Hello and welcome to another episode of the Perception Podcast with me your host Caroline Partridge. Once again I have the utmost pleasure of talking to award-winning therapist Sally Baker. Today we tackle the subject of our behaviours around alcohol. We examine what makes us drink to excess, how we normalise abnormal and unsafe behaviours around drinking, and the staggering psychological and physiological changes that begin to occur when we abstain from alcohol for an extended period, Sally also offers some excellent strategies of how to combat the temptation of falling off the waggon and red flags to look out for in our relationships when we decide to stop drinking. I have also included some useful contacts in the show notes if you or anyone you know is affected by the issues we cover in this episode. Please join me as we look at life through a different lens.   KEY TAKEAWAYS It’s common for people with an alcohol problem to first seek help for an associated issue such as anxiety. There are a lot of symptoms within someone's life that they have a problem with alcohol and what most of these symptoms have in common, is that their level of drinking is causing them to put themselves at harm. Although many people drink to relieve stress, drinking alcohol is actually worse for your nervous system and body and how it copes and deals with stress. Drinking in moderation is very difficult to achieve and maintain. If you are looking to stop drinking, it’s best to take it slowly and in incremental steps, such as going alcohol-free two days a week. If anyone around you is trying to pressure you into drinking then this is a red flag, they don’t have you or your best interests at heart. Women are fearful of saying no but we have to become more comfortable with it to stop ourselves from burning out or relying on things like alcohol to help us manage stress. BEST MOMENTS “It’s rare that a client comes and says ‘I’ve got a problem with alcohol’ ” “Our REM sequences are reduced when drinking” “No one wants to go tee-total everyone wants to manage the holy grail of moderate drinking but moderate drinking is really tricky” “Stopping drinking will feel monumental, it will take all of your brain space up” “If you’re out with a group of friends and you still want to like them the next day you need to leave by 9, 9-30. If you’re sober and they’re drinking by that time in the evening they are so dull” “Stick to your stuck record and stick to your no” “Be aware of who is afraid you are sober” EPISODE RESOURCES Useful contacts for alcohol problems (UK) Drinkline is the national alcohol helpline. If you’re worried about your own or someone else’s drinking, you can call this free helpline in complete confidence. Call 0300 123 1110 Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) ABOUT THE GUEST Blog Sally is a highly experienced licensed and accredited therapist, writer and speaker. She sees adults and young people face to face in London and worldwide via Zoom. She is trained to an advanced or master practitioner level in many of the latest therapeutic approaches all of which work rapidly and powerfully to resolve a wide range of presenting issues. Sally has written books on key aspects of therapy published by Hammersmith Books, London. Through her therapy work she is often in demand for her expert opinion on human behaviour and is frequently quoted in the international press, magazines, BBC Radio and influential on-line media platforms Socials & Contact Sally Baker APAQAMAccredited award-winning senior therapist, clinical supervisor, author & speaker Associate Therapist HAYA(Hunt Academy for Young Actors)Orpheus Therapist Diploma Hypnotherapy Dip PH (Distinction).Advanced Certificate in Education (Canterbury Christ Church University).Advanced Emotional Freedom Practitioner (EFT).BWRT (BrainWave Recursive Therapy).Qualified Accredited Member of Ayanay Psychological Accreditation.Licensed Member of th