"I noticed, a lot of the times, I would check out after work. I would find myself after a hard day, pulling over to get some beer or wine, coming home, having dinner and then just wanting to shut everything out and be alone with my wine while my husband would read to my son and put him to bed...

Now that I'm more present, I've noticed a shift within our family. And I think my son has noticed how much better it feels for everybody without alcohol in the house." ~Devon Donkin BSN, RN, NC-BC, Certified Gray Area Drinking Coach

Ah-Ha Moments

• Working 12-hour shifts is taxing.  It’s OK to search for something outside of bedside Nursing to support you and your family life
• Shifts in wellbeing don’t have to be or feel dramatic, instead they can be simple and easy
• Alcohol has negative impacts on health, like hormone disruption, blood pressure, energy levels, gut microbiome, brain shrinkage, relationships, and sleep.  It’s linked to certain cancers, high blood pressures and mental health and other health issues
• Alcohol is a highly addictive substance, so it is important to balance our body chemistry through lifestyle choices like mindfulness, better sleep, balancing blood sugars
• Gray Area Drinkers consume a handful of drinks per week and are doing this regularly.  They are moderating their drinking regularly and it may be consuming to monitor and manage this behavior
• It’s important to support the nervous system and body’s biochemistry when one begins to abstain from alcohol
• Sleep, exercise, sunlight, breathwork, eating nourishing foods, drinking enough water will help support your nervous system and body’s biochemistry
• Creating new habits and rituals to support your journey into sobriety are, tell people about it, get into nature, try movement, be curious, be and feel into your body, hug someone, hug your pet, notice when you feel good, embracing feel good moments

Links and Resources

• American Holistic Nurse Credentialing Corporation and board certification for Nurse Coaching
• Nurse Coaching Integrative Approaches to Health and Wellbeing Dossey, Luck, Schaub textbook
• The “Gray Area” of Consumption Between Moderate and Risk Drinking*
• Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-2025
• Jolene Park Gray Drinking TED Talk
• Nurse Donkin on Insta

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