We can't have a month devoted to mental health awareness without reflecting on the role alcohol plays in it.

According to SAMHSA, “People with severe mental illness are about 4 times more likely to be heavy alcohol users.” Alcohol and drugs are often used to self-medicate the symptoms of mental health problems.

I (@alysonpremo) used alcohol to cope with my anxiety. Not knowing that alcohol contributed to the massive bouts of anxiety I was waking up to at 3 am or having to deal with the whole next day at work.

If you’ve read or heard my story before then, you know that my anxiety got to the point where I had it all day, every day. The only time I didn’t have it was for brief passing moments when that wine or vodka entered my bloodstream.

At the end of my drinking “career”, I was drinking morning to night and only taking naps. If I fell asleep at 10 pm, I would wake up at 2 am with so much anxiety that I couldn’t fall back to sleep. The only way I knew how to calm those thoughts and drift to sleep was by drinking the bottle of wine that I kept on my nightstand.

I didn’t know that the anxiety I was experiencing was because of the alcohol. The alcohol wasn’t curing anything; it was actually fueling it. I know that anxiety is uncomfortable, but know those moments will pass, and it will get easier.

Please talk to a therapist, medical professional, or a certified coach about your anxiety. Oh, and if you’re on an antidepressant to manage your depression or anxiety, alcohol is blocking that from happening. I was taking Zoloft and wondering why I still was depressed and anxious. Well, duh, it won’t work when you’re ingesting a depressant.

All of this is to say you’re not alone. I wish that I had known all of this over 4.5 years ago, which is why I created this platform. I wish there had been a sober community like Sober Mom Tribe to bring awareness, connect with other mothers, and provide hope for those still struggling.

P.S. I kept the doors open for the Confidently Be Alcohol-Free - 60 Day Challenge until TODAY because it was the weekend, and I needed a break! So if you wanted in and thought you missed out, click here to register and get in NOW.