Recognise & Accept: The First Step to Changing Your Relationship with Alcohol
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You don’t need a rock bottom to make a change. You just need a moment of honesty.
For many of the women I work with, the hardest part of changing their relationship with alcohol isn’t cutting back — it’s getting honest about where they are right now.
And not just with other people. With themselves.
That’s what Month 1 of the RECLAIM programme is all about: Recognise & Accept.
Not fix. Not fight. Not force. Just see clearly. And meet yourself there, kindly.
Why We Avoid This Step
We avoid this step because it feels big. Because once you admit, even quietly to yourself, that something isn’t sitting right — it feels like you’ll have to do something about it. And that can be scary.
But here’s the truth: You don’t have to change everything all at once. You don’t even have to stop drinking (unless you want to).
You just have to be willing to stop running from the truth of how things feel right now.
What Does It Mean to Recognise & Accept?
It means asking questions like:
“How do I actually feel after that glass of wine?”
“What am I really hoping alcohol will give me right now?”
“What emotions or situations am I drinking to avoid?”
It means seeing yourself fully — not to judge or criticise, but to understand.
And acceptance doesn’t mean you like where you are. It just means you’re no longer pretending you're somewhere else.
From that place, real change becomes possible.
A Free Tool to Help You Begin
To help you take that first step, I’ve created a gentle, 5-minute reflection you can download and use today:
👉 Download: Recognise & Accept: The First Step to Changing Your Relationship with Alcohol - Where I Am, Without Judgment
It includes:
A simple check-in on how you’re really feeling
A chance to explore how you want to feel
A one-line acceptance practice
Space to be curious, not committed
This isn’t about writing the “right” thing. It’s about meeting yourself with honesty and compassion — maybe for the first time in a long time.
You Don’t Have to Do This Alone
If this reflection stirs something in you, know this: You’re not alone, and you don’t have to figure it all out by yourself.
You’re welcome to join the WARRIORS Reclaim! Facebook group, where we explore these themes together each month, or book into one of our online support sessions for a safe, non-judgmental space to reflect and connect.
This is the beginning of your RECLAIM journey.
And it starts not with control, but with compassion.
“You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to be present.”
