You Don't Have to Hit Rock Bottom to Ask for Help With Your Drinking

Hi friends..

I want to share something a little different with you today. Something I'm really excited about. But first, a little of my story.

When I was struggling with my drinking, one of the things that kept me stuck for so long was not knowing where I fitted in.

I knew I was drinking more than I wanted to. I knew I was making promises to myself that I wasn't keeping. And I knew alcohol was taking up far too much space in my mind and my life.

But I didn't identify as an alcoholic.

I was functioning. I was raising my family. I was getting things done. From the outside, things looked pretty normal.

Even my friends would tell me, "There's nothing wrong with how much you drink!"

That's what made it so confusing.

I knew something needed to change.. but I didn't know what kind of help existed for someone like me.

I wasn't looking for someone to tell me I had a problem. I already knew I wasn't happy with my drinking.

I needed someone to help me understand why I kept doing something I didn't actually want to do.

Why did I crave wine at 5pm when I'd been so determined not to drink that morning?

Why could I understand all the reasons alcohol wasn't good for me, but still feel like I was missing out without it?

Would I ever stop thinking about drinking? Could I actually enjoy life without alcohol?

From where I was standing, it didn't seem possible.

But it was. And it can be for you too. 💛

What Is Grey Area Drinking?

Grey area drinking describes the space between occasional social drinking and severe alcohol dependence. It's not a medical diagnosis, but it's a helpful way of describing a relationship with alcohol that doesn't feel quite right, even when everything looks normal from the outside.

Maybe you're drinking more often than you'd like.

Maybe you're constantly negotiating with yourself about whether you'll drink tonight, how much you'll have, or when you'll take your next break.

Maybe you've tried moderating, making rules, or taking time off, only to slip back into familiar patterns.

Or maybe you're simply exhausted by how much mental space alcohol takes up.

And yet you look at your life and think, Surely my drinking isn't bad enough to need help?

I understand that thinking so well.

Do You Have to Identify as an Alcoholic to Get Help?

No. You don't have to identify as an alcoholic, or wait for a crisis, to start changing your relationship with alcohol.

You don't even have to know whether you want to stop completely.

You can simply be curious about whether life might be better with less alcohol, or without it altogether.

And that's a perfectly good place to begin.

What Is Alcohol Coaching, and How Can It Help?

Alcohol coaching helps you understand your relationship with alcohol and supports you as you make intentional changes.

Depending on the coach, that might involve exploring your drinking habits, understanding cravings and triggers, questioning your beliefs about alcohol, and building practical strategies for lasting change.

It's also about looking beyond the drink.

So often alcohol has become our way of managing stress, switching off after a busy day, navigating difficult emotions, or finding connection and belonging. When we understand what we're really looking for in that glass, we can start finding other ways to meet those needs.

For me, the approach that finally helped started with curiosity. Not shame. Not labels. Not simply trying harder.

What was I believing about alcohol? What was I expecting it to do for me? What was actually happening in my brain and body when I drank? And were those beliefs even true?

Learning the science, understanding my patterns, and questioning those deeply held beliefs changed everything. I finally understood why I could know alcohol wasn't serving me and still want it so badly. And I discovered that so much of what I thought alcohol was giving me wasn't quite what I thought.

My faith was a huge part of my journey too. God was gently drawing me towards something different long before I understood what that would look like.

Because this work has always been about so much more than not drinking.

It's about freedom.

Freedom from the constant mental negotiations.

Freedom from believing we need alcohol to relax, connect, celebrate, or enjoy life.

And the freedom to build a life we genuinely love living.

Alcohol coaching isn't medical treatment, counselling, or addiction therapy, and it isn't a substitute for those services when they're needed. Some people benefit from coaching alongside other professional support. But if you're questioning your drinking and want education, practical tools, encouragement, and accountability, coaching can be a really helpful place to begin.

There's More Than One Way to Change Your Relationship With Alcohol

One thing coaching has taught me is that we don't all need the same kind of support.

Some people want to stop drinking completely. Others are curious about taking a break or cutting back.

Some want their faith woven into their journey. Others prefer a completely secular approach.

Some need structure and accountability. Others need a safe space to talk things through and make changes at their own pace.

And that's okay. We have different stories, different circumstances, different needs.

Which brings me to my exciting news!

Introducing Alcohol Coaches Australia (ACA)

I'm one of the founding members of Alcohol Coaches Australia!

Alcohol Coaches Australia (ACA) is a collective of Australian alcohol coaches helping people explore and change their relationship with alcohol through compassionate, science-informed, label-free coaching.

I know how hard it can be to know where to turn when you're questioning your drinking but don't identify with the traditional labels or approaches to recovery. And I know so many people are quietly struggling, wondering if there's another way.

What I love about our collective is that while we share the same core values, we each bring our own lived experience, specialties, and ways of working. Some of us integrate faith into our coaching, like I do. Others offer a completely secular approach.

And that's a good thing! Because finding the right support is such a personal thing.

My hope is that ACA helps more people discover that alcohol coaching exists, understand what it can offer, and find a coach whose approach really resonates with them.

How to Find an Alcohol Coach in Australia

If you've been quietly questioning your drinking, I'd love to encourage you to explore the support that's out there.

Visit Alcohol Coaches Australia to meet the coaches, learn about their different approaches, and find someone who feels like a good fit.

You'll find me there too. 💛

I'm a Sydney-based alcohol freedom coach, certified through This Naked Mind and as a Grey Area Drinking Coach. I offer faith-inclusive, neuroscience-informed coaching grounded in curiosity, compassion, practical tools, and plenty of grace.

Whether faith is central to your life or not, you're welcome.

You Don't Have to Wait Until You Hit Rock Bottom

If there's one thing I'd love you to take away today, it's this.

You don't have to wait for a crisis before you're allowed to do something about your drinking.

You don't have to lose your job. Damage your relationships. Hit some imaginary rock bottom.

Maybe you're simply tired of the mental gymnastics.

The promises to yourself.

The negotiating.

The waking up disappointed.

The wondering why something that seems so easy for everyone else feels so hard for you.

That's enough reason to get curious.

And you don't have to figure it all out on your own.

Sometimes we make asking for help into such a big thing. As though reaching out means admitting something terrible about ourselves.

But what if it simply means we're ready to learn something new? To understand ourselves a little better? To discover that change doesn't have to come through shame and sheer willpower after all?

You don't have to hit rock bottom.

You can simply decide you'd like something better for your life.

And that's a beautiful place to begin. 💛

If you'd like support, you can explore my coaching options or join my free Alcohol Freedom Tribe community.

Frequently Asked Questions About Alcohol Coaching