LIFE HACKS
How a Temporary Break From Alcohol Eased My Anxiety SOBER CLARITY
never thought much about how closely alcohol and anxiety were linked in my life. To me, a drink was simply part of the routine—a glass of wine while cooking dinner, cocktails at a friend’s birthday, a beer after a long week. It was normal, harmless, and often even celebrated. But behind that casual habit, I started to notice something: the more I drank, the less at ease I actually felt. WHEN RELAXATION BACKFIRED At first, I thought alcohol was helping me relax. After all, it softened my edges at the end of a stressful day. But hours later, I would find myself lying awake in bed, my heart pounding, my mind racing through imaginary worries. The mornings were worse—groggy, tense, and already behind on the day. Instead of easing my stress, alcohol seemed to magnify it once the haze wore off. That realization came quietly, in small moments