Grey Area Drinking
If you think about a person’s drinking on a scale of 1-10, 1 might be the person who rarely drinks or rarely thinks about drinking, while 10 might be someone who has a physical dependency on alcohol, requires medical assistance to stop drinking and can’t get through a day without drinking. Grey Area Drinking falls somewhere in the middle, and it’s so common, especially amongst women. Yet there is so little support available for women who fall into this Grey Area.
Perhaps you drink when you feel stressed, when you are tired, when you need to ‘take the edge off’ after a long day at work, when you celebrate, after a full-on day with the kids and they have finally settled to sleep for the night?
Whatever the reason, Grey Area Drinkers can ALWAYS justify having a drink.
It’s possible you also often take extended breaks from drinking, don’t drink every day and when you raise any of your drinking concerns with friends and family, they immediately respond that you’re not THAT bad and you definitely don’t have a PROBLEM.
And perhaps on the outside it really doesn’t look like you do. But inside, you know you aren’t comfortable with how you are using alcohol, you know it’s starting to take more than it’s giving and you know you want to change, or end, your relationship with alcohol. Yet you seem to be on an endless merry go round of abstinence, binging and setting (and breaking) exhausting rules around moderation.
This, to me, is Grey Area Drinking.
You don’t have to identify as an ‘alcoholic’ to have a problem with alcohol.
You don’t have to hit rock bottom to want to change your relationship with alcohol.
Does this resonate with you? If so, please know that you are not alone. You can review information below on my various programs that are designed to help you change your relationship with alcohol and create a fulfilling and thriving life!
Sarah is a Certified Grey Area Drinking Coach
Signs You’re a Grey Area Drinker
☑️ You make 'rules' about your drinking (how many, how often, what type of drink, what time of day, what day of the week) but you often break them.
☑️ You secretly worry about your drinking and often regret what you said or did when you drank
☑️ You take breaks from alcohol, you may not drink every day, but you find it hard to stay 'stopped' and keep returning to old habits
☑️ You aren't always honest about how much you drink
☑️ On the outside, no one questions your drinking (you’re high functioning) and it certainly doesn't appear you have a 'problem', but for YOU, it's becoming a problem and something you worry about more and more
☑️ You live with a constant internal ‘chatter’ about alcohol, always negotiating with yourself of when you will drink next
☑️ You’re a long way from rock bottom but alcohol feels like it’s robbing you of life. You're starting to feel like it's taking more than it's giving but you don't know what to do next.
If any of these points resonate with you, please know you are not alone. I ticked every single one. And I am here to help!
Also read my blog post “8 Signs You’re a Grey Area Drinker“ HERE
“I first came across Sarah through an article I read. I then joined Sarah’s Facebook group The Women’s Wellbeing Collective and it was there I saw that Sarah was running an upcoming 21 day alcohol free challenge. I signed up not really knowing what to expect other than thinking it might be my chance to finally be free of alcohol. The challenge was more than I could have ever expected, Sarah’s commitment to me and the others in the group was astonishing.
I could not have been successful in the challenge without Sarah and her expertise, guidance and tough love. It wasn’t long into the challenge that I realised I needed an extra level of support and so I worked with Sarah 1:1 over a four week period. This gave me the opportunity for Sarah to tailor a program for me - it kept me motivated to stay alcohol free, helped me process some of the challenging thoughts I was having, gave me information on the link between nutrition and nutrients with our physiology, she also encouraged me to dive deeper into seeking various information for personal growth and gave me a multitude of resources.
Sarah helped me see the benefits of a holistic perspective to staying alcohol free. I highly recommend working closely with Sarah 1:1 to elevate your motivation to stay alcohol free. Sarah has changed my life and I couldn’t have done it without her, I’m committed now to an alcohol free life.”
- Kath, Sydney
How Can I Help You Change Your Relationship With Alcohol?
30-Day Alcohol Free Program
Find freedom, let go of destructive habits, and energise your life with my self-paced 30-Day Alcohol Free Program.
Let me help you feel energised, motivated, positive, healthy and focused while sharing ALL the resources and information that has helped me to completely change my mindset and habits around alcohol.
90-Minute 1:1 Deep Dive Session
In this intensive 90 minute session, we cover a wide spectrum of topics to get to the heart of all you need to know to manage stress, change your drinking habits and build a stress management toolkit that isn't about the evening wine.
