Chanice stops drinking alcohol
"My circle didn't understand"
Chanice Janssens (31) often found dinners and nights out more enjoyable with a drink. But she also sometimes drank when she felt bad, to suppress emotions. She decided to quit alcohol altogether.
"When I first decided to stop drinking, others didn't quite understand. I didn't drink every day, I wasn't hurting anyone, I was actually very sociable with a drink, and blowing off steam now and then isn't so bad. These were arguments I also used for a long time to convince myself to keep drinking; my drinking wasn't that bad, was it? Yet, somewhere, I knew my relationship with alcohol wasn't healthy.
Indeed, I didn't drink every day. I also wasn't someone who would open a bottle of wine alone at home. I mainly drank when I was with others because I found it so enjoyable. Still, it was often more than I had intended. It never stopped at two drinks; it quickly became eight glasses. It also took longer and longer for me to recover from a night out.
At one point, I asked myself: okay, is this worth it? I actually wanted to focus on my health. A few years prior, I had been hit by a car while cycling, and I hadn't fully recovered from that.
For more than six months, I didn't drink a drop. What I did do: eat comfort food more often, lose myself in sports, or shop a lot. I sought other coping mechanisms.
Then a difficult period began during which unpleasant things happened. Before I knew it, I was ordering a Jack Daniels, vodka, or red wine again. Sometimes I would walk into a bar, and there would already be a drink waiting for me – try saying no then.
After six months, I realized I was using alcohol to push away negative emotions. Suddenly, it was crystal clear that drinking was an escape. Because I now understand why I drink, I'm convinced that this time I will stick with it.
I still go to parties and festivals; I don't need alcohol for that. I'm quite exuberant by nature. However, I do get tired sooner. No problem, then I just go home.
I have great confidence that if you talk to me in a year, I still won't have drunk. I want to become a healthier, happier version of myself."
WHO DO YOU WANT TO BE?
Anti-self-sabotage coach Mariska van Dijk has another tip: change your beliefs and the way you see yourself.
If deep down you believe you are lazy, it makes perfect sense to Netflix on the couch if your sports friend cancels. So ask yourself who you want to be and why.
Do you want to be a fit mother who still joyfully goes to the playground with her children after a workday? Then you will have to do things to ensure you are that fit mother. For example, visit the gym twice a week and eat healthy.
So you first decide that you are a fit mother, and the behavior that comes with it will follow naturally.
SETBACKS ARE PART OF IT
Perhaps you also want to be a social person. What do you say when a friend can only meet on the evening you had planned your strength training?
Van Dijk advises:
"Then, for example, plan to exercise the next morning. Or ask your friend if she wants to go for a walk instead of having a drink. You are sabotaging yourself if you let the appointment with your friend jeopardize your resolution to be fit."
Furthermore: don't tackle too many goals at once; that's asking a lot of yourself. And be kind to yourself if you mess up once. It's logical that changes come with ups and downs. A setback doesn't immediately mean it's a lost cause. Just take a deep breath and start again.
