A large number of people who have an alcohol use disorder are using alcohol, at least in part, to self medicate symptoms of anxiety. For many, they don't realize that the alcohol is actually fueling and perpetuating their anxiety, because in the short term, it feels like alcohol is the quickest way to settle racing thoughts and a pounding heart. Removing alcohol from your life will immediately decrease your anxiety levels, but for some people, they're still left with some of the rumination and worry that kept them in a drinking cycle for so long. Learning tools that you can use in place of alcohol is fundamental in sobriety - without these tools, you'll be at risk of relapse.

In this episode, Taylor and Sarah join Julie and Steve to talk about coping with anxiety after quitting alcohol. They offer tips and tools that you can use right now, in addition to some mindset shifts that will be helpful for you to adopt. If you've ever suffered from anxiety - even in small doses - this is an episode you won't want to miss.

For more conversations about anxiety after quitting drinking, check out these previous epsiodes:

How to Cope With Anxiety In Recovery

Social Anxiety and Alcohol

In this episode:

• Panic attacks
• Supplements that help with anxiety after quitting alcohol
• Understanding that drinking actually causes anxiety
• Developing good habits that bring peace (and realizing alcohol counters those habits)
• Mindfulness as an anxiety tool
• Why imagining the worst isn't always a bad thing
• Therapy to increase coping skills
• The subconscious' effect on anxiety
• Why authenticity is at the core of overcoming anxiety

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My name is Taylor! I embarked on my sober journey in January of 2024 after being sober curious for about a year. After years of using alcohol to cope with trauma from abuse, anxiety, OCD & panic attacks, I took the final leap into healing and gave it up.

I am from small town Wisconsin and spend most of my days on the farm with my fiance taking care of our crops, chickens and cows. I am passionate about helping others, traveling, writing, and growing in my faith by participating in Bible study and spending time at our local church. I share my alcohol free journey with others to inspire and build community on TikTok through Tay’s Sober Journey.

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Sarah Siegel-Kolodziejski, originally from a small town in England, relocated to the United States around 30 years ago. With a background in fashion, real estate, and clean beauty, she started her passion project, Pure Clarity, under the motto “mindful drinking, mindful living.” Drawing from her personal journey with an unhealthy relationship with alcohol to an alcohol- free lifestyle 3 years ago, her goal was to create a platform for inspiring leaders, wellness and consumers in the zero-proof movement to come together. Through retreats, classes, and collaboration with alcohol-free brands, she hosts events in southern California for a community dedicated to celebrating an alcohol-free lifestyle fueled by mindful living. Whether for a lifetime, a day, a month or......

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