The session includes:
- 2 pre-questionnaires to understand your current situation and establish if you have any neurotransmitter deficiencies (over 80% of my clients do)
- A comprehensive analysis of your results and strategies to implement
- An extensive list of resources to support you to address any deficiencies or imbalances (this part is the missing link for so many of my clients when it comes to successfully changing drinking habits)
- Creation of a toolkit and tailored operating system unique to YOUR lifestyle and much more.
To enquire and learn more about this, enter your name and email below to request for an info pack!
" It was wonderful to have her all to myself for 90 minutes. I instantly felt a connection with Sarah and was able to ask her the many questions I had. Sarah is such a knowledgeable, thoughtful, and empathetic soul. I am so passionate about making a difference. I just wish I could have a weekly one-on-one! Thank you, dear Sarah."
- Shan, Victoria
" The deep dive session exceeded all my expectations. Sarah's advice was practical and focused and very relevant to me as a very busy, highly stressed working mother facing peri-menopause."
I had lost count of the Day 1s, the broken promises to myself and the hours spent with anxiety and self-anger for my inability to become alcohol free. I had read all the literature, tried multiple online groups and podcasts, but was unable to change my mindset to become AF despite knowing it was what I needed to do.
It all finally changed after a 1 to 1 session with Sarah. First she listened!! This was so important as I think many women in this situation are not really heard or supported when it comes to becoming AF. She then provided focused practical advice for dealing with alcohol and importantly for overall health and wellbeing including supplements, managing stress, developing self care, managing routines and how to make sustainable long term changes.
I am at the beginning of my journey but finally I have been able to truly take the first step and stay on the path!!! I highly recommend the personal session with Sarah and thank her immensely for guiding me toward freedom from alcohol and the anxiety and negatives that come with it."
- Michelle, Newcastle
Rediscovering Me Group Coaching Program
“Rediscovering Me” is my signature Group Coaching Program for women looking to add more fulfilment, purpose and passion to their lives and go on a deep dive journey of self-discovery alongside a group of similar-minded women.
The program opens 2 to 3 times a year and always sells out! Check out the program and join the waitlist to be the first to know when the program opens!
My 30-Day Alcohol Free Challenge
Every 3 months I run my infamous 30-Day Alcohol Free Challenge which supports hundreds of women across the globe to discover all the benefits of taking a break from booze. Experience live support, masterclasses and extensive resources in this challenge. Doing this in a group community makes this program such a sell out - there is nothing like the power of connection and support from like minded women on the same path!
But what about moderation?
For me, when alcohol started taking more than it was giving, I started making rules around my drinking but I struggled to stick to the rules. When I kept trying to moderate without success, I realised it was time to remove alcohol from my life completely.
With that decision came total and absolute FREEDOM.
Stepping off that Grey Area Drinking merry-go-round of moderation, binge, abstinence, self-loathing, drinking rules and constant negative self-talk has been the single most liberating and empowering decisions I have ever made.
And now I want you to experience that too.
Not sure which program is right for you? Book a 15-minute discovery call with me and let’s chat!
Looking to explore taking a break from alcohol?
Download my free guide to taking a break from booze to learn all the tricks, tools, books, podcasts and more that were so much help to me at the start.
“Sarah's approach to offering support and guidance in helping others is one of non-judgement, humour, and a sense of easiness that immediately removes all the stigma around drinking. Her knowledge and desires to understand the well being and health of us all is clear in the material that is presented and how accessible she is to those she is supporting. I am truly grateful that I "found" you and what I have learned about myself and my potential. Thank you Sarah!”
- Courtenay, Washington
“I cannot recommend 1:1 coaching with Sarah highly enough. It has been a game-changer for me. I was stuck in groundhog day. Directionless, lost and desperately unhappy. My anxiety levels were through the roof and a constant nagging in my head of ‘Is this it?’. Sarah has provided so many resources and strategies that have really worked. After years of trying to find ‘the missing piece’. I feel I've found it. I feel so much happier, content and hopeful, I'm am now looking forward to the future and what it brings. Thank you Sarah, I have loved our 1:1 sessions together. I couldn't have done it without you.”
- Kerri, Sunshine Coast