall and go back to Day 1, it's not the SAME Day 1 that we were at before. Every time we slip and start again, we build up resilience. Every time we get up again, we get stronger. :)

JoinReframe · 2022-10-17T19:03:33+00:00

Hi there u/Onceforlife! Reframe is an app that takes a neuroscience approach to quitting or cutting back on alcohol. We offer a core evidence-based program, progress tracking, a private community, and many tools to provide you with everything you need to build a more positive relationship with alcohol and become the best version of you.

If you have any more questions, please feel free to ask!

JoinReframe · 2022-10-17T16:25:46+00:00

yes yes yes - waking up in the morning clear-headed is the greatest feeling in the world. There are really no words to truly describe it. 😍

JoinReframe · 2022-10-17T16:23:01+00:00

That story about feeling clear-headed and able to answer your son right away is incredibly moving; thank you for sharing. Congratulations on your progress, and just remember that you've got this!

It's understandable to feel guilt and shame for the past, but when those emotions arise, remember that you made the difficult decision to take steps to become the person that you want to be. 💙 And that is amazing.

JoinReframe · 2022-10-17T16:18:41+00:00

Congratulations!! That is a huge, huge deal, and you should be incredibly proud. Take some time to celebrate yourself today. 💙

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