Dear Alcohol, It is you and not me. By Alyson Premo

Dear Alcohol,

It is you and not me.

A little play on words here. I actually saw a post in my feed that said, "Dear Alcohol. It's me, not you." And I highly disagree, so I'm going to run with it.

It is not you for running to a substance that is touted as the way to cope with stressors in life.

It is not you for not being able to drink responsibly.

It is not you for the trauma you endured.

It is not you for the way mommy wine culture is promoted.

It is not you for being bombarded with marketing that says alcohol is fun and sexy.

It is not you for being duped by the billion-dollar industry that is Big Alcohol.

IT IS NOT YOU.

There is nothing wrong with you for becoming dependent on a chemically addictive substance. That's the nature of alcohol. It reels you in and changes your brain chemistry along the way. One day you're fine, and then you look back a year later, and you're like, how did I get here?

That's what alcohol does.

This notion that there is something wrong with you for not being able to ingest a toxic substance is ludicrous.

These deep-rooted beliefs about alcohol have been ingrained in us since childhood, and it's not easy to release them and rewire in new stories. It takes time and consistency, which, let's be honest, in the world that we're in, we like quick fixes.

So I hope this shows you that it isn't you. We choose alcohol repeatedly because of the deep-rooted beliefs we have from our parents, our friends, and society. So, of course, it's going to be harder to break out of it when everywhere we turn, we are being told the opposite.

The times are changing, though, so stick around a while and show yourself and others that alcohol isn't needed to have fun or get through life.

Are you still having a difficult time getting out of the drinking cycle? Join the waitlist for the LAST Confidently Be Alcohol-Free - 60 Day Challenge for the foreseeable future or apply for the 90 Day 1:1 Coaching Program (Detox to Dedicate). I will have TWO spots opening for the 90 Day 1:1 Program in JUNE.

Happy Mother's Day 2021! By Alyson Premo.

Happy Mother's Day to...

💗 All the mothers who are getting up every single day, no matter how hard it is.

💗 All the mothers who are questioning their relationship with alcohol because they know that they and their kids deserve better.

💗 All the mothers who are remaining sober day in and day

💗 All the mothers who have slipped but still choose to keep trying.

I see you not only today but EVERY DAY.

I know that sobriety and motherhood are a whole other level, and those who aren't parents don't understand. They have hours upon hours to do whatever they want with no responsibility to anyone else but themselves.

While they may have all the time in the world to focus on their sobriety, they also don't have the gift of a child. A child brings a love that you can't even describe. An unconditional love. A reason for getting and staying sober. A reason for being the best person you can be.

We can CHOOSE to do the hard work of our own healing. When we do this, we not only break the pattern for our kids, but generations to come, and that mamas is POWERFUL.

YOU ARE POWERFUL.

Mother's Day can be a triggering holiday on many levels. For some of us who struggle with alcohol, our mother could have been one of the reasons why we turned to alcohol to cope.

As time has passed on my sober journey, I've chosen to forgive my mother for doing the best she could at the time. That doesn't mean our relationship is easy or perfect, but it means I've put boundaries in place to protect my peace, creating a better connection between us.

That was my choice to forgive, and I know that there may be some of you who aren't ready to forgive, and that's ok too. We're all at different healing phases of our journey, and the most important piece is to prioritize yourself, your own needs, and what feels the best for YOU.

I am honoring all of you mothers today, and I hope you are celebrating YOURSELF!

Now I want to know what does being a sober mom mean to you?

Still struggling with sobriety and motherhood? Join the waitlist for the LAST Confidently Be Alcohol-Free - 60 Day Challenge for the foreseeable future or apply for the 90 Day 1:1 Coaching Program (Detox to Dedicate).

Forgiveness.. By Alyson Premo.

Say it with me, "I forgive myself for using alcohol to cope with motherhood because, at that time, that was the only way I knew how."

As Mother's Day approaches here in the U.S., this is my hope for those still trying to forgive themselves. I know it's not easy to accept who you were when you were drinking isn't who you are now, but you are NOT that same person.

Do not feel guilty for getting trapped into a drinking cycle that is normalized and glamorized everywhere we turn. 

Heck, I was scrolling Target the other day, and there was a Mom Juice wine glass next to a baby's bottle that said Boob Juice. It's just gross the way that mommy wine culture has seeped into society. 

