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Can stopping drinking alleviate anxiety? This question haunted Dan. After years of daily drinking that started in college, he found that giving up alcohol was the solution to many obstacles preventing him from achieving the life he envisioned. His transition from blackouts and risky situations to nearly 10 months of living without alcohol illustrates how choosing sobriety can not only change your relationship with drinking but also enhance your overall mental well-being.
Growing Up Surrounded by Alcohol’s Glamour
My experience with alcohol began long before I first tasted it. My parents weren’t heavy drinkers; they had a modest liquor cabinet that was opened only on Sundays when family visited. I vividly recollect watching my aunt and grandma smoke and drink martinis, thinking they radiated sophistication and thrill. They seemed more exciting than my parents, and I aspired to emulate them as an adult.
Reflecting on those early moments, I realize they influenced my perceptions about drinking. In my family, alcohol was not something dangerous or bad; it was meant for special occasions and made people appear mature and elegant. For years, I eagerly anticipated reaching the age where I could drink, as it seemed pivotal to adulthood.
The Temptation of the “Cool” Drink
As I matured and noticed alcohol everywhere, my desire for it intensified. Drinking appeared to be a fantastic experience—stylish, sophisticated, and entertaining. I couldn’t wait to partake in this activity that seemed essential to enjoyment.
During my teenage years, I was eagerly counting down the days until I could legally drink. Movies, social gatherings I couldn’t attend, and the general cultural narrative suggested that drinking was a typical and necessary aspect of fun. I genuinely believed that alcohol would make me more engaging and sociable, overlooking its potential to generate problems rather than solve them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydKX_XusMqA[/embed>
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%20100vw,%201024px//figure/divpThese%20efforts%20were%20incredibly%20frustrating.%20The%2030-day%20breaks%20often%20felt%20torturous,%20and%20I%20usually%20ended%20them%20prematurely%20with%20an%20excuse%20like%20a%20birthday%20or%20special%20occasion.%20When%20I%20attempted%20to%20limit%20my%20drinking%20to%20weekends,%20I%20spent%20the%20entire%20week%20awaiting%20Friday.%20Even%20when%20I%20chose%20lighter%20beverages,%20I’d%20end%20up%20consuming%20more%20of%20them%20or%20drinking%20for%20longer%20periods./ppEvery%20time%20I%20relapsed%20in%20controlling%20my%20drinking,%20I%20thought%20I%20just%20needed%20to%20try%20harder%20or%20establish%20stricter%20guidelines.%20I%20convinced%20myself%20the%20issue%20was%20my%20lack%20of%20willpower,%20rather%20than%20recognizing%20that%20alcohol%20itself%20was%20the%20true%20problem.%20At%20that%20point,%20I%20hadn’t%20even%20considered%20whether%20quitting%20drinking%20could%20ease%20my%20anxiety;%20I%20still%20believed%20alcohol%20was%20alleviating%20it%20instead%20of%20exacerbating%20it./ph2%20class=wp-block-headingThe%20Instagram%20Post%20That%20Changed%20Everything/h2pMy%20life%20took%20a%20turn%20due%20to%20a%20single%20Instagram%20post.%20In%20March%202020,%20I%20came%20across%20Ryan%20O’Connell%20sharing%20how%20he%20quit%20drinking%20after%20reading%20Annie%20Grace’s%20book.%20He%20linked%20to%20her%20podcast,%20and%20his%20words%20resonated%20with%20me%20in%20a%20way%20that%20no%20other%20message%20about%20quitting%20drinking%20had%20before./pcenterhtmlblockquote%20class=instagram-media%20data-instgrm-captioned=%20data-instgrm-permalink=https://www.instagram.com/p/CQgfe8wB2i0/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading%20data-instgrm-version=14%20style=%20background:#FFF;%20border:0;%20border-radius:3px;%20box-shadow:0%200%201px%200%20rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0%201px%2010px%200%20rgba(0,0,0,0.15);%20margin:%201px;%20max-width:540px;%20min-width:326px;%20padding:0;%20width:99.375%;%20width:-webkit-calc(100%%20-%202px);%20width:calc(100%%20-%202px)://centerpI%20quickly%20purchased%20Annie’s%20book%20and%20registered%20for%20my%20first%20Alcohol%20Experiment%20in%20April%202020.%20The%20timing%20was%20unusual%20due%20to%20the%20pandemic%20lockdowns,%20but%20it%20turned%20out%20to%20be%20ideal.%20With%20fewer%20social%20distractions,%20I%20was%20able%20to%20concentrate%20fully%20on%20understanding%20alcohol%20and%20myself./ppThat%20single%20Instagram%20post%20was%20minor,%20yet%20it%20unlocked%20a%20pathway%20I%20hadn’t%20realized%20I%20needed.%20Sometimes,%20the%20most%20significant%20transformations%20arise%20from%20the%20most%20unexpected%20sources.%20I’m%20incredibly%20thankful%20that%20Ryan%20chose%20to%20share%20his%20story%20precisely%20when%20I%20was%20ready%20to%20listen./pcenterhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8actNffg3gc){kind=link}
