Tag: party girl

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Binge Drinking

When Being a Party Girl Stops Being Cute

The photo above is me passed out in the grass at 3am. I was 27 years old. While I don’t remember anything about the celebrations from that night, I remember telling myself that I “needed to celebrate” being back home after a 3 day weekend in LA. I blacked out completely. I somehow ended up in my front yard. I vaguely remember my roommates picking me up and carrying me to my bed. We laughed about it the next morning. One of my roommates sent me this photo and I posted it on Facebook because being a party girl was, like, soooooo cute. I continued to drink this way for two more years.

Some would argue that being a party girl (or boy) is never cute and I’m sure they have valid reasons for that. I would argue that - in moderation - there’s nothing wrong with having a phase in your life where you have a few too many drinks on the regular, act silly with your friends, and hook up with someone you barely know… as long as you’re safe about it. Yes, you read that correctly. This sober woman supports others getting drunk, safely. My toxic relationship with alcohol has nothing to do with other people’s relationship with alcohol.

My body was clearly giving me signs that the party girl lifestyle wasn’t for me anymore. These are some of the red flags I ignored for years, and wish I hadn’t:

 

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Binge Drinking SobrieTea Texas The Bar Scene

The Night I Was Roofied

It was the summer of 2009. I was 24, living with my at-the-time boyfriend and bartending full time at a fine dining restaurant in Waco, Texas. I was in my own delusional drunken world, unaware of anything that was going on around me - unless it directly affected me.

That July, a group of seven sort-of friends met in Houston, Texas to celebrate their mutual friend’s Bachelorette party. Each of us rocked heels, dresses, and clutches as we frantically texted from our Blackberries. After a sushi dinner with lychee martinis, we got into a limo and sipped champagne. The maid of honor gave each of us a pink, zebra-print mask with a sassy adjective. I screamed and begged for the one that said “Wild”. I got it.

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Binge Drinking New York City Personal Development SobrieTea

How Did You Just Quit Drinking?!?

Last week, on my daily stroll through Washington Square Park, I had an honest conversation via text with one of my clients.  The sun was shining as we discussed dark times.  Eager for help, she asked me several questions about sobriety.  Her questions turned into an accidental interview and she helped me come to terms with some things I didn’t even know about myself.  She agreed to let me share our convo as long as she remains anonymous. Let’s call her….Amanda…

Amanda: How did you just quit drinking?  I always get to this point, where I feel so bad and so guilty.  I’ll swear I want to make a change and give up alcohol, then never actually follow through. I’m so sick of my behavior, but I don’t know how to change it and actually stick to it. 

Me:  After years of “trying on sobriety“, making mistakes, hurting myself and others, I realized that living a party girl lifestyle wasn’t cute anymore.  I woke up on Monday, November 30th, 2015 with a terrible headache.  I was hungover.  Again.  I told myself that I’m going to go one week without booze to see how I feel.  Then I told my roommate.  Then I told my coworkers.  Then I told the people I was drinking with the night before.  I asked all of these people to help keep me accountable and to please refrain from inviting me out for drinks.  That week turned into two weeks.  Those two weeks turned into a month.  As of today, I’m happy to say that I’m 7 months sober.

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