“I’m forty-five and have been married for almost twenty years. Our son just left for college, so for the first time since our twenties, my husband and I are by ourselves. In the past, I had a group of friends with whom I used to drink, but since I quit drinking, I don’t see them as often. I had to make a decision to take a break from that scene, because I was drinking in excess every day. I realized that I wasn’t far from being an alcoholic, and I got really scared. It was a difficult decision but worth it.
A few weeks after I stopped drinking, I started to feel good, with more energy. I slept better and lost some weight, which was wonderful!
But I was also distanced from my usual social group. There were changes in my routine with my husband, too. One of our times to connect was in the evenings; we’d sit on our deck with a couple of drinks and talk. Those were special moments. I feel much better now that I’m not drinking, but I’m lonely and bored to death. Sometimes I feel that just one drink with my friends or my husband is all I need to feel better.” —Nellie
Lamberghini-West, A., & Karlen Triplett, P. (2025). Tipsy: A Woman’s Self-Guided Method for Managing Alcohol. US: Aysen Wellness.