The Relief Trap: Why Your Brain Chooses Alcohol and How to Find Real Peace - Victoria English

Do you ever feel like you're the only person not drinking? In this episode, Coach Terry Patterson shares new Gallup poll data revealing a historic decline in U.S. alcohol consumption and a major shift in cultural beliefs about its health benefits. Learn why society is catching up with what science has long known: that no amount of alcohol is truly healthy. You'll gain empowering social proof and practical insights to embrace your alcohol-free journey with confidence, knowing that your choice is becoming the new normal.   Download my FREE guide: The Alcohol Freedom Formula For Over 30s Entrepreneurs & High Performers: https://social.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/podcast ★ - Learn more about Project 90: www.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/Project90 ★ - (Accountability & Support) Speak verbally to a certified Alcohol-Free Lifestyle coach to see if, or how, we could support you having a better relationship with alcohol: https://www.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/schedule ★ - The wait is over – My new book “CLEAR” is now available. Get your copy here: https://www.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/clear

Are you pouring a drink to find a moment of peace, only to wake up feeling worse? Head Coach Victoria English explains the neuroscience behind why your brain seeks alcohol for "relief" from stress, pressure, and overstimulation. She details how alcohol's initial effect of boosting calming neurotransmitters and suppressing excitatory ones creates a false sense of peace. However, this temporary fix leaves your brain in chaos, with a rebound of stress hormones and a crash in dopamine, leading to increased anxiety and shame. You'll learn why you're not choosing alcohol, but rather the illusion of relief it provides, and how you can reclaim your peace by building new, empowering paths.   Download my FREE guide: The Alcohol Freedom Formula For Over 30s Entrepreneurs & High Performers: https://social.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/podcast ★ - Learn more about Project 90: www.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/Project90 ★ - (Accountability & Support) Speak verbally to a certified Alcohol-Free Lifestyle coach to see if, or how, we could support you having a better relationship with alcohol: https://www.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/schedule ★ - The wait is over – My new book “CLEAR” is now available. Get your copy here: https://www.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/clear

Do you find yourself making excuses for drinking, even when you know it's not serving you? This episode explores the neuroscience and psychology behind these powerful justifications. Coach Matt breaks down the cognitive biases and social pressures that reinforce the belief that drinking is okay, even when it's causing harm. Learn how the brain's reward system and weakened prefrontal cortex make you susceptible to thoughts like, "Just one won't hurt" or, "I've had a rough day" . Discover how to build awareness without shame, strengthen your impulse control through mindfulness, and replace old excuses with your core values like health, connection, and integrity. This episode will help you expose the excuses that keep you stuck and choose a new, more empowering path.   Download my FREE guide: The Alcohol Freedom Formula For Over 30s Entrepreneurs & High Performers: https://social.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/podcast ★ - Learn more about Project 90: www.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/Project90 ★ - (Accountability & Support) Speak verbally to a certified Alcohol-Free Lifestyle coach to see if, or how, we could support you having a better relationship with alcohol: https://www.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/schedule ★ - The wait is over – My new book “CLEAR” is now available. Get your copy here: https://www.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/clear

Are you constantly feeling stressed and anxious? In this episode, Coach Matt reveals his favorite daily practice: heart resonance breathing. He explains how this powerful technique goes beyond simple relaxation to sync your heart, brain, and nervous system, lowering blood pressure and boosting emotional regulation. Learn how this six-second inhale and six-second exhale pattern can help you shift out of "fight or flight" mode and into a calm, focused state . Consistent practice strengthens the heart-brain connection, making it easier to access states like gratitude and patience. This is more than a wellness trend; it's a measurable physiological state that puts you back in the driver's seat of your life.   Download my FREE guide: The Alcohol Freedom Formula For Over 30s Entrepreneurs & High Performers: https://social.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/podcast ★ - Learn more about Project 90: www.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/Project90 ★ - (Accountability & Support) Speak verbally to a certified Alcohol-Free Lifestyle coach to see if, or how, we could support you having a better relationship with alcohol: https://www.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/schedule ★ - The wait is over – My new book “CLEAR” is now available. Get your copy here: https://www.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/clear

Feeling overwhelmed by stress and anxiety? In this episode, Coach Matt introduces you to the power of breathwork as a tool to navigate the pressure of a high-achieving lifestyle. He shares the simple, yet profound, technique of box breathing, a four-second inhale, hold, exhale, and hold that you can use anytime, anywhere to instantly downshift your nervous system and find calm. Discover how this practice can help you replace old patterns of drinking to cope with stress, while creating a healthier brain chemistry that leads to lasting peace . This is your on-demand solution for finding a moment of calm, even in the middle of a chaotic day .   Download my FREE guide: The Alcohol Freedom Formula For Over 30s Entrepreneurs & High Performers: https://social.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/podcast ★ - Learn more about Project 90: www.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/Project90 ★ - (Accountability & Support) Speak verbally to a certified Alcohol-Free Lifestyle coach to see if, or how, we could support you having a better relationship with alcohol: https://www.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/schedule ★ - The wait is over – My new book “CLEAR” is now available. Get your copy here: https://www.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/clear

