How Sarah Levy, author of 'Drinking Games,' regained control of her life by embracing sobriety

As people reflect on what changes they’d like to make ahead of the New Year, I’m so excited to present a powerful conversation with writer Sarah Levy.  In her memoir “Drinking Games,” available in paperback Jan. 2, Sarah chronicles her journey to sobriety. 

Growing up, Sarah’s family moved around a lot which left her feeling awkwardly out of place. But with alcohol, “I felt like I had this key,” she says in our conversation, “like I was able to unlock this world where suddenly I was saying the right things, and I did feel like I was a part of the crowd.”

After college, the young professional living in New York City, leaned further into drinking, thanks to frequent happy hours and social gatherings. Blacking out began to happen more frequently. She woke up in the hospital twice, unaware of how she’d gotten there, and one day she’d had enough.

“I realized that day, when I start to drink I'm powerless, and I hated that word,” Sarah says. “But the truth was, once I started to drink I really didn't know what was going to happen. I really lost control after a couple of drinks, and it just kind of hit me over the head. I was just done. 

“I've heard people describe that as the gift of desperation,” she continues. “I was so desperate to not feel that way anymore that I was pretty much willing to try anything, including sobriety, which seemed like the worst possible fate and outcome. I thought I would never have fun again. I thought I would never make new friends, never date. I really was like, ‘Okay, well, my life is over, but at the very least, I won't feel this way anymore.’ And my life quickly got a lot better. “

In our very honest chat Sarah reveals why she clung to her identity as a drinker, the shame that accompanied a spiral, how she was able to quit drinking and what a gift sobriety has been. 

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Purchase “Drinking Games,” available on paperback Jan. 2. 

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