The Mental Exhaustion of Trying to Control Your Drinking
If you’ve ever told yourself, “If I could drink in moderation, I would do it all the time,” this episode is going to feel like I’ve been eavesdropping on your thoughts.
Maybe you’ve tried switching to beer, only drinking on weekends, skipping alcohol at home, or limiting yourself to “special occasions.” And for a short time, it works—until the rules bend, the “just one more” slips in, and you’re right back where you started. The truth is, you’re not weak. You’re not broken. Your brain is doing exactly what it’s wired to do: protect what feels familiar, even when it’s holding you back.
In this powerful episode, I’m breaking down:
Why your brain keeps selling you on moderation—even when you know it doesn’t work
The hidden mental, emotional, and physical costs of the moderation loop
The shift you need to make if you truly want freedom from alcohol
We’ll pull apart the survival brain’s “safe compromise” pitch, expose the decision fatigue moderation causes, and talk about how it chips away at your self-trust over time. You’ll see why moderation isn’t about control—it’s about delay—and how it quietly steals your energy, your confidence, and the life you want to live.
By the end, you’ll have a new target: freedom, not control. You’ll learn how one clear decision can remove hundreds of tiny exhausting ones, and how to focus on what you’re gaining—not what you’re giving up.
If you’re ready to stop starting over and step into real freedom, I can help. Book your free clarity call today at addictionunlimited.com/call. Together, we’ll create a plan that works—without willpower games or endless “rules.”
Because you deserve more than managing your drinking. You deserve to be free.
Links Mentioned in This Episode:
Book your free Clarity Call: addictionunlimited.com/call
Join the Addiction Unlimited Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/addictionunlimited
Related Episode — Should I Moderate or Quit? addictionunlimited.com/should-i-moderate-or-quit
--------
22:34
--------
22:34
How to Break the 5PM Drinking Habit (Without Losing Your Mind)
If your witching hour feels like a daily emotional ambush—when the stress, noise, and cravings all collide—you are not alone. That 4 or 5PM pull toward wine or alcohol isn’t just a bad habit… it’s a wired-in loop your brain has learned over years. And breaking it takes more than willpower.
In this episode of Addiction Unlimited, we’re diving deep into why 5PM is such a trigger—and how to interrupt the craving cycle before it takes over.
Angela unpacks what’s really happening when that evening craving hits, from decision fatigue to emotional overload to the brain’s need for relief. This isn’t about being broken—it’s about building a new system that supports you when your brain and body are done.
What You’ll Learn:
Why your brain cues up cravings before you even leave work
The truth about decision fatigue and emotional depletion
How to use the “Interrupt Ritual” to break autopilot
The 5PM Flip: Replacing your reward without punishment
How to identify emotions using H.A.L.T. and stop numbing with alcohol
What neuroplasticity means—and why small shifts change everything
Angela also shares a powerful story from her early sobriety behind the bar, proving that the craving loop can be broken—even when it’s deeply ingrained.
This episode is a real-world, neuroscience-backed guide to help you stop surviving your evenings—and start leading them with intention and power.
Links Mentioned in This Episode:
👉🏼 Related Episode: Relief Not Relapse – Ep. 376💥 Want Support? Book a call with Angela: addictionunlimited.com/call
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/addictionunlimited
--------
22:46
--------
22:46
Thriving in the Mess: The Real Work of Sobriety
Listen On:
If life feels messy and sobriety feels like an uphill battle — this episode will give you relief, language, and a path forward.
Let me guess…You thought quitting drinking would solve most of your problems.
You figured, once the alcohol was gone, things would finally calm down.You’d feel happier, more stable, less overwhelmed.But instead — sobriety hit, and life still feels like one giant mess.
Here’s the thing no one really talks about:Life doesn’t stop life-ing just because you quit drinking.
There are still bills, breakups, bad days, and unexpected chaos.The difference is, now you’re trying to face it without your old escape button.
And that’s not because you’re doing sobriety wrong — it’s because life is still life, and your nervous system is still learning how to handle it.
This episode is all about learning how to deal with the hard stuff — curveballs, chaos, and everyday stress — without unraveling.I’m going to show you how to build the kind of emotional endurance that helps you stay calm, grounded, and clear… even when life gets messy.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why just not drinking isn’t enough to feel better
The real reason you still feel stuck or triggered
How to stop getting derailed by every curveball
The coping tools that actually work — and how to start using them
What it really means to “do the work” in recovery
If you’re sober (or trying to be) but life still feels chaotic, overwhelming, and exhausting — this is your episode.
It’s not just about not drinking anymore.It’s about learning to live — really live — without running, numbing, or blowing up your life.
