Missed Dry January? Curiosity Around Alcohol is Still in Season!
The beginning of a new year organically invites us to reflect on what’s been working in our lives and what may no longer serve us in ways it once did. We may feel motivated to take inventory of our emotional landscapes, noticing what contributes to steadiness and what makes things feel more turbulent. For some people, this may look like exploring their relationship with substances, such as their alcohol use.
There’s a large misconception that you must have “a problem” to justify being intentionally curious about the role of alcohol in your life. The truth? Looking at your relationship with alcohol doesn't have to mean you drink daily, have experienced major consequences due to alcohol, or that you need to label yourself in a particular way. It’s simply about pausing long enough to notice how alcohol fits into your life right now and why you may utilize it in the way you do.
This approach is often described as sober curiosity, but you don’t have to endorse any identifier to participate. While some people may prefer a structured pause with a set time frame (such as Dry January or abstaining from any alcohol for a set amount of days), sober curiosity can also exist in taking shorter unplanned breaks or being more intentional before having a drink. Any willingness to lean into introspection can be seen as a win, with less focus on making any immediate decisions around what the future may hold. Rather than asking ourselves, “Should I stop drinking?” or completely halting cold turkey, sober curiosity may look like sitting with the following questions:
What do I notice about myself when alcohol is present?
How do I feel emotionally before and after drinking?
What do I reach for it to provide?
What would it mean if I didn’t drink at a social event?
These answers may lead you into more mindful awareness of how alcohol affects your mood, your body, your energy, and the ways you cope with stress or seek connection. For many people, this reflection comes from a desire to feel more present, more regulated, more connected to our loved ones, or overall more aligned with their values.
Therapy can be a great tool to help guide these conversations in a non-judgmental space. Our GPC therapists can help you explore patterns in your thoughts, behaviors, and emotions when alcohol is in the picture. The focus doesn’t need to be centered around willpower, rules, or making immediate long-term changes. Instead, therapy offers space to understand what alcohol provides, what feels harder or easier without it, and what needs might be going unmet.
An Important Note About Alcohol Use Disorders:
While many people benefit from curiosity based exploration, it’s also important to acknowledge that some individuals do meet criteria for alcohol use disorders. If drinking feels less like a choice and more like something that’s controlling you, help is available. Please consider reaching out to a therapist who specializes in substance use disorders who may be able to help guide you to the right level of support you may be needing. You don’t have to navigate this alone.