Alcohol is a drug. Period. Let's stop glamorizing a drug that kills more people per year than opiates. Maybe some of you don't even know that little fact. Crazy how there's no such thing as an alcohol epidemic?

And this is why I will never stop shouting from the rooftops how toxic mommy wine culture is or sharing my story. People need to hear it. People need to know the true harm that alcohol is doing to families every single day. 

Alcohol isn't a harmless substance. It is a chemically addictive carcinogen.

I have faith that one day alcohol will be looked at the same way cigarettes are now. 

I have faith that women won't have to be so fearful of what others will think of them for not drinking.

I have faith that when a mother says she doesn't want a drink, she won't be met with, "oh, come on, just one" or looked at like she has three heads.

I have faith that when a woman says she doesn't drink, people won't automatically assume she had a problem or is an "alcoholic". 

And I have faith because I see my clients and all you beautiful mothers every day smashing the stigma, educating, and showing others how amazing an alcohol-free life is not only for us but for our children.

I'm so proud of all of us! Celebrating you so much today and every day!

These are the kinds of topics we dig deeper into in my (@sobermomcoach) 30 Day 1:1 Program (Bye, Bye Booze...Hello Freedom!). This program is officially going into the vault for good TOMORROW! If you're interested, message me, and we can see if it would be a good fit for you.

ONLY ONE SPOT OPEN!

You don't have to drink just because it's another heavily marketed drinking holiday. By Alyson Premo.

I don't know who needs to hear this, but just because it's another heavily marketed drinking holiday doesn't mean you have to drink.

Happy Alcohol-Free Cinco De Mayo!

Let's be honest we can use any day to justify our drinking. But I bet many of us used holidays to cover up how much we were really drinking. On holidays it's acceptable to get drunk, act like a hot mess, and stroll into work the next day, barely able to function.

Or is it? When did it become acceptable to get so intoxicated that it's funny?

IT IS NOT FUNNY.

When college students are dying from hazing incidents involving alcohol, it is not funny.

When more young women than ever before are being diagnosed with liver disease, it is not funny.

When children are being taken away from their mothers, it is not funny.

Don't fall for the illusion that just because it's a holiday, you can do whatever you want, and you can fly under the radar with your drinking.

You're an adult, so you can do whatever you want, but there are little eyes watching. And there are teenagers looking at you to be the role model they deserve.

I'll be over here with my chips & salsa and extra guac. Who needs margs, anyway?

I've got some exciting news in store!!! The 30 Day 1:1 Coaching Program (Bye, Bye Booze...Hello Freedom!) is going into the vault and will most likely never be offered again. Transformation doesn't happen in 30 days, and I'm doing a disservice to you by saying it does, so it's going bye, bye. And to be honest, most of my clients that enroll in the 30 days extend it for another 60 days anyway.

The program will be retired on Saturday, May 8th, so message me before then to see if it would be a good fit for you. This program is best for those who have cut down significantly on their drinking but still haven't been able to get rid of it for good. This program isn't for you if you've been struggling and can't go a full week without a drink.

You're probably like, why are you saying this is exciting? Because I've got something else brewing behind the scenes. Non-alcoholic brews, of course. You, me, 19 other mothers, guest experts, and my signature Sober Mom Method™. And that's just the beginning. 🤩

Stay tuned.

Alcohol fuels your anxiety. By Alyson Premo.

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.

How do you know if you have an unhealthy relationship with alcohol? By Alyson Premo.

You are here.

Mamas, do you think people who have a drink here and there or one too many every so often are consumed by thoughts of alcohol day in and day out?

Do you think that they are googling, "do I have a problem with alcohol?"

Do you think that they wake up at 3 am wondering why they did this to themselves yet again?

Do you think they have tremendous guilt for drinking?

Do you think they are on this page?

The answer is NO. But the good news is you're aware that your relationship with alcohol isn't healthy. Awareness is the first step to change, and we can't change what we don't know, so if you're asking yourself if alcohol is a problem in your life, then kudos to you because many don't even get that far.

There's this deep-rooted belief as a society that the only people who have an unhealthy relationship with alcohol is someone who's drinking out of a brown paper bag at 9 am. No, no, no. Unravel that from your belief system NOW.

An unhealthy relationship to alcohol can look like...