🔗 Links Mentioned in This Episode:
What It Really Means to Be a Dry Drunk (And How to Change)https://addictionunlimited.com/what-it-really-means-to-be-a-dry-drunk-and-how-to-change
Book a Call With Angelaaddictionunlimited.com/call
Join the Facebook Group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/addictionunlimited
--------
25:40
--------
25:40
How to Make Peace With Your Past (Even If You Regret Everything)
Listen On:
Have you ever asked yourself, “How do I forgive myself for what I did when I was drinking?”
If the shame feels too big, the guilt too heavy, and the past impossible to escape—this episode is your turning point.
In this powerful conversation, we’re diving deep into self-forgiveness—what it is, why it’s so hard, and how to actually begin the process of releasing regret and reclaiming your power in sobriety.
I’m also walking you through a powerful 3-minute reflection practice from my brand-new Self-Forgiveness Starter Kit—designed to help you stop punishing yourself and start moving forward.
Because your past doesn’t get to have the final word. You do.
✨ In this episode, you’ll discover:
Why shame feels necessary—and why that belief is hurting you
How rumination blocks your ability to move forward
The emotional + physical toll of carrying unresolved guilt
The truth about what forgiveness really means (and what it doesn’t)
A simple practice to reset your mindset and start healing today
This isn’t just mindset work—it’s a full-body reset for anyone stuck in guilt, self-punishment, or emotional paralysis after quitting drinking.
If you’re tired of carrying your past like a weight, and you’re ready to build something better… it all starts with one radical act:
👉 Forgive yourself.
🔗 Links Mentioned in This Episode
🎁 Download the Self-Forgiveness Starter Kit
Your free, printable toolkit to start releasing shame and building real inner peace.
👉 https://addictionunlimited.com/forgive
🎧 Related Episodes to Deepen This Work:
👉 How to Forgive Yourself
👉 Forgive Yourself
📞 Is Angela the Right Coach for You? Book a Call Here:
👉 https://addictionunlimited.com/call
💬 Join the Free Facebook Group for Support + Community:
👉 https://www.facebook.com/groups/addictionunlimited
--------
--------
Worried About Your Health in Sobriety? Here’s How Your Body Heals After Drinking
A step-by-step breakdown of how your body heals after alcohol, from your liver to your heart to your gut.
I know the fear you feel when you quit drinking and suddenly start paying attention to every little twinge in your body.
You wonder:
Did I mess up my liver for good?
Is this brain fog normal?
What if I’ve already done permanent damage?
And if you’re anything like most people in recovery, you might have spent years avoiding the doctor, hiding your drinking, and ignoring the warning signs.
That means your health anxiety isn’t just physical — it’s deeply emotional.
You’re carrying around shame, guilt, and fear, wondering if your past choices have caught up with you.
But here’s the truth: your body is incredibly resilient. And healing is happening — even if you can’t feel it yet.
In this episode of the Addiction Unlimited Podcast, I’m walking you through what’s really going on inside your body after you stop drinking. We’ll look at how alcohol impacts your liver, brain, heart, and gut — and what recovery looks like from the inside out.
You’ll also learn how to spot the difference between real health issues and the fear-based spirals that come from anxiety. I’ll give you simple, actionable tools to calm your nervous system, trust your body again, and stop Googling symptoms at 2 a.m.
Because your recovery deserves more than panic and guesswork — it deserves clarity, confidence, and peace of mind.
In this episode, I share:
5:45 — What “health anxiety in sobriety” is and why it hits so hard
10:12 — How your liver, brain, and heart really respond when you stop drinking
14:18 — Why your gut is your “second brain” and how food affects your healing
20:33 — What’s normal (and not) when it comes to stomach issues and recovery
24:10 — Tools to manage fear without spiraling into Google
28:05 — How to stop letting fear run the show and build real coping skills
30:50 — Why you’re not broken — your body is healing
If you’ve been living in a constant state of “What if it’s too late?” this episode is going to give you hope, knowledge, and peace of mind.
Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode:
Book a free call with me to get serious about your recovery and build a plan that actually works
Quitting Drinking & Post-Acute Withdrawal
5 Signs You’re Dealing With PAWS
The Science of Sobriety & How to Feel Better Faster
Are you ready to ditch daily drinking, reclaim your confidence, and create a life of freedom? Each week, Angela combines no-nonsense advice, personal stories, and science-backed strategies to tackle the challenges of sobriety. Angela Pugh is a globally-ranked Life Coach and podcast host, a professional Interventionist, and entrepreneur with more than 18 years of personal sobriety, helping people rebuild their lives since 2008. From navigating relationships to managing triggers, you’ll discover practical tools, empowering insights, and real-world solutions to thrive in sobriety. It’s time to stop feeling stuck and start feeling unlimited. Listen now for the inspiration, tools, and support you need to live a sober, confident, and happy life.
New Zealand