Ep 143: "I Need Alcohol To Relax”. Says Who?

This episode explores one of the most persistent beliefs about drinking: the idea that alcohol is essential for relaxation. If you've ever found yourself reaching for a drink after work or on a quiet afternoon almost automatically, you're not alone. Your host Anna Donaghey shares how this learned habit is driven by deep-seated beliefs, many of which never truly belonged to us in the first place.

With clarity and compassion, Anna examines the gap between what alcohol actually does in our bodies and the soothing myth we've been sold. She explores why we come to rely on alcohol to "switch off," how these patterns are modeled by family and culture, and the powerful role of questioning our inherited beliefs. Along the way, she offers science-backed insights into alcohol's real impact on stress and sleep, plus practical, gentle alternatives for anyone ready to try something new.

Highlights:

00:02 Automatic drinking after work: is it really relaxing?

02:02 How beliefs drive thoughts and thoughts drive drinking habits

03:47 The deeper belief: “I can’t relax without alcohol”

05:16 Why “switching off” often means marking a change of state

06:08 The truth: first drink relaxes you, then belief takes over

07:12 Family, culture, and media model alcohol as the only way to unwind

08:09 “Says who?”, questioning where our beliefs come from

09:12 Is alcohol actually removing stress or just postponing it?

10:21 The science: alcohol as a stressor, not a stress-reliever