{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Alcohol Minimalist: Mindful Drinking & Behavior Change","title":"When Drinking Less Feels Hard: Alcohol Keeps Me Going","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":1736,"description":"In this episode of the Alcohol Minimalist podcast, Molly wraps up the series When Drinking Less Feels Hard by looking at the final Alcohol Core Belief: Alcohol Keeps Me Going.This belief often shows up as boredom, restlessness, wanting “one more,” drinking when you’re home alone, not wanting the night to end, or feeling like alcohol is the thing that makes an ordinary evening feel more interesting. Molly explains why the deeper issue is not “I’m bad at stopping,” but rather, “My brain believes alcohol helps me keep the night going.” Molly also shares a final reminder about Mostly Dry July-The Daily, a 31-day program with a private daily podcast, daily videos, weekly group coaching calls, and support for prioritizing alcohol-free days without all-or-nothing thinking. In This Episode Why Alcohol Keeps Me Going can be a sneaky Alcohol Core Belief How boredom, restlessness, and “one more” drinking keep the loop going  Why alcohol can make an ordinary evening feel like it has more purpose  How dopamine, prediction, and familiar cues create urges  Why alcohol myopia makes “one more” feel convincing  The difference between a promise and a plan  How to create a “stopping ritual”  Why drinking less cannot be the only plan if alcohol has been filling your time, space, or sense of interest Key TakeawayAlcohol may feel like it keeps you going, but it may actually be keeping you from noticing what you need: rest, interest, connection, nourishment, or permission to stop.Listener PracticeChoose one moment when alcohol tends to “keep you going.” Maybe it’s when you’re home alone and bored, after the first drink, late at night, or when you don’t want the evening to end.Ask yourself: What do I think alcohol is keeping going?  What am I trying not to transition into?  What do I actually need right now? Then use the See, Soothe, Separate, Shift process:See: I’m having the thought that alcohol will keep this going. Soothe: Of course my brain is offering that. I’ve practiced this...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/zu3PtA3XzNKb2qSH95OKvfAaoixqds182Hao41kpkws/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS8wZjY5/NjVmY2Y2MGQ0NmMx/NGNiMzdiZGY0OTMz/OWQzMy5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}