My So-called Sobriety
Growing up in the 80’s & 90’s was wild.
Sandwiched in-between The Muppets and MTV… my formative years were defined by radical weirdness… and media.
As a nerdy kid in a small town, TV was my steadfast companion.
Looking back, I’m both *grateful* for the exposure to the wonderful weirdness of a world greater than my own… and also *saddened* by the scars of capitalist, consumerist, perfection-mongering.
The messages we receive when we’re young leave a lasting impression.
And the general attitude that I absorbed when it came to “drugs and alcohol” went something like:
➡️ Drugs are bad.
🚫 Just say no.
➡️ Alcohol is normal.
🙅♀️ Just don’t be an Alcoholic.
And that part in there… the “alcohol is normal” part… proved particularly insidious.
The messaging was all around—growing up in a culture of drinking—humming commercial jingles and parroting those funny beer ads like:
🏍️ Rainnnnn neeeeer beeeeer
🐸 And the little bullfrogs that croaked Bud. WEIS… er.
Booze was everywhere, and it was part of life.
…but if you did it “wrong”… if you didn’t “drink responsibly”…
Well, that was clearly your fault.
👉 GETTING TO MY POINT:
The general consensus in our society has seemed [for my entire life, at least] to promote the consumption of alcoholic beverages as part of normal, everyday life. …and yet *simultaneously* demonized those who find themselves drinking “too much” or ::gasp:: become ADDICTED to this addictive substance.
🚨 NEWS FLASH 🚨
This positioning of “normal drinker” vs “problem drinker” is outdated!
The term “alcoholic” isn’t used in the medical realm. The DSM refers to Alcohol Use Disorder, which reflects a broad spectrum of use. (…and the criteria for AUD is remarkably achievable… I encourage a quick google search if you’re curious.)
There’s a ton of scientific evidence that points towards a new perspective—new treatments, new methodology—when it comes to alcohol use.
…but society hasn’t quite caught up yet.
Slowlyyyy, we’re starting to see more commercials for non-alcoholic beer, and zero-proof spirits are making their way through social channels.
The scales of advertising are starting to tip… and so is the conversation. ⚖️
We’re out here loud-quitting. 🙌
Speaking openly. 🙌
Helping each other feel better. 🙌
❤️🔥 TAKE IT FROM ME ❤️🔥
You don’t have to be an alcoholic.
You don’t have to wait for rock bottom.
You don’t even have to commit to FOREVER!
There’s a whole new way.
A gentle, compassionate way:
My new course—The Revolutionary Reset—is an efficient, effective, and accessible roadmap to change your relationship with alcohol.
💌 Drink less. Feel better. No labels.
www.jamiephillips.coach/revolutionary-reset
➡️ Was I drinking more than I wanted to? Yes.
➡️ Does that mean I did something wrong? That I didn’t “Drink Responsibly?” That I’m different somehow?? No.
➡️ Does that define me? Also no.
✔️ It just means that I’m human. …and alcohol is addictive to humans.
Life without it, to me, doesn’t feel like sobriety… it doesn’t seem “sober.” (though I don’t mind if others use those terms to describe me)
Existing in the world without the internal chaos created by alcohol feels brilliant. and peaceful. full of possibility. ✨
I’m not an “alcoholic.”
I’m not “sober.”
…I’m just free.
xo
