The Shocking Link Between Alcohol & Anxiety - Millie Gooch
In this episode, we’re joined by Millie Gooch, Sunday Times bestselling author and founder of the Sober Girl Society, to talk honestly about alcohol, sobriety and the drinking culture that surrounds us.
Millie is the author of The Sober Girl Society Handbook: Why Drinking Less Means Living More, her first book, which was published in 2021, and her new book Hangxiety: How Alcohol Messes with Your Mind.
Millie shares her own journey to sobriety, including the moment she realised her relationship with alcohol needed to change. We talk about the impact drinking can have on mental health and anxiety, why so many of us have normalised alcohol, and how much of what we believe about drinking has been shaped by culture, advertising and the alcohol industry.
We also explore what actually happens in the brain when we drink, the concept of neuroadaptation, the long-term effects of alcohol, dealing with cravings and the practical challenges of giving up alcohol — particularly when drinking is such a big part of our social lives.
Most importantly, we discuss how education, honest conversations and changing social attitudes could help create a healthier relationship with alcohol.
In this episode, we discuss:
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Millie’s personal journey to sobriety
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Why alcohol can have such a significant impact on anxiety and mental health
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The normalisation of drinking in society
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How the alcohol industry has influenced our attitudes towards drinking
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What happens to the brain and body with long-term alcohol consumption
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Neuroadaptation and changes in brain chemistry
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How alcohol is marketed as part of a desirable lifestyle
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Practical strategies for giving up alcohol and managing cravings
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The challenges of staying sober in social situations
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Why education and open conversations around alcohol matter
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The changing attitudes towards drinking and the growth of the sobriety movement
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What the future of drinking culture might look like
Millie’s Book
Hangxiety: How Alcohol Messes with Your Mind
Find Millie
Health Craic
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