How to stop drinking alcohol? And why I quit drinking back in 2019
- Martyna Bajer
- Oct 12
- 3 min read
I started drinking when I was far too young...
In the culture I grew up in, alcohol was a social glue and a symbol of being “fun” and “free.”
I drank throughout secondary school, high school, and university without ever questioning its real purpose in my life, or how it was shaping me.
Until 2019.
That year, everything shifted. I quit contraceptive pills, dove deep into astrology and spirituality, and went vegan (at that time). It was a year of purging, of peeling away layers I didn’t even know I had, and finally emerging as a completely new person, actually, emerging as me.
Quitting alcohol went hand-in-hand with all the other conscious, holistic choices I was making. It wasn’t just about avoiding hangovers; it was about reclaiming my clarity, my energy, and my true self. Looking back, I now believe that both alcohol and hormonal medicine disconnected me from my body and emotions on a massive scale.
I didn’t actually know who I was until I removed all the distractors and gave myself space to feel, to listen, and to live fully awake!
Sobriety = spiritual upgrade
And let’s be honest, I don’t always “fit in” anymore with friends from my drinking, pre-fully-me era. When I order tea instead of wine, I sometimes feel like the odd one out. But I’ve realized that true friendships don’t depend on shared drinks but on real connection.
The friends who love and respect me never question my choice. Others might joke or push, but I’ve learned their reaction says more about their own relationship with alcohol than about me. If a friendship fades because I’m no longer drinking, it means it was never rooted in who I really am. And I’m okay with that because being fully myself attracts the right people and deeper connections.
But enough about me! Let me introduce you to the Ayurvedic take on alcohol as it is a very interesting one :)
From an Ayurvedic perspective, alcohol is unlike any other substance because it can simultaneously aggravate all three doshas!
Vata increases due to alcohol’s light, drying, and penetrating qualities, which disturb the nervous system, causing restlessness, anxiety, and scattered thoughts.
Pitta rises because alcohol is heating the blood, inflaming the digestive system, and stirring up anger or irritation.
Kapha is also disturbed as alcohol’s heaviness and dampness can create sluggishness and lethargy.
In other words, alcohol confuses the entire body-mind system; It first overstimulates and numbs, only to leave toxins, weakened digestion, and depleted Ojas (our life force and immunity) behind.
While Ayurveda may use tiny, intentional doses of fermented herbs for medicinal purposes (Arishta), what we drink socially has no such balancing effect. It disconnects us from ourselves and pulls us further from health, clarity, and peace.
Would you like to stop drinking alcohol?
I know how hard it can be to break that cycle, because I’ve been there. Today, I help others not only heal their bodies through Ayurveda but also gently free themselves from habits like drinking or smoking.
I use specific Ayurvedic herbs and dietary guidance that calm the nervous system, rebuild Ojas (vital energy), and support the body in letting go of cravings and dependency.
If you’re ready to experience true clarity, balance, and joy without needing a drink to feel “enough” - I can guide you there!
