Episode
Ep 105: What if You’re Not The Problem? | Rethinking Alcohol |
- Podcast
- The Big Drink Rethink
- Published
- Jan 15, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 674
- Processing state
not_requested- Canonical source
- https://www.thebigdrinkrethink.com/podcast
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Summary
Ever caught yourself wondering, “Why is alcohol so hard to control for me?” In this episode Anna Donaghey urges you to challenge the story that the struggle is all your fault. Drawing from her experience as an alcohol mindset coach, author, and strategist, Anna examines why shame and blame are baked into how we talk about drinking and offers a totally different perspective. Instead of focusing on willpower, Anna explores how social expectations, stress, and our culture’s obsession with alcohol shapes your relationship with drinking. She invites you to shift from self-judgement to compassionate curiosity, uncovering what alcohol actually does for you, and how to move forward with genuine agency (not force). Listen now for fresh psychological insight, and actionable tools to gently reframe your habits and open new possibilities about rethinking the way you drink. Here are the Highlights: 00:00 Welcome to The Big Drink Rethink Podcast 00:53 What if you're not the problem? 01:33 Our culture confuses responsibility with blame 02:23 The dominant narrative comes from Alcoholics Anonymous 05:41 Using alcohol to cope, switching off, easing anxiety, marking the end of the day doesn’t make you weak; it makes you human. 06:27 The real question isn’t “what’s wrong with me?” but “why is this the tool I’ve ended up relying on?” 07:01 Curiosity about what alcohol is doing for you shifts the conversation 07:23 The goal isn’t just to become a non-drinker, but someone who listens to themselves and designs a life they don’t want to escape from 08:23 Struggles with drinking aren’t your fault 09:50 Change begins with curiosity, and honesty 10:09 Rethinking drinking is about being awake in your own life. Anna’s book "What Are You Thirsty For? Rethinking Alcohol and The Life You Want", is now…