1218: What Happens To Anxiety When You Stop Drinking: Even Temporarily
The Anxiety Coaches Podcast
Gina Ryan
4.6 • 1.9K Ratings
🗓️ 8 February 2026
⏱️ 17 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
In today's episode, Gina discusses the detrimental role alcohol can play in our anxiety formation and how taking a break from alcohol consumption can contribute to our anxiety recovery. During the initial phases of effects of alcohol consumption, anxiety can be relieved, but the after effects are quite the opposite. Over time, alcohol intake can make us less resilient to stress and more likely to make anxiety a chronic condition. Listen in to learn more about the effects of alcohol and how to take a break to see how you may benefit from less alcohol intake!
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Quote:
The body always leads us home… if we are willing to listen.
-Thomas Hübl
Chapters
0:26 Introduction to Anxiety and Alcohol
3:19 Understanding Alcohol's Initial Calming Effects
6:27 The Rebound Effect of Alcohol
9:37 Changes in Sleep Patterns
11:16 Subtle Shifts After Alcohol Abstinence
12:25 Supporting the Nervous System
13:39 Reflective Journaling Prompts
15:12 Closing Thoughts and Aloha
Summary
In this episode, I delve into the intricate relationship between anxiety and alcohol consumption, particularly focusing on what occurs when one decides to reduce or suspend their drinking, even temporarily. Alcohol is often a topic that merits discussion in the realm of anxiety coaching, and rather than applying any moral judgment to its use, I approach it with curiosity and a desire to understand how it impacts our nervous systems. Life can be overwhelming, and understanding how alcohol intertwines with anxiety offers a chance for relief and healing.
I start by addressing a fundamental aspect: the sense of safety. While many anxiety triggers often stem from perceived dangers, I encourage listeners to acknowledge that if they are tuned in, they are likely safe. Establishing this baseline of safety allows us to explore the potential effects of alcohol on mental health without the cloud of past judgments or shame. The intent isn't about completely abstaining from alcohol forever or adhering to strict rules, but rather understanding the nuances of how alcohol can provide temporary relief but ultimately disrupt our nervous system balance.
What unfolds in our discussion is a deep dive into the neurochemical effects of alcohol. Initially, alcohol may appear to alleviate anxiety due to its qualities as a central nervous system depressant, which increases the calming neurotransmitter GABA while dampening glutamate signals that drive anxiety. This biological response can create a temporary reprieve from anxious thoughts and social discomfort. However, this calming effect is short-lived, and as the alcohol dissipates from the body, a compensatory rebound occurs, leading to heightened anxiety, increased stress hormones, and disrupted sleep patterns.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Welcome to the anxiety coaches podcast, a relaxing and informative show where we explore anxiety, panic, and PTSD, sharing how you can overcome them for life. |
| 0:23.1 | Aloha. |
| 0:24.2 | Welcome back to the Anxiety Coaches podcast. |
| 0:27.6 | I'm your host and coach, Gina Ryan, and I am so happy to be with you again today |
| 0:34.0 | as together we can consider the many ways to bring your mind and body back to its |
| 0:40.5 | natural peace and calm. In today's episode, I want to talk about what happens to your anxiety |
| 0:47.9 | when you stop drinking even temporarily. Now, alcohol is often a sensitive subject, but it often comes up in anxiety |
| 0:59.0 | coaching and it's a real issue. And it's something that we can look at and work with, just like |
| 1:08.0 | we can work with everything else in our lives. So I hope that you will feel |
| 1:12.9 | there's no moral judgment here about anyone's alcohol intake, just like I don't do that with people's |
| 1:20.5 | caffeine intake either. You do you, but I want to look at it from your anxiety place. Where is this affecting you? And how can you |
| 1:33.1 | learn to work with that? So in today's episode, I'm looking at anxiety and alcohol with curiosity. |
| 1:41.4 | And we're looking at it for the nervous system to have relief. This conversation is one |
| 1:47.4 | step in a wider exploration of what actually helps an anxious nervous system feel safer. |
| 1:54.8 | And you know, I've been talking about safety lately because it's just a big piece of our healing is to be able to rest in safety. |
| 2:07.8 | And that might take some time to happen. But I want you to just check in right now. |
| 2:14.6 | And if you are safe, and I bet you are, if you are listening to me, |
| 2:20.0 | I want you to register that, that you are safe. Let your mind and body feel that. Let's use |
| 2:29.0 | our time together to actually integrate that a little bit, safety. |
| 2:39.1 | If you're listening to me, you are not being chased by a tiger, |
| 2:48.9 | and many of the things that anxiety pulls up as danger are not real. |
| 2:54.4 | So we have to come back to the present moment like I'm asking you to do right now. |
... |
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