👉🏻 Planning out your week for what days you are going to drink.

👉🏻 Thinking about that glass of wine you can have at 5 pm on the dot all day long.

👉🏻 Having immense guilt after drinking.

👉🏻 Having emotional outbursts while drinking

👉🏻 Using alcohol to cope with anxiety, sadness, or any other emotion.

This doesn't look like what's portrayed as someone who has a problem with alcohol, does it? But if any of those sound like you, then you may want to re-evaluate the role alcohol plays in your life.

A great way to do that is by joining my (@sobermomcoach) signature program, Confidently Be Alcohol-Free - 60 Day Challenge, starting TOMORROW!!!!

The number one thing I hear in these challenges is that these mothers feel SAFE and HEARD in this group container, which is why I keep the group small because sharing is how the healing process begins. You're not in a group of hundreds or thousands. You are in a group of a maximum of 40 MOTHERS. It's such a special place where connections are formed that last well after the challenge is over.

You ready to experience it for yourself?

Click here to get immediate access!

Every time I chose alcohol. By Alyson Premo.

Every time I chose alcohol, I simultaneously rejected something else. Most of the time that was being present with my child. 

That's a punch in the gut statement, huh? But it's true. Every time you choose alcohol, you are rejecting something else. And for most of us mothers, that tends to be the time we spend with our kids. 

🤚🏻 We can't deal with their tantrums, so we choose alcohol to soothe ourselves.

🤚🏻 We can't deal with the overwhelm, so we choose alcohol to escape.

🤚🏻 We can't deal with having to do it all, so we choose alcohol and do nothing. 

You made a choice, and you chose alcohol. But alcohol isn't the best option for the stresses of motherhood. We've been conditioned to believe it is, but it is the worst option that you could possibly choose. Why? Because you become more anxious, more depressed, and it doesn't help the actual issue. 

You're just setting yourself up for a vicious cycle that one day you won't have a choice over anymore. Addiction takes away that choice, and all you care about is your next drink because you depend on it for your survival. 

Every time I chose alcohol to escape, I rejected being present with my son. And those are the moments I can never get back, which is why I'm so passionate about the work that I do and being so vocal about mommy wine culture. You can never get those moments back that you chose alcohol over your kids, so the next time you want to take a drink, think of them. 

They deserve a mother who isn't more concerned about when her next glass of wine will be than them. I know you know that, or you wouldn't be on this page, so pat yourself on the back for even being here. That takes courage.

If spinning your wheels with all the free resources, no accountability, and no support hasn't worked for you, then the Confidently Be Alcohol-Free - 60 Day Challenge is for YOU!

60 days of daily content and audio lessons

60 days of support

60 days of knowing you aren't alone on this journey

60 days of a commitment to yourself and your kids

60 days of growth

You ready, or are you going to keep watching from the sideline, wishing and hoping that you'll be able to stop on your own?

And now there's no excuse to join since I JUST added a weekly payment plan option for those that requested it.

Click here to save your spot!

True strength is not partaking in a substance that's glorified everywhere. By Alyson Premo.

True strength is not partaking in a substance that's glorified everywhere.

🖐🏻 Where are the moms who were trapped in the drinking cycle?

🖐🏻 Where are the moms who released the grip alcohol held over them?

You are TRUE STRENGTH.

The people who were never trapped in the cycle don't understand what we went through.

👉🏻 They don't understand why we turned to alcohol as a coping mechanism.

👉🏻 They don't understand the constant struggle at the beginning.

👉🏻 They don't understand why we just can't stop.

👉🏻 They don't understand why we just can't have one.

Essentially they don't understand what the big deal is. And that's ok. We can't make someone understand something that they've never personally been through. We can educate and tell them our journey, but that still doesn't mean they will get it.

Society glamorizes alcohol for EVERYTHING, and here we are with our blinders on trying to dodge the marketing of Big Alcohol, our friends, and our family. And every damn day, we do it. Because guess what?

💥 You are stronger than you ever give yourself credit for.

💥 You are a mom who is breaking generational patterns.

💥 You are a mom who goes against the grain.

💥 You are a mom who is teaching your children resilience and perseverance.

💥 You are a mom who is speaking your truth for the greater good of the world.