In this powerful couples’ episode, Shannon McLin and her boyfriend Scott Lepper open up about how alcohol was silently eroding their connection - and how quitting together transformed their relationship. From defensiveness and distance to trust and deep emotional presence, their story reveals the power of healing without sedation. If you're navigating love, conflict, or growth as a couple, this is a must-listen.   Download my FREE guide: The Alcohol Freedom Formula For Over 30s Entrepreneurs & High Performers: https://social.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/podcast ★ - Learn more about Project 90: www.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/Project90 ★ - (Accountability & Support) Speak verbally to a certified Alcohol-Free Lifestyle coach to see if, or how, we could support you having a better relationship with alcohol: https://www.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/schedule ★ - The wait is over – My new book “CLEAR” is now available. Get your copy here: https://www.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/clear

Struggling with sleep? In this special episode, Coach Matt guides you through a powerful, 10-minute breathwork exercise specifically designed to help you fall and stay asleep naturally . Learn the simple 4-8-8 breathing technique that stimulates the vagus nerve and shifts your body into a state of deep relaxation. This practice helps you address the sleep issues that often arise as your body rebounds from years of alcohol-induced "sleep". This isn't about perfection; it's a consistent practice that will help you rebuild new neural pathways and cultivate a sense of calm and well-being . Feel free to return to this episode anytime you need to find your way to a peaceful night's rest .   Download my FREE guide: The Alcohol Freedom Formula For Over 30s Entrepreneurs & High Performers: https://social.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/podcast ★ - Learn more about Project 90: www.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/Project90 ★ - (Accountability & Support) Speak verbally to a certified Alcohol-Free Lifestyle coach to see if, or how, we could support you having a better relationship with alcohol: https://www.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/schedule ★ - The wait is over – My new book “CLEAR” is now available. Get your copy here: https://www.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/clear

Have you ever said, "This is my last drink," only to find yourself drinking again? In this powerful episode, Coach Victoria English unpacks the neuroscience of this cycle of broken promises. She explains how this repetition trains your brain to expect self-betrayal, weakening the prefrontal cortex and leading to a quiet erosion of your identity.  But there is hope. Learn how to use neuroplasticity and small, repeatable wins to repair self-trust and rebuild your identity as someone who follows through, shows up, and shines. Discover how a 90-day alcohol-free journey can completely rewrite your future.    Download my FREE guide: The Alcohol Freedom Formula For Over 30s Entrepreneurs & High Performers: https://social.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/podcast ★ - Learn more about Project 90: www.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/Project90 ★ - (Accountability & Support) Speak verbally to a certified Alcohol-Free Lifestyle coach to see if, or how, we could support you having a better relationship with alcohol: https://www.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/schedule ★ - The wait is over – My new book “CLEAR” is now available. Get your copy here: https://www.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/clear

Are you worried about life being dull without alcohol? In this episode, coaches Matt and Jason tackle the "boredom myth" and explain its connection to the brain's reward system. They discuss how chronic boredom is often a sign that your brain is craving meaningful engagement, not a substance.  Learn practical ways to re-engage with your five senses, reconnect with yourself, and rediscover simple joys from your past.  The first few weeks of an alcohol-free journey might feel different, but you'll gain the space to explore new passions and find lasting fulfillment.    Download my FREE guide: The Alcohol Freedom Formula For Over 30s Entrepreneurs & High Performers: https://social.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/podcast ★ - Learn more about Project 90: www.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/Project90 ★ - (Accountability & Support) Speak verbally to a certified Alcohol-Free Lifestyle coach to see if, or how, we could support you having a better relationship with alcohol: https://www.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/schedule ★ - The wait is over – My new book “CLEAR” is now available. Get your copy here: https://www.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/clear

Shannon McLin, a high-powered appellate lawyer from Florida, shares the emotional story of how one painful argument and an alarming oura ring reading became her turning point.  In this deeply personal episode, she reflects on raising her kids in a culture of drinking, the guilt she carried, and how Project 90 gave her the tools to finally break free. This is a raw, uplifting look at how clarity, community, and self-worth can reshape a life. Download my FREE guide: The Alcohol Freedom Formula For Over 30s Entrepreneurs & High Performers: https://social.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/podcast ★ - Learn more about Project 90: www.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/Project90 ★ - (Accountability & Support) Speak verbally to a certified Alcohol-Free Lifestyle coach to see if, or how, we could support you having a better relationship with alcohol: https://www.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/schedule ★ - The wait is over – My new book “CLEAR” is now available. Get your copy here: https://www.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/clear