Alcohol Free Forever

What Kind of Drinker are You?

Get Sober October

End Smoking Ritual

A Perfectionist Drinker?

These are your “high achievers”. They’re super goal driven and typically very successful.

They tend to abstain from alcohol for long periods of time BUT…

When they do drink, they drink fast and furious.

Alcohol stops the busy mind and this makes them feel GREAT… For a night.

But, the next day, they feel tremendous shame and guilt for what they did the night before…

They drink quickly which means they get drunk quickly and tend to have memory blanks about the night before.

Perfectionists are "All or Nothing" drinkers.

They promise themselves they will drink less or drink more slowly but each time they make this commitment, as the cycle repeats itself, they get more and more angry at themselves.

The trouble that the Perfectionist Type, they don't trust themselves with alcohol, so often end up quitting completely, as they just can't find the MIDDLE GROUND DRINKER life!

The goal of working with Perfectionist drinkers is for them to recognize the patterns of 'perfecting' being totally sober or perfecting completely over-drinking.

When a Perfectionist drinker changes their emotional conditioning before they drink, they can discover how to drink in a slow and balanced way.

A Pleaser Drinker?

The Pleaser Type really wants to drink less but they feel like they HAVE to say ‘yes’ in order to be liked.

Drinking is an easy way for them to get social acceptance…

To feel like they belong and find a way to be part of the group without putting the spotlight directly on themselves.

Their worst fear is thinking that they look boring.

Oftentimes, Pleaser Types tend to attract controlling people or even narcissists into their lives, which can create even MORE problems than their drinking.

They also tend to get into debt more than people who don’t… But it’s usually because they’re ultimately trying to do something good and not because of vanity.

The trouble for the Pleaser Type is that when they do drink, they are doing what I call “drinking to communicate”.

The lowered inhibition that comes with alcohol makes it easier for the Pleaser Type to blow off some of the built-up steam from always caring for and helping everyone else out.

“When is it MY turn to get taken care of?” they think to themselves.

It’s during these moments that they tend to communicate aggressively with other people in their lives which often leads to many arguments and disappointments…

They know they drink too much and they also override their desire to say “No” so that they don’t feel left out when hanging with their friends or partner.

They think that it will help them relax, but it doesn’t.

And they keep coming back for more

For the Pleaser Type to change their habits, they need to learn how to have important conversations aside from a drink.

At first, it’s uncomfortable, but strength comes quickly and the conversations get easier.

An Inner Critic Drinker?

Inner Critic Types typically experience thoughts like…

“You shouldn’t drink so much, what’s wrong with you!?”
“You’re going to be boring so you better have a drink to loosen up.”
“That person thinks you’re dumb, so I know you’re not going to be yourself. Better have something to loosen up.”

When they do have a glass, similar to the Perfectionist Type, it helps them to temporarily shut down the negative inner dialogue.

The thing is that everybody has an Inner Critic.

It’s the “boss” who drives the negative thinking.

For the Critic drinkers to change their habits, they need to learn how to recognize this voice and tune it out and calm it down.

I call it “tuning OUT of “Radio Crazy” and into Classic FM.”

Everyone has an Inner Critic and generally will have a Pleaser or Perfectionist combination.

The trick is to discover how to get these different drinking personalities to work for you and your drink less goals rather than hinder them!

Alcohol caused big problems for People…

Problems like:

Poor memory and forgetfulness

Elevated blood and liver markers

Not being present for their kids or partner

Lashing out at people