#113 Not That Bad But Bad Enough

In this episode, I share my personal journey with alcohol: how I navigated the confusing space between “not that bad” and “bad enough.” I open up about the subtle red flags that accumulated over time, the impact my drinking had on my family, and the pivotal moments that led me to question my relationship with alcohol. I talk about the challenges of letting go of an identity built around drinking, the power of self-compassion, and the freedom I discovered on the other side. This conversation is for anyone quietly wondering if something needs to shift, and I hope my story offers both comfort and inspiration.Key Takeaways: I never hit a dramatic “rock bottom,” but a series of small red flags made me realize my drinking was “bad enough” for me. My children’s reactions to my drinking were wake-up calls that I couldn’t ignore, even if I tried to minimise them at first. Leaving a high-pressure job and facing my own mental health struggles made me more aware of how I used alcohol to cope. I learned that self-compassion is essential for lasting change, beating myself up never worked. Education was empowering: understanding how alcohol affects the brain and body helped me shift my mindset. Letting go of my “fun wine-lover” identity was hard, but it ultimately brought me relief and a sense of freedom. Taking a year off alcohol gave me the space to rebuild trust in myself and discover who I am beyond drinking. My story isn’t about labels or shame, it’s about listening to your own signals and making changes that feel right for you. This conversation is about breaking silence, normalising challenging experiences, and creating supportive spaces for neurodivergent families. Episode links & Resources Learn more about Emma Gilmour at: www.hoperisingcoaching.com Follow Emma Gilmour on insta @hoperisingcoaching FREE TOOLS - four beautiful resources to help you drink less and feel fabulous: 7 Steps to Take Back Control of Alcohol - the exact steps I took when I started out on this journey nearly five years ago. https://www.hoperisingcoaching.com/7-steps Awareness Worksheets - if you do nothing else, working through the answers to these questions will change your relationship with alcohol for the better. https://www.hoperisingcoaching.com/awareness-worksheets-opt-in Your North Star Visualisation - stops your brain freaking out about doing something unfamiliar. https://www.hoperisingcoaching.com/northstarvisualisation Grounding Meditation - you know that feeling when you have a drink and the body goes "aaaaaaaahhhhhhh" and everything seems to relax? What the body really needs is to ground - to come back home to self, and for self to feel lovely. That is what we work on in my live programs. We start every session with a grounding and connect with ourselves to find out what our body really needs when it thinks it wants to drink. https://www.hoperisingcoaching.com/grounding READY TO GO DEEPER? Ready to make alcohol a non-issue? Watch my free one-hour masterclass: 5 Surprising Ways Taking a Break from Booze Can Be Effortless and Change Your Life. One hour. Five shifts. Your take it or leave it relationship with alcohol starts here. WATCH NOW FOR FREE: https://www.hoperisingcoaching.com/masterclass Are you tired of the mental back-and-forth about drinking? I am running a FREE 3-Day Alcohol Reset on 23, 24 and 25 June, 7pm Melb/Syd (replays available). No willpower talk. No abstinence pressure. You can even drink while you do it. A judgement-free space to learn the tools to step into a take it or leave it relationship with alcohol. REGISTER FREE: https://www.hoperisingcoaching.com/3-day-reset Want a take it or leave it relationship with alcohol? Want to stop all the "will I, won't I" internal conflict around wine? I am running the Great Aussie Alcohol Experiment LIVE from Wednesday 1 July. 30 days. Small group coaching. Only 25 spots. Small, intimate and private. Rewire your brain and nervous system so you no longer have to reach for a glass to quieten your busy brain, calm your overwhelmed soul or socialise when your social battery is spent. Early bird pricing open now - $500 off the full price, plus two 1:1 counselling sessions with me and 3 webinars included (worth +$1,000). We won't run this live again until October. YOUR NEXT RIGHT MOVE STARTS HERE: https://www.hoperisingcoaching.com/the_great_aussie_alcohol_experiment Change happens in a moment, my friends - the preparation for change takes a little bit of time. Take the time. You will be amazed at the difference it makes.