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">When College Drinking Escalated</h2>
<p>College marked the shift from excitement to chaos, though I couldn't see it then. What began as typical college revelry morphed into daily drinking without pauses. I spent my days either hungover or drinking—there was no middle ground, no breaks, and definitely no "just one drink."</p>
<p>I started experiencing frequent blackouts and often found myself in precarious situations I couldn't recall the next day. At the time, I thought this was simply the college experience. Everyone around me was also drinking heavily, which made me assume I was just keeping pace rather than developing a genuine problem.</p>
<p>The exhausting cycle felt unbreakable. I'd wake up feeling terrible, vow to take it easy, and yet drink just as much that evening. The anxiety that accompanied my constant hangovers felt like a necessary cost of having fun. I didn’t even consider that my drinking could be the source of the anxiety I was trying to escape from. The possibility of quitting alcohol to alleviate my anxiety hadn’t even crossed my mind.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Frantic Attempts to Gain Control</h2>
<p>As concerns about my drinking grew, I resorted to various strategies in an attempt to rein it in. I tried 30-day breaks, convinced that a month of sobriety meant I was fine. I limited my drinking to weekends, switched to lighter beers, and cut back to half of my usual intake—at least that’s what I told myself.</p>
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<p>These efforts were incredibly frustrating. The 30-day breaks often felt torturous, and I usually ended them prematurely with an excuse like a birthday or special occasion. When I attempted to limit my drinking to weekends, I spent the entire week awaiting Friday. Even when I chose lighter beverages, I’d end up consuming more of them or drinking for longer periods.</p>
<p>Every time I relapsed in controlling my drinking, I thought I just needed to try harder or establish stricter guidelines. I convinced myself the issue was my lack of willpower, rather than recognizing that alcohol itself was the true problem. At that point, I hadn’t even considered whether quitting drinking could ease my anxiety; I still believed alcohol was alleviating it instead of exacerbating it.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Instagram Post That Changed Everything</h2>
<p>My life took a turn due to a single Instagram post. In March 2020, I came across Ryan O’Connell sharing how he quit drinking after reading Annie Grace’s book. He linked to her podcast, and his words resonated with me in a way that no other message about quitting drinking had before.</p>
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<p>I quickly purchased Annie’s book and registered for my first Alcohol Experiment in April 2020. The timing was unusual due to the pandemic lockdowns, but it turned out to be ideal. With fewer social distractions, I was able to concentrate fully on understanding alcohol and myself.</p>
<p>That single Instagram post was minor, yet it unlocked a pathway I hadn’t realized I needed. Sometimes, the most significant transformations arise from the most unexpected sources. I’m incredibly thankful that Ryan chose to share his story precisely when I was ready to listen.</p>
<center>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8actNffg3gc
Eager to Change Your Connection with Anxiety?
If Dan’s experience resonates with you, know that you’re not alone. Thousands have found what Dan discovered—that alcohol and anxiety don’t need to dominate your life.
Would you like to manage your anxiety as Dan did? Experience the freedom that awaits in The Path!
