How healthy is your relationship with alcohol?
If you're a lawyer or other professional, this may be a complicated question. You drink all the time, but you probably don't feel like you're an alcoholic; it's just part of the culture.
This episode may be a bit controversial, but it's a topic we need to have more conversations about.
We’re talking about our relationship with alcohol, and you’ll want to listen in whether you’ve struggled with alcohol or not because this episode is about more than alcohol. This episode is about creating a better relationship to ourselves.
My guest today has been featured in featured in Forbes, The Huffington Post, Elite Daily and Mind Body Green, and she has a unique view on alcohol consumption that you may not have heard before.
Before I introduce you to her, I want to let you know that I want to hear from you. This episode may bring up some topics and emotions, and I want to know what they are. You can reach me @dina.cataldo on Instagram.
This topic especially interests me because of my own experiences with alcohol and substance abuse within the legal profession.
A 2016 New York Times article states:
One in three practicing lawyers are problem drinkers, based on the volume and frequency of alcohol consumed, 28 percent suffer from depression, and 19 percent show symptoms of anxiety, according to the study, which involved 12,825 licensed, employed lawyers in 19 states around the country.
We seem to have black and white perspective on alcohol abuse – you’re either an addict or you don’t have a problem. If you have a “problem” with alcohol, then you’re considered an addict.
But life isn’t black and white, and why don’t we ever hear there’s a middle ground between complete sobriety and calling yourself an alcoholic in our culture?
My guest today offers a fresh perspective.
Caitlin Padgett is the Amazon best-selling author of Drink Less Be More: How to have a great night (and life) without getting wasted and a certified coach for successful women who struggle with alcohol. At the age of 29, Caitlin’s work-hard / play-hard lifestyle started taking its toll. She realized she was drinking herself to sleep almost every night and blacking out every weekend.
Thirsty for alternatives to mainstream treatment, Caitlin combined her background in psychology, nutrition, fitness, harm reduction and holistic health to craft an unconventional approach to help women find freedom from alcohol, on their own terms.
She tells you about her story of over drinking and recognizing that she wanted to make change. The challenges to making change when alcohol is everywhere. And why she felt it was overkill to totally eliminate alcohol from her life and call herself an alcoholic.
Having this conversation made me see that we need a cultural shift when it comes to alcohol and substance abuse generally. We’re not educated at a young age around substance abuse nor are we given the tools to handle it in our young adulthood.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode and your personal experiences if you’d like to share by DMing me on Instagram @dina.cataldo.
RESOURCES
- Caitlin Padgett's book: Drink Less Be More: How to have a great night (and life) without getting wasted
- Caitlin's website Redefining Sobriety
- Caitlin's Expert Interview Series and Self Study Program
- Connect with Caitlin on Instagram
- 2016 New York Times Article on Lawyers and Alcohol