Sobering Benefits: Is it Time for Me to Take a Break from Alcohol?
By Holly Wilson
This is such a loaded question and one that can feel overwhelming and emotionally charged. As a successful Christian businesswoman, you’re likely used to evaluating data, making informed decisions, and taking strategic action. So, let’s approach this question with the same professional discernment you bring to your business decisions, while acknowledging the spiritual aspects of this journey.
The Science Behind the Question to Taking a Break
God designed our brains with intricate neurotransmitter systems that respond to both natural rewards and artificial substances. When we repeatedly use alcohol, it hijacks these delicate systems, affecting four key neurotransmitters in ways that create both immediate effects and long-term changes to brain chemistry. Understanding how alcohol affects brain chemistry provides clues that you may be drinking too much alcohol.
Let’s break down what happens when you drink and look for the signs of drinking too much alcohol from a neuroscience perspective:
GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid)
Alcohol enhances GABA, your brain's primary inhibitory neurotransmitter. Think of GABA as your brain's natural "brake pedal." When alcohol amplifies GABA's effects, it creates:
Increased sedation
Reduced anxiety (temporarily)
Slowed breathing
Impaired motor coordination
Decreased inhibitions
While these effects might feel pleasant in the moment, regular drinking forces your brain to adapt by reducing natural GABA production. This is why many daily drinkers find themselves needing alcohol just to feel "normal" or to handle social situations that used to come naturally, which is a sign that you may be drinking too much alcohol.
Glutamate
While boosting GABA, alcohol simultaneously blocks glutamate, your brain's main excitatory neurotransmitter. This dual action creates a profound depressant effect, leading to:
Memory problems (especially blackouts)
Slurred speech
Poor coordination
Impaired learning ability
Reduced cognitive function
When you're wondering "Am I drinking too much?", consider how often you've experienced these glutamate-related effects, even in subtle ways like having trouble recalling details from the night before or feeling mentally foggy the next day.
Dopamine
Alcohol triggers dopamine release in your brain's reward center, creating feelings of pleasure and reinforcing drinking behavior. This is particularly relevant when asking yourself "Is it time for me to take a break from alcohol?" because:
Each drink creates a surge of dopamine
Over time, your brain requires more alcohol to achieve the same pleasurable effect
Natural rewards (like exercise, accomplishments, or spiritual connection) become less satisfying
The brain begins to associate drinking with reward, making it harder to find joy in alcohol-free activities
Serotonin
Perhaps most concerning for professional women is alcohol's impact on serotonin, the neurotransmitter that regulates mood, sleep, and emotional well-being. Regular drinking:
Disrupts natural serotonin production
Interferes with healthy sleep architecture
Can worsen anxiety and depression
Impacts emotional regulation
Affects decision-making abilities
As Proverbs 20:1 reminds us, "Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise." Modern neuroscience helps us understand exactly how this "leading astray" occurs at a cellular level. When we see the signs of drinking too much alcohol in our lives, we're often witnessing the effects of these disrupted neurotransmitter systems.
Understanding this brain chemistry helps explain why simple willpower often isn't enough to change our relationship with alcohol. The good news is that our brains demonstrate remarkable neuroplasticity - the ability to form new neural pathways and heal from the effects of alcohol. Just as our brains adapted to regular drinking, they can adapt to an alcohol-free lifestyle, gradually restoring natural neurotransmitter balance and function.
Professional Impact: The Hidden Costs of Drinking
The signs of drinking too much alcohol often manifest first in our professional lives, though we may not immediately recognize them as alcohol-related. Consider these evidence-based impacts:
Cognitive Function: Research shows that regular alcohol consumption affects executive function, even when we're not actively drinking. That presentation you used to nail? It might require twice the preparation time now.
Decision-Making: Studies indicate that consistent alcohol use alters our risk assessment abilities and emotional regulation – crucial skills for business leadership.
Sleep Quality: While alcohol might help you fall asleep, it significantly disrupts your sleep architecture, leading to decreased performance the next day.
Read my blog, "What Are the Signs of Alcohol Dependence?”, for more detailed information about the professional impacts of daily drinking.
Spiritual Disconnection
Is it time for me to take a break from alcohol? One of the most telling indicators comes from examining your spiritual life. When alcohol becomes a primary coping mechanism, it often replaces our natural tendency to turn to God in times of stress or celebration. If you find yourself more often reaching for a drink to numb or escape your life instead of turning to God as he calls us to do, that is a clear sign that it is time to take a break from alcohol.
"Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18). This verse isn't just about avoiding drunkenness – it's about choosing our true source of comfort, joy, and peace.
The Daily Reality Check
When asking yourself, "Is it time for me to take a break from alcohol?", consider these evidence-based patterns that often emerge in professional women's lives:
Morning Impact: You're increasingly relying on extra coffee and concealer to mask the effects of last night's drinks.
Calendar Management: You're scheduling important meetings later in the day to ensure peak performance.
Financial Patterns: Your expense reports show a growing trend of client entertainment involving alcohol.
Stress Response: Your first thought after a challenging meeting is about having a drink, leading to drinking without even thinking rather than praying or using other coping strategies.
The Science of Change
God created our brains with remarkable neuroplasticity – the ability to form new neural pathways and break old patterns. This scientific fact aligns with Scripture's promise of renewal: "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2).
Research shows that taking a break from alcohol, even temporarily, can lead to significant improvements in:
Cognitive function
Emotional regulation
Sleep quality
Liver function
Cardiovascular health
Weight management
Mental clarity
Making the Decision
If you're wondering, "Am I drinking too much?", consider these science-backed alcohol questions:
Time Investment: How much time do you spend thinking about, acquiring, consuming, or recovering from alcohol?
Impact Assessment: Has alcohol affected your professional performance, spiritual life, or personal relationships?
Coping Mechanisms: Do you automatically reach for alcohol rather than healthier stress management tools?
Control Check: Have attempts to moderate your drinking been unsuccessful or mentally exhausting?
My Journey with This Question
Like many of you reading this, I wrestled with the question "Is it time for me to take a break from alcohol?" for years before taking action. The signs were there - the hungover mornings becoming more frequent, the persistent brain fog that made every workday harder than it needed to be, and perhaps most significantly, a growing disconnection from God that left a hollow space in my spirit.
But I remained stuck in the alcohol cycle, ignoring these warning signs because I couldn't imagine my life without drinking. I felt like I needed alcohol to function in my professional and social worlds. Neuroscientists call this internal struggle "cognitive dissonance" - when we simultaneously hold two competing desires. In my case, I desperately wanted to stop drinking while also believing I couldn't live without alcohol.
This battle created constant internal tension, depleting my mental and emotional energy. I'd wake up promising myself "no drinks today," only to find myself pouring a glass of wine by 5 PM, then feeling shame and disappointment in myself, which only fed the cycle.
Looking back, I see how this pattern kept me trapped. But here's what I want you to know: when you're asking yourself "Am I drinking too much?", that question comes from a place of wisdom. It's your body, mind, and spirit trying to alert you to an important truth.
For me, change finally came when I stopped ignoring these signals and listened to that knowing deep in my heart - that still, small voice warning me I needed to make a change before something truly devastating happened.
If you're experiencing this internal battle, you're not alone. More importantly, you don't have to wait until you hit a devastating bottom to make a change. That questioning voice inside you? It's an invitation to freedom, not a judgment of failure.
The Role of Faith in Change
Scientific research increasingly supports what believers have long known – spiritual practices can significantly aid in behavior change. Studies show that prayer, meditation, and community support increase success rates in breaking unwanted habits.
If you've recognized signs of drinking too much alcohol in your life, remember that acknowledging this reality isn't a failure – it's a demonstration of wisdom and self-awareness. Consider these evidence-based steps:
Schedule a thorough physical to understand your current health status
Consult with a faith-based coach who understands professional women's unique challenges
Develop a support system that aligns with your values and lifestyle
Create a practical plan for managing business social situations
Professional Support Matters
Research shows that women in high-pressure careers benefit most from support systems that understand their unique challenges. Traditional recovery programs often don't address the specific needs of professional Christian women, which is why specialized coaching can be more effective.
Is it time for me to take a break from alcohol? Only you can answer that question, but if you're asking it, that's often a sign worth heeding. Remember, taking a break doesn't require a lifetime commitment or a rock-bottom story. It's simply a strategic decision to evaluate alcohol's role in your life and explore the freedom that might exist without it.
Ready to explore this question with professional guidance? Schedule a confidential discovery call to discuss your unique situation and learn about faith-based approaches to alcohol-free living that honor both your professional success and spiritual values.
