Do you drink because you enjoy alcohol? Or because you just need a break?

For many people, alcohol isn't really about the alcohol anymore. It's about relief.

It's the exhale at the end of a long day. The reward after carrying everyone else's needs. The thing that helps you switch off when your brain won't stop spinning.

In this episode, I'm exploring what I call "The Off-Switch Illusion", which is the belief that alcohol helps us cope with stress, when in reality it may be adding to the very thing we're trying to escape.

We'll talk about:

- Why high-functioning, capable people are particularly vulnerable to using alcohol as relief
- The difference between escape and genuine recovery
- How alcohol affects stress, anxiety and sleep
- Why you might feel more overwhelmed than you realise
- Healthier ways to recharge that don't leave you depleted the next day

If you've ever stood in the kitchen at the end of a stressful day thinking, "I just need a drink", this episode is for you.

Because maybe what you really need isn't alcohol. Maybe you need rest.

Get in touch:

Abi

30 Days to Freedom - A Gentle Reset

Available here - www.levelupsobrietycoaching.com/30-days-to-freedom-reset/

Instagram @levelup.withabi

Email hello@levelupsobrietycoaching.co.nz

Affiliate links:

Terps & Co. www.drinkterps.co.nz - enter code ABI20 for 20% off storewide

I use Riverside.fm for my podcast editing software. Click the link below to find out more!

https://www.riverside.fm/?utm_campaign=campaign_5&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=rewardful&via=abi

My podcast episodes are hosted and distributed by Buzzsprout. Click the link below for a $20 Refer a Friend voucher (T&Cs apply)

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Music from #Uppbeat
https://uppbeat.io/t/tatami/in-motion
License code: N5GLWPT8QQSRU7D2

Most sobriety stories are told with the benefit of hindsight. But what about the messy middle? The early days when you're still figuring things out, navigating cravings, questioning yourself, and learning how to live without alcohol.

In this episode, I'm joined by Matt, who is approaching two months alcohol-free. We talk openly about his drinking journey, what led him to stop, the challenges he's faced so far, and the changes he's already starting to notice.

Together we explore:

- What alcohol was really giving him
- The moment he knew something needed to change
- The reality of early sobriety
- What has surprised him most about being alcohol-free
- The gains he's experienced in just a few short weeks

Whether you're on Day 1, Day 60, or simply questioning your relationship with alcohol, this honest conversation is a reminder that you don't have to have it all figured out to start.

Get in touch:

Matt

Instagram @walkthesoberline

Abi

30 Days to Freedom - A Gentle Reset

Available here - www.levelupsobrietycoaching.com/30-days-to-freedom-reset/

Instagram @levelup.withabi

Email hello@levelupsobrietycoaching.co.nz

Affiliate links:

Terps & Co. www.drinkterps.co.nz - enter code ABI20 for 20% off storewide

I use Riverside.fm for my podcast editing software. Click the link below to find out more!

https://www.riverside.fm/?utm_campaign=campaign_5&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=rewardful&via=abi

My podcast episodes are hosted and distributed by Buzzsprout. Click the link below for a $20 Refer a Friend voucher (T&Cs apply)

https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=2404910

Music from #Uppbeat
https://uppbeat.io/t/tatami/in-motion
License code: N5GLWPT8QQSRU7D2

Why does moderation feel so hard? If you've ever made rules around drinking...

Only on weekends.
Only two glasses.
No drinking at home.
I'll start again on Monday.

...and found yourself back in the same cycle, this episode is for you.

In this episode, I'm exploring why moderation can feel so exhausting. Not because you're failing, but because of the constant mental energy it requires.

We'll talk about:

- The hidden mental load of managing alcohol
- Why moderation often becomes a full-time job in your head
- Decision fatigue and the endless negotiations
- Why some people find taking a longer break feels simpler, not harder
- The difference between drinking less and feeling truly free

If you've spent years trying to find the "perfect balance" with alcohol, this episode might help you see things from a different perspective.

Because maybe the goal isn't better rules. Maybe the goal is freedom from needing them.

Get in touch:

Abi

30 Days to Freedom - A Gentle Reset

Available here - www.levelupsobrietycoaching.com/30-days-to-freedom-reset/

Instagram @levelup.withabi

Email hello@levelupsobrietycoaching.co.nz

Affiliate links:

Terps & Co. www.drinkterps.co.nz - enter code ABI20 for 20% off storewide

I use Riverside.fm for my podcast editing software. Click the link below to find out more!

https://www.riverside.fm/?utm_campaign=campaign_5&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=rewardful&via=abi

My podcast episodes are hosted and distributed by Buzzsprout. Click the link below for a $20 Refer a Friend voucher (T&Cs apply)

https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=2404910

Music from #Uppbeat
https://uppbeat.io/t/tatami/in-motion
License code: N5GLWPT8QQSRU7D2