Certified Coaches Jonathan Ball and Ellen Biggs of The Alcohol Myth dive deep into Alcohol and Society, the second of the "Three S's" of alcohol (Substance, Society, and Self).

Discover how pervasive drinking culture, societal pressure, and media romanticization influence our choices and make questioning your relationship with alcohol feel isolating.

In this episode, you'll learn about:
Societal Pressure: How the universal need for acceptance and belonging often drives the first drink and continued use.

Media Glorification: The impact of drinking culture and the romanticization of alcohol in media and TV shows (like Scandal and How I Met Your Mother).

The Disconnect: Why the media's failure to show negative consequences (like hangovers, anxiety, or guilt) creates a massive disconnect for those struggling with drinking.

AF Strategies: Practical ways to navigate social scenes on your alcohol-free journey, including going incognito, using AF drinks, and communicating with friends.

Finding Your Tribe: The power of connecting with an alcohol-free community and "Quit Lit" to counter cultural messaging.

Quick Takeaways for Your AF Journey:
Practice Compassion: Understand that the fear about changing your relationships is natural and universal.

Counter the Messages: Actively incorporate stories and communities of people who love sobriety.

It's Your Business: You don't owe anyone an explanation about how to stop drinking; your decision is your own.

Watch the Media: Pay attention to how alcohol is depicted in your favorite TV shows and movies to recognize the pervasive cultural messages.

Timestamps for Navigation:
0:27 - Introducing the hosts and the Three S's (Substance, Society, Self)
1:33 - Societal pressure and the first drink
8:19 - Alcohol is romanticized in media
11:37 - Why the media portrayal is a facade
14:05 - Finding your alcohol-free tribe
19:48 - Fear of change and maintaining belonging
22:28 - Strategies for going "incognito" (AF drinks, texts)
34:39 - Quick tips for starting your alcohol-free journey

If this conversation resonated with you, please like, share, and subscribe!

The Alcohol Myth podcast helps you question your relationship with alcohol and navigate your journey without so much pain and anxiety.

#alcoholandsociety #drinkingculture #alcoholfreejourney #sobriety #quittingalcohol #QuitLit #alcoholinmedia #societalpressure #thealcoholmyth

Looking for community? Support? Reach out! We want to connect with you and support your journey to alcohol freedom.

Send us an email at thealcoholmyth@gmail.com

Or check out our websites

Find Jonathan at https://livecreativeaf.com/

Find Ellen at https://ellenbiggscoaching.com/

Have you ever wondered why a few drinks to "relax" often leads to a racing heart and anxiety at 3:00 AM? In this episode of The Alcohol Myth, Jonathan and Ellen break down the actual biology of what alcohol does to the human body.

We often blame ourselves for not having enough willpower, but the truth is often just simple chemistry. We explain the science behind the "stimulant-depressant" cycle, why you can never quite chase down that initial buzz, and the role of chemicals like dynorphin, cortisol, and adrenaline in creating "hangxiety."

If you’ve ever felt shame about your drinking habits, this episode is a must-watch. Learn why your body reacts the way it does, why withdrawal isn't just something that happens to extreme cases, and how to use curiosity and compassion to change your relationship with alcohol.

In this video, we cover:

The Science of "Hangxiety": Why alcohol spikes your stress hormones hours after you stop drinking.

The Dynorphin Effect: Why the "high" from alcohol only lasts 20 minutes and why you feel lower afterwards.

The 3 AM Wake-Up Call: The biological reason you wake up sweaty and anxious in the middle of the night.

The 10-12 Day Reset: How long it actually takes for alcohol to fully leave your system.

Practical Tips: How to use the "Wait" experiment to understand your body's signals.

Timestamps:

0:00 - Intro: The myth of the "alcoholic" vs. normal drinker

1:07 - Ellen’s Win: Navigating "Firsts" (FFTs) with friends alcohol-free

2:51 - Jonathan’s Win: The power of vulnerability

5:50 - The 3:00 AM Panic: Personal stories of sleeplessness and shame

11:00 - The Science: Stimulant vs. Depressant & The Dynorphin Drop

16:00 - Why you feel anxious: Cortisol, Adrenaline, and the body's fight for homeostasis

22:30 - Practical Tools: Using curiosity and the "Wait" technique

26:40 - The 10-12 Day Rule: Understanding how long alcohol stays in your system

#AlcoholFree #Sobriety #ScienceOfAlcohol #Hangxiety #MentalHealth #TheAlcoholMyth #Wellness #QuitDrinking #biology

Looking for community? Support? Reach out! We want to connect with you and support your journey to alcohol freedom.

Send us an email at thealcoholmyth@gmail.com

Or check out our websites

Find Jonathan at https://livecreativeaf.com/

Find Ellen at https://ellenbiggscoaching.com/

Deciding to take a break from alcohol is a massive first step—but how do you actually get through those critical first few days? Whether you are starting Dry January, a 30-day challenge, or just a personal pause, stringing together those early alcohol-free (AF) days can feel overwhelming.

In this episode of The Alcohol Myth Podcast, coaches Jonathan and Ellen dive deep into the tactical and emotional tools you need to navigate the early stages of sobriety. We share our personal stories—from Ellen’s "driver’s ed" guardrails to Jonathan’s "magic trick" mindset shift—and discuss why community and planning are more important than willpower.

What we cover in this episode:
The Power of Planning: Why you need to plan your evenings down to the minute (including snacks and treats!).

Building Community: Why finding a "shared space" makes the hard days easier.

The Curiosity Mindset: Shifting from "I can't drink" to "What if I don't?"

Self-Compassion: Why beating yourself up is the fastest way to fail.

The Live Alcohol Experiment: How to get daily coaching and support for your alcohol-free journey.

🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED
Live Alcohol Experiment (January): Join Jonathan and other coaches for 31 days of live support https://go.livealcoholexperiment.com/join-today

Live Naked AF by Annie Grace: Pre-order the new book for special access to the experiment https://thisnakedmind.com/live-naked-af/

📬 CONNECT WITH US: Have a question or a story to share? We read every message! Email us: thealcoholmyth@gmail.com

Find Jonathan at https://livecreativeaf.com/

Find Ellen at https://ellenbiggscoaching.com/

CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro: Life on the other side of alcohol
00:53 Why the first few days are critical
01:58 Ellen’s Story: Using "Guardrails" to get through week one
04:38 The 2 pillars: Community and Planning
07:23 Breaking the isolation: Finding your people
10:34 Moving from 4 days to a 21-day challenge
13:03 Self-Discovery: Redefining your relationship with alcohol
17:41 Advice: Don't make it about "Forever"
19:45 Jonathan’s Story: The "Magic Trick" of mindset shifts
24:20 Dealing with setbacks and grief
32:30 How to join the Live Alcohol Experiment in January
37:02 3 Quick Tips for your first AF days
41:34 Final thoughts: Be kind to yourself

#DryJanuary #AlcoholFree #SobrietyTips #ThisNaked Mind #TheAlcoholMyth #SobrietyPodcast #AlcoholExperiment #MindfulDrinking