19/06/2026
Was it necessary? Depends how you view your health I guess. I had my last drink April 18th 2025.
I can't take HRT due to the cancer diagnosis in 2012. So I'm having to find workarounds to all the joyful experiences I'm having. Dizziness, brain fog, what was the third thing...?
I just needed to give my body the best possible conditions. Do I feel AMAZING? Nope I feel normal... menopausal. But its given me a different slant on drinking. I've grappled with it tbh, since my diagnosis. On again off again. Partly because binge drinking has been linked to breast cancer but also because chemo feels like a hangover in parts. Had enough of that thanks.
However this time I've gone deep and asked myself what I really want? Do I really want to drink? And the answer is no. I used to feel pressure to drink and I'd got a bunch of glitchy social conditioning around it so I'd do it on autopilot. I suppose I do feel better without it. Settled. Regulated. Able to access peace much easier. But I have had to work at that.
Alcohol brings us fleeting feelings of relaxation and feel good. But it only really acts as a trigger. The feeling is in your body already. Accessing it is another matter though. That takes practice.
I started meditation π§ββοΈ after my diagnosis and got pretty good at it. The more I access peace, the easier it is to engage it when I'm in drinky situations. I flow easier now, relax and let go.
I'm not mentally tussling with not having a drink. It just is. I don't have a drink.
Now it has stopped being an achievement and has started being a way of life. I might drink again. I can. But probably won't. I like it like this.
Also thanks to the "I am Sober" app. It's ace.
This is my long-winded way of saying... if I set up a meditation group... would anyone come? I will serve herbal tea π΅ and dark chocolate π« and a dollop of peace on the side.