Finding Support Through Shared Experiences
Tuning into others’ stories on Annie’s podcast and during coaching calls was a game-changer for me. Hearing various individuals discuss experiences similar to mine was enlightening. These weren’t the typical “rock bottom” narratives I had anticipated; they were everyday people like teachers, parents, business owners, and students, all caught in the same drinking ruts I was.
These accounts redefined my perspective on alcohol. Instead of viewing it as a fun way to unwind, I began to recognize it as a contributor to problems for nearly everyone who consumes it regularly. With each story, I understood that my struggles didn’t stem from being flawed or weak—they were simply what occurs when you regularly drink alcohol.
This shift in how I perceived alcohol was monumental for me. Instead of feeling like I was sacrificing something pleasurable, I began to feel like I was liberating myself from something that held me back. Having a supportive community of people who truly understood my challenges was invaluable in my journey.
Uncovering My Strength Through The Path
The Path program transformed my life in ways I never anticipated. Initially, I believed I was merely learning to quit drinking, but it revealed something much larger—how much control I really have over my thoughts and life.
The program introduced me to concepts like self-compassion and self-love, which were previously foreign to me. I learned to stop criticizing myself harshly and began to view myself as someone simply caught in unhelpful patterns. This transition from self-criticism to self-kindness profoundly benefited my mental health.
Most importantly, The Path inspired me to prioritize self-care and genuinely pursue my aspirations. Rather than seeing sobriety as a loss, I started viewing it as an opportunity to evolve into the person I’ve always wanted to be. The question of whether quitting drinking alleviates anxiety shifted from theoretical to personal as I experienced a newfound calmness and clarity without alcohol clouding my mind.
Life Nearly 10 Months Sober
As of today, nearly ten months into sobriety, my life is vastly improved compared to when I drank daily. The most surprising aspect is my lack of desire for alcohol. I thought sobriety would entail constantly battling cravings and feeling deprived, but that hasn’t been my reality.
I still enjoy going out and socializing with friends as much as before, and other people drinking doesn’t faze me. In fact, I relish going out now because I’m fully present and can recall every conversation. I wake up feeling great rather than suffering from another hangover.
The shift in my anxiety levels has been remarkable. I used to believe that persistent worry and stress were integral to who I was, but now I understand how much of that was fueled by alcohol. I genuinely feel happier and more optimistic each day—in ways I never imagined when I began this journey.
Anticipating the Future with Hope
What excites me most about the future is the feeling that I can genuinely progress in my life. For years, I felt trapped in a cycle of drinking, suffering, and shame, which hindered me from pursuing my goals. Now, I believe I can move on from that chapter and devote myself to my aspirations.
I’m enthusiastic about the clear thinking and energy I now have to chase goals that felt unattainable when I was drinking. I’m eager to cultivate relationships centered on genuine connection instead of mere drinking. Most importantly, I’m thrilled about becoming a person who prioritizes self-care and makes choices that truly bring me joy, not just fleeting escapes.
Does quitting drinking alleviate anxiety? For me, it’s a definitive yes, but the advantages extend far beyond just reduced anxiety. Living without alcohol has restored my life in ways I didn’t even realize I had lost it.
A Note to My Past Self
If I could go back in time and share one piece of advice with my younger self, it would be to stop stressing over pleasing others. I wasted so much time trying to be the person I thought everyone wanted me to be, especially the life of the party who could hang with anyone.
I would advise my younger self to follow his own path and have faith that everything would eventually fall into place. The anxieties that kept me drinking—like fearing I’d miss out, feeling the urge to conform, and worrying about fitting in—were all based on misconceptions about what truly brings happiness.
Most importantly, I want my past self to realize that living without alcohol is far superior to anything that drinking ever provided. The self-assurance, clarity, and genuine joy that come from taking care of oneself are far more valuable than any brief escape alcohol may have offered.
Tell Us Your Story
Have you quit drinking to achieve peace like Dan, and used our books, app, podcasts, or any other resources from This Naked Mind? We would love for you to share your experience here to motivate others on their journey!
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