Yes I did! I personally have quite an “all or nothing” element to my personality and this applied to drinking as much as anything else. The more I studied Hypnotherapy and how the brain works, the more aware I became of my own habits and behaviours and which ones I didn’t want anymore. I realised the downsides of drinking, such as the hangovers and weight gain were starting to outweigh the fun, and ultimately drinking had become a habit that was actually stopping me from being who I wanted to be.
I knew I wanted to be fit, healthy and strong, but I had to change my behaviours if I wanted that to become my reality. So I worked through each of the subconscious beliefs I held about drinking and used hypnosis to change my mindset. For example I used to think drinking was the most enjoyable part of a weekend, so I changed my focus onto all the amazing things I could do on a weekend without a hangover and those then became the activities I looked forward to.
Out of all the changes I’ve made in my life, going alcohol-free has got to be up there with the best. I certainly had some fear before I made the change, but I have never looked back since.
For anyone looking to reduce their intake or stop, I would again recommend writing a list of all the reasons you want to. Then also write down all the things you will be able to do that drinking stops you from, such as being more productive, sleeping better, exercising more, spending time on hobbies or even playing with the children more.
There are a lot of positive “quit lit” books out now around going alcohol-free and there is a better selection of alcohol-free drinks in the supermarkets than ever before, so it is a great time to make the change.

Let’s talk motivation. How can someone sustain motivation to change when it starts to wane?
Well, one of my favourite quotes is “You will never always be motivated, so you need to learn to be disciplined” and I think it is so true!
If we rely on always feeling pumped up and ready to go, soon enough we’ll run out of steam. Real self-love is learning how to be disciplined with yourself so you stay on track towards your goals, even on the days you don’t feel like it.
What are your favourite resources or self-help books to help with habit, mindset and belief change?
I personally really enjoyed Allen Carr’s Easyway to Stop Smoking, which he rewrote to apply to drinking and weight loss too. For alcohol, I really enjoyed The Sober Diaries by Clare Pooley and The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober by Catherine Gray.
There is also a brilliant movement called One Year No Beer who you can follow on Facebook, they are two brilliant guys who provide a wealth of free content around mindset and habit change.
Melanie Gillespie is a Clinical Hypnotherapist and Psychotherapist based in Frenchay, Bristol. She has worked with hundreds of clients over the last four years specifically around anxiety and creating lifestyle changes. She is passionate about helping others learn to empower themselves through understanding how their mind works and regularly posts tips and tricks on her Facebook and Instagram pages, so make sure you give her a follow!
Medical disclaimer
I am not a doctor, medical professional or a dietician. The information I provide is based on my professional experience as a Nutritional Therapist, studies provided and on my personal experience. Any recommendations I may make about diet changes, nutrition, supplements or lifestyle, or information provided to you on this website should be discussed between you and a medical or healthcare professional. The information you receive in these blogs does not take the place of professional medical advice.