Vera Bambi Instagram – I was just 1 month alcohol free when these photos were taken, drinking water at a winery. Now I’m close to 8 months sober. Although I wasn’t an alcoholic, removing that toxin from my life is something I’m really proud of. I’ve experienced so much mental clarity and it’s easier to put on muscle. Also, I wake up healthy and happy on Sunday morning instead of hungover or headachy. That’s been GREAT! 😅 This wasn’t easy to do and I’ve truly had to come face to face with myself on this journey. Drinking is so incredibly normalized. The alcohol menu at restaurants is longer than the food menu, people offer you a drink at every gathering, I have always liked the taste of an Irish coffee, mimosas used to be my getaway obsession and sometimes life just puts you in a place where a drink would really take the edge off. I never understood the impact it was having on my body and brain until I stumbled on some research while trying to improve my memory. Yes, stumbled. I never thought of it as something bad, especially since I would only drink during dinner dates or Saturday night streams. Far as I previously understood, it had health benefits. My biggest discovery was how much alcohol destroys your ability to cope. I would often say “man this week was rough, I’m gunna have a little drink drink”. I never had a lot, just enough to give myself a mental break. Instead of facing the music, I was volunteering myself for a dose of brain damage. Not good. My reading wasn’t the first thing that made me stop. In 2023 I witnessed the loss of multiple lives and attended multiple funerals due to substance abuse. Both alcohol and drugs, I don’t want to get into it, it’s a sad place to go. But the news coming at me shook me to my core. I know I’ve posted about my not drinking a lot, I plan to continue posting about it because it’s something I feel strongly about. My hope is that this message can reach someone who needs it, or even to simply notify someone like myself who doesn’t realize just how damaging it is. I encourage you to read about alcohol and brain damage. Knowing what you’re putting into your body and taking it very seriously. Wishing you luck, love and a beautiful life 💋