In this week’s episode of The Baggage Reclaim Sessions, Jolene Park, wellness coach, speaker, and former Baggage Reclaim student, joins me for a necessary conversation about gray area drinking. We delve into how our relationship with alcohol intersects with our emotional and psychological well-being.

Jolene shares her personal journey with alcohol, how it ties into dealing with anxiety, and the physiological aspects of drinking. I also share my personal journey with alcohol. We discuss the impact of trauma, societal norms around drinking, and the importance of addressing underlying issues. Whether you’re a gray area drinker or curious about your own relationship with alcohol, this episode provides valuable perspectives and practical advice.

IN THIS EPISODE…

• 00:48 On being an Adult Child of an Alcoholic
• 04:39 Introducing Jolene Park
• 07:49 What is gray area drinking?
• 09:55 Jolene’s story
• 13:35 Personal biochemistry, including GABA, and the effects of alcohol on the body
• 19:47 “That’s how I drink” – Connecting with our stories and experiences
• 21:23 The going back and forth on ourselves
• 23:25 The decision to quit alcohol
• 26:46 Relationship sobriety and Build Your Self-Esteem
• 30:49 Natalie’s story of her relationship with alcohol
• 32:21 Cultural and familial influences on drinking
• 37:39 The pivotal moment in Natalie’s twenties that began to shift her relationship with alcohol
• 38:38 Health challenges and sobriety
• 39:02 Social perceptions of drinking
• 40:12 Changing relationship with alcohol
• 40:56 Reflecting on alcohol’s impact
• 42:39 Evaluating personal alcohol use
• 53:40 The definitive line about alcohol from medical research
• 54:34 GABA, high histamine response, blood sugar responses and depletions and deficiencies
• 56:38 Fight, flee, fawn and freeze plus attachment and abandonment’s influence on why we drink
• 59:00 Societal comparisons and personal health
• 01:12:05 Next steps for addressing alcohol Use
• 01:14:19 Conclusion, final thoughts, and resources

LINKS MENTIONED AND RECOMMENDED RESOURCES

• Jolene Park’s website
• Jolene’s Instagram
• Jolene’s online program The Sober Choice TM
• 12 Weeks of Self-Esteem Torment 
• ‘Tis The Season NOT To Crush Your Self-Esteem (The 12 Weeks of Self-Esteem Torment) (ep 115)
• I am anxious about *something* (ep 210)
• Dating Anxiety & Why Efforts Don’t Equal Outcomes (ep 130)
• Jolene’s Gray Area Drinking Ted Talk 
• GABA and alcohol (Cleveland Clinic) 
• Alcohol and breast cancer – Breastcancer.org
• Alcohol and breast cancer – Cancer Research UK
• Future Faking
• Download my Feelings Diary Guide  
• Build Your Self-Esteem
• The activated charcoal tablets I use
• Join the waitlist for Reclaimed membership and save 50% off forever as a founding member
• Jolene’s newsletter and her note about the influencer culture around sobriety
• Emma Gannon talking about being ‘sober curious’ for The Guardian: I knew I didn’t have a drinking problem – but I had a problem with drinking
• Why Does Alcohol Mess With My Sleep? | NYT
• How Much is Too Much to Drink? | Columbia University
• Addiction. The Next Step. Crisis Toolkit
• NHS alcohol support resources

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