These are the real-life lessons they will remember from us, so when you want to spiral into shame and guilt, remind yourself of everything you have shown them that doesn't have to do with your alcohol-induced past.

But you have to be willing to put down the bottle first so they can see that mom is already within you.

❌ You ready to do that?

LAST CALL on Early Bird Pricing for the Confidently Be Alcohol-Free- 60 Day Challenge starting May 1st! If you've been struggling and wondering why no one else understands what you're going through. We do. The connections these mothers form in this challenge are EVERYTHING.

Click here to grab your spot before EBP DISAPPEARS at 11:59 pm EST!

Your kids need a mom who isn't consumed by alcohol. By Alyson Premo.

At the end of the most recent episode of Sober As A Mother Podcast, I said these words. "Your kids need you. Alcohol doesn't."

What sparked this was reflecting on the past weekend of bringing my son to his soccer games. Over 4.5 years ago, I would've been more worried about having enough alcohol to carry me through than watching my son play and giving him a little pep talk before running out onto the field.

I would've gotten a good buzz before even leaving, then drove under the influence, and had more wine or vodka at the game, and drove home over the legal limit. No matter how much water I chugged, there was no way I wasn't over the limit. I'm not proud of this AT ALL. I'm just so grateful that I didn't hurt anyone else or my son in the process.

My mind was more concerned with alcohol than my own child. How sad is that? I missed out on those moments, but not anymore. Now before his games, I'm no longer concerned with if I'll run out of alcohol or if anyone can smell the alcohol on my breath. By the way, no matter the crazy things, we tell ourselves that no one will know if we only drink vodka. Trust me. They can.

Now I'm actively involved with how he's feeling and what I can do to help motivate him before the game, and he and I will remember these moments. Not the moments of rushing around the house making sure that I had my Yeti cup filled with alcohol.

If this scenario sounds all too familiar. I understand, and many others do too, but I promise you being a mom without alcohol is so much more fulfilling.

Yes, there are some challenging moments, but that's life. Knowing that I can handle anything that comes my way without alcohol makes me and you a f*cking badass and a role model to your kids who observe your habits more than you think.

If AA hasn't resonated with you and you're looking to be surrounded by only mothers at a similar point on their alcohol-free journey, then the Confidently Be Alcohol-Free - 60 Day Challenge is for YOU!

Click here to grab one of the 40 spots TODAY and join us! Early bird pricing ends on FRIDAY!

Being sober isn't boring. By Alyson Premo.

Being sober isn't boring.

Being hungover all day, never leaving your comfort zone, and not being able to find joy in the mundane is boring.

I know this can be a big hurdle for many people ditching the booze. The "what will I do now that I don't drink?" Ummm, EVERYTHING that you didn't do while you were drinking.

What's so exciting about drinking? The hangover the next day? The beating yourself up for drinking once again? The barely being able to get out of bed? You have it all wrong. Drinking is the boring part. Drinking keeps you in your box. In your comfort zone.

You are living life just going through the motions and not fully living the one physical life you have. Once I ditched alcohol, the world of possibility opened up. No, it didn't happen overnight, but here I am, almost 4.5 years sober, and I'm anything but bored.

And being bored isn't a bad thing. We're so used to going and doing that we forget just to be, and that's where most of us get stuck. We don't like being with ourselves, and removing alcohol forces us to do that. It's uncomfortable at first, but keep reminding yourself that it's uncomfortable because it's new.

Mother's Day is fast approaching here in the U.S. With that comes celebrating all of you sober moms who are breaking generational patterns, doing hard things, and giving your kids the mother they deserve. So I want to celebrate YOU!

For a chance to be featured on Instagram, Facebook, and our website and proudly rock your sober mom status, email hello@sobermomtribe.com with a sentence or two about what being a sober mom means to you. Don't forget to attach a high-quality picture and your Instagram handle.

PLEASE NO DM'S WITH REGARD TO THE MOTHER'S DAY SHOUTOUTS.

Are you struggling to confidently call yourself alcohol-free or sober?

Then keep an eye out for when the Confidently Be Alcohol-Free - 60 Day Challenge opens to you TOMORROW. The waitlist gets first dibs today and is one of the added perks of signing up before it goes live to the rest of the public. Plus, they get the extra bonus! Mamas on the waitlist; check your emails!

I can't wait for this next round to start on May 1st! You joining us?