“Drinking was part of my identity for many years, with vodka being my partner of choice during good times and bad days. Everything in my life was connected to drinking, whether I was at home alone or with my partner, after work with my coworkers, in social groups with my dear friends and acquaintances, and during vacations, celebrations, and holidays. Not one aspect of my life was sober.
At that point, I didn’t want to think about my future. I feared what could happen if I continued drinking that way. Many of my friends already had problems related to drinking, like tremors in their hands, a nasty divorce provoked by excessive drinking, or a DWI.
When I decided to do a Dry January, I found myself missing the drink and all its related effects. It was like longing for a lost friend! It took me a while to start thinking it was a good idea to quit. Could I actually do this, not just for a month but for forever? I started to have compassion for myself and thinking that I deserved a better future. That helped me work through the process.
It took a lot of work to leave that reality and to question myself about my real identity and what I wanted for the future. It took me time to realize that it was safe to let myself think about the future because there could be good ahead, and I was worthy of positive experiences, and not just sad outcomes from overdrinking. Eventually, it became exciting to anticipate what I could be and do.
Gradually, I started finding things that motivated me and gave me purpose. The best part was that a new me was developing. I’ve become unstoppable in reaching my new goals. I enjoy my progress in this new stage of my life, and I’m much happier than before.” —Melissa
Lamberghini-West, A., & Karlen Triplett, P. (2025). Tipsy: A Woman’s Self-Guided Method for Managing Alcohol. US: Aysen Wellness.