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Take a Break from Drinking

Take a Break from Drinking

Rachel Hart 499 Episodes Aug 18, 2026

This podcast helps you change your relationship with alcohol using brain science, not willpower or a higher power. Host Rachel Hart shares the exact steps she used to stop drinking and create a fun, spontaneous, and pleasurable life without alcohol. You'll learn how your brain works, why you crave drinks, and how to change your desire. Perfect for anyone tired of nightly drinking and worried about their health.

Episodes

482: When people want you to drink less—but don't want you to stop
482: When people want you to drink less—but don't want you to stop Aug 18, 2026 21:25 Sometimes the same person who worries about how much you drink can turn around and feel uncomfortable when you decide not to drink at all. It can feel contradictory, frustrating, and even unsupportive, especially when you're still trying to figure out what you want your own relationship with alcohol to look like.   This week, we're exploring what might be happening when someone wants you to drink
481: Wanting to prove you can drink less
481: Wanting to prove you can drink less Aug 11, 2026 21:26 So many people say they just want to drink normally or stop after a couple of drinks. But beneath that goal, there can be something much bigger driving the desire to prove you can handle alcohol.   This week, we're exploring why the desire to prove you can drink less deserves a closer look. What if the pressure you're putting on yourself isn't actually helping you change? And what if there's somet
480: Tolerating the discomfort of not having another drink
480: Tolerating the discomfort of not having another drink Aug 4, 2026 13:26 It might feel like the hardest part of drinking less is forcing yourself to stop, but what if the discomfort isn't coming from wanting more at all?   This week, we're taking a closer look at what really happens in the moment you decide not to have another drink. You'll discover why wanting and liking aren't the same thing, why pleasure naturally fades whether you keep drinking or not, and how your
479: How do I get back on track after I slip up and drink too much?
479: How do I get back on track after I slip up and drink too much? Jul 28, 2026 19:19 Making progress with your drinking doesn't mean you'll never have another night where you drink more than you intended. But what happens next can either keep you stuck or become the most valuable part of the learning process.   In this episode, we're exploring why the idea that you need to "get back on track" after drinking too much may actually be keeping you trapped in the same cycle.   Find a p
478: I've made so much progress with my drinking. So why doesn't it feel any easier? [Listener Q&A]
478: I've made so much progress with my drinking. So why doesn't it feel any easier? [Listener Q&A] Jul 21, 2026 19:38 Have you ever wondered why, even though you've made so much progress with your drinking, it still feels like alcohol takes up way too much space in your mind?   Tune in this week to learn why feeling stuck doesn't mean you've stopped making progress. You'll hear the difference between drinking less and needing alcohol less, why anticipation and worry can keep alcohol at the center of your thinking
477: Chasing the Sweet Spot with Your Drinking
477: Chasing the Sweet Spot with Your Drinking Jul 14, 2026 14:36 Have you ever found yourself trying to hit the perfect buzz? Enough to feel relaxed or more confident, but not so much that you wake up the next morning wishing you had stopped sooner. It's easy to think the answer is simply finding and maintaining your sweet spot, but what if that's not actually possible?     This week, we're exploring why so many people chase the perfect buzz and why it can feel
476: Why You Can Always Find a Good Reason to Drink
476: Why You Can Always Find a Good Reason to Drink Jul 7, 2026 25:41 Does it ever feel like your brain can always come up with a good reason to drink? Maybe you've had a stressful day. Maybe it's a celebration. Maybe you've been "good" all week. Whatever the situation, the excuse always seems to make perfect sense in the moment.   This week, we're exploring a concept called the Rolodex of excuses and why your brain is so good at flipping through one justification a
475: What if you just love drinking? [Listener Q&A]
475: What if you just love drinking? [Listener Q&A] Jun 30, 2026 17:33 Does it feel impossible to change your drinking because part of you genuinely loves it?   Listen in this week to learn why the statement "I just love drinking" isn't actually the full story and how getting more specific about what you love can completely change the way you approach the habit. You'll discover why you don't need to convince yourself that you hate drinking in order to drink less, and
474: Stop Waiting for Your Urges to Go Away
474: Stop Waiting for Your Urges to Go Away Jun 23, 2026 13:38 So many people believe they'll finally be able to drink less once they stop wanting the drink. Once the cravings go away. Once saying no feels easy. But what if waiting for those things to disappear is actually what's keeping you stuck?         This week, discover why the desire for alcohol isn't the obstacle you think it is and why lasting change doesn't come from eliminating temptation. You'll h
473: Ooh, free drinks! [Thought Swap]
473: Ooh, free drinks! [Thought Swap] Jun 16, 2026 20:59 Why does a free drink feel so much harder to turn down than one you have to pay for?   Whether it's an open bar, a complimentary cocktail, or a glass of champagne handed to you at an event, "free" can create a surprising sense of urgency. Suddenly, passing it up can feel wasteful, even when drinking doesn't align with what you really want. This week, we're unpacking how survival instincts, scarcit
472: Why Boredom Makes You Want a Drink (and What Your Brain is Really Craving)
472: Why Boredom Makes You Want a Drink (and What Your Brain is Really Craving) Jun 9, 2026 28:14 What if boredom isn't the problem, but the doorway to something you've been avoiding?   When drinking becomes your go-to solution for dull moments, quiet evenings, or a lack of excitement, it can seem like alcohol is what makes life interesting. But what if boredom is trying to show you something important instead?   Tune in this week to learn how to reframe boredom as a normal human emotion rathe
471: I love the taste of my favorite drink [Thought Swap]
471: I love the taste of my favorite drink [Thought Swap] Jun 2, 2026 25:50 Does saying no to a drink feel hard because you genuinely love the taste? When alcohol feels tied to pleasure, sophistication, or making an experience feel more special, cutting back can seem pointless or even joyless. After all, why deny yourself something you truly enjoy?   In this Thought Swap episode, we're exploring the belief "I love the taste of my favorite drink" through a different lens.

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