Finding your voice to ditch the booze!
Finding your voice to ditch the booze!
I was incredibly lucky to be part of a group listening to the very wise Ann Dowsett Johnston, the author of the amazing book Drink, this morning and we discussed how finding and expressing your voice can be so helpful in recovery.
Ann mentioned that she believes our bodies hear our voices and I believe this is so true.
Many people, particularly women, reach for alcohol to find their voice, to be heard and express their opinions.
I know I did. I am short, I have a quiet voice and was quite shy growing up but I had a lot to say. Alcohol made me louder, certainly less eloquent, but confident. This set up a pattern that lasted decades and formed beliefs that I needed something external to me to express myself.
Does this resonate with you? This feeling that you are not enough can be grounded in thoughts around whether you fit in, belong or have meaningful things to say that others want to listen to. It can start in childhood. Also, expressing our voice is integrally connected with discovering who we are, feeling comfortable in our own skin and developing into the adults we want to become.
Were you given an opportunity to express your opinion? Were you encouraged to debate topics and be heard? You may come from a loud family and there may not have room for you to speak and be heard. Or your voice may have been criticised, shouted down or ignored.
It can be really helpful in recovery to find meaningful ways of expressing yourself and do this as much as you can, including book clubs, connecting with friends, dancing to music, painting, writing.
Many use alcohol to find their voice but finding effective ways to use your voice can be instrumental in losing alcohol.
Isabella xo
