Drink Less Booze. Live How You Choose.
Drink Less Booze. Live How You Choose.
Podcast Description
Are you sober curious, a mindful drinker or simply looking to change your relationship with alcohol? Drink Less Booze. Live How You Choose is here to help you take a more intentional, values-based approach to alcohol. Join Dr Fiona Dowman, a HCPC-registered Clinical Psychologist, as she shares expert, evidence-based tools grounded in mindfulness to help you drink less—one manageable step at a time. Understand the psychology behind why you drink more than you want to, and tackle those pesky thoughts, cravings and difficult emotions that keep you stuck in old habits . This is the mental health podcast that helps you take control of your drinking and focus on what truly matters.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast focuses on changing one’s relationship with alcohol, exploring themes like mindful drinking, psychological insights on cravings, and practical strategies for overcoming emotional challenges related to drinking. Episodes include discussions on managing cravings, understanding the psychology of drinking habits, and tools for emotional resilience.
Are you sober curious, a mindful drinker or simply looking to change your relationship with alcohol? Drink Less Booze. Live How You Choose is here to help you take a more intentional, values-based approach to alcohol.
Join Dr Fiona Dowman, a HCPC-registered Clinical Psychologist, as she shares expert, evidence-based tools grounded in mindfulness to help you drink less—one manageable step at a time. Understand the psychology behind why you drink more than you want to, and tackle those pesky thoughts, cravings and difficult emotions that keep you stuck in old habits . This is the mental health podcast that helps you take control of your drinking and focus on what truly matters.
Episode Title: 🎙️ Are You Drinking to Numb Emotional Pain?
With Dr Fiona Dowman, Clinical Psychologist, UK
Episode Summary:
Do you find yourself reaching for a drink after a stressful day, an argument, or when you’re just feeling… off? You're not alone. In this episode, I unpack emotional drinking—why it happens, how emotions work, and what to do if alcohol has become your go-to coping mechanism.
I explore the emotional drinking cycle and how difficult feelings like stress, shame, or anxiety can trigger a pattern of drinking → self-criticism → more discomfort → more drinking. I’ll walk you through why our brains turn to alcohol for relief, the real cost of this short-term fix, and how to begin responding to emotions in a healthier, more sustainable way.
This episode includes a grounding mindfulness practice to help you pause, notice what you’re feeling, and create space between your emotions and your actions.
What You’ll Learn:
- Why emotional discomfort often leads to drinking
- What emotions actually are and why we experience them
- The common emotional drinking cycle (with a relatable example)
- The “quicksand metaphor” for why struggling with emotions makes things worse
- A simple exercise to help you pause and respond to feelings mindfully
🔗 Resources Mentioned:
🎧 Free 20-minute Mindful Drinking Audio Guide: www.purplebridgepsychology.co.uk/free-mindful-drinking-guide
📬 Questions or thoughts? Email me at: [email protected]
📲 Or connect on Instagram: @purplebridgepsychology
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As always, this podcast is not a substitute for personalised support. If you’re concerned about alcohol dependence, please speak to your GP or local alcohol service.
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