The Slippery Slope: Why It’s Easy to Quit Drinking… and Even Easier to Go Back

You know that moment when you’ve had enough. Maybe it's on a hazy morning, maybe a broken promise, another night that you can't quite remember. So you decide: I’m done.

And for a little while, you are.

You feel clearer. Energised. Free. Proud.

You've got this. It's easy.

But then… something happens. A big day at work, that friend who invites you for a drink after work, your mum visiting...

One drink “just to be social” or “take the edge off” turns into two, then three. It feels alright, you're not too hungover, and it was fun.

So you do it again. And again. And suddenly you’re back in the cycle—wondering how did I let this happen again?

If this is you, I want you to know: you’re not broken. You’re not weak. And you’re definitely not alone.

📸 11 June 2020 - One month sober. Feeling proud but still a bit fragile.

Most people who want to quit drinking can stop—for a while. That’s not the hard part. Think of pregnancy, a social gathering at your child's daycare entre, or perhaps when you are unwell, or you are taking antibiotics. It's pretty easy not to drink, right?

The hard part is saying "no" consistently in a world where alcohol is everywhere…
… in celebrations
… in relationships
… in stress relief
… in the identity we’ve had for decades

The truth is that alcohol is doing something for us. It can shift any mood into a better one, it seems.

It’s not just a drink. It’s a coping tool. A confidence booster. A social pass. A comfort blanket.

And unless we take time to unpack all of that, it’s no surprise we slide back in.

If you’ve been successful at stopping for weeks or months—but something always pulls you back—get curious (not upset!).

Ask yourself:

• Do I think I’m more fun or interesting with a drink?

• Am I afraid of being the “sober one” in my circle? What will it mean about me?

• Do I rely on alcohol to relax or de-stress?

• Is it tied to a relationship or social life I’m scared to lose?

• Deep down, do I think sober people are boring… and I don’t want to be boring?

These questions aren’t here to shame you.
They’re here to wake you up.

Because self-awareness is your power.

And when you know what you’re really afraid of, you can start to work through it—instead of just white-knuckling your way through another sloppy challenge that will lead you to the slippery slope [ again].

If we want to make sobriety last, we need more than willpower.

We need a vision. A plan. A why that’s bigger than the next Friday night.

In The Mindfully Sober Program, we work through all of this, step by step:

• We unpack your drinking story (without judgment)

• We get crystal clear on your why

• We visualise your alcohol-free future

• We explore what needs to be shifted, what needs to go, and what needs to be built

• We redesign your habits, your relationships, and your inner dialogue

• We build real tools to help you stay sober

It’s about building a life so good, you don’t need to escape from it. It's making you SO certain, SO solid in your decision that nothing can shake it.

If you’ve quit before, you can quit again. But this time, let it be different.

Let it be conscious.
Let it be kind.
Let it be about who you’re becoming—not what you’re giving up.

I promise you, sobriety isn’t the end of your fun, your freedom, or your joy.
It’s the start of everything real.