The Snowball Effect: How Alcohol Use Quietly Builds Momentum
Barbara Clark, MS, Brainspotting Certified Coach
Alcohol use rarely begins with chaos—it often starts quietly. A glass of wine to unwind, a drink at a gathering, something to take the edge off after a long day. For many, it seems harmless at first. But over time, what starts as an occasional comfort can begin to grow—gradually, subtly—like a snowball rolling downhill, gathering weight and speed.
At Self-Energy Coaching, I see this pattern often, especially in individuals navigating high-stress environments, unresolved trauma, or big life transitions. Maybe you're a parent stretched thin, a service member managing intense emotional demands, or someone healing from loss. Whatever your story, alcohol might have become a tool—a way to cope, to numb, to feel something (or nothing) for a little while.
But here’s the thing: alcohol doesn’t erase pain—it defers it. And often, it invites a new set of problems to the table.
What the Snowball Looks Like
It starts with one: A single drink to relax. No big deal.
Then becomes routine: That one turns into an everyday habit. A ritual you begin to rely on.
Tolerance builds: Your brain adapts, and now you need more to feel the same effects.
Consequences show up: Maybe it’s sleep issues, mood swings, strained relationships, or declining motivation.
Shame enters the chat: And suddenly, you’re not just dealing with stress or trauma—you’re also carrying guilt and confusion about your drinking.
The snowball effect doesn’t always look dramatic from the outside. It can happen quietly, even while you’re still holding things together. That’s what makes it so tricky—and so important to talk about.
A Compassionate Approach to Understanding Use
Instead of asking, “Why can’t I just stop?” I invite you to ask, “What part of me feels like it needs this?”
From a trauma-informed lens, alcohol use is often the strategy of a part of you that's trying to help—trying to protect or soothe you in the only way it knows how.
At Self-Energy Coaching, we gently explore those parts using tools like Internal Family Systems (IFS), Brainspotting, and somatic work. We’re not here to shame the snowball—we’re here to understand how it started and how we can help it melt.
Healing is Possible
If any of this resonates, know that you’re not broken—you’re human. And healing doesn’t require perfection. It requires curiosity, compassion, and support.
Whether you’re questioning your relationship with alcohol or already deep in that snowball cycle, you don’t have to navigate it alone.
Let’s work together to get to the root, shift the pattern, and reconnect with the grounded, empowered version of you that’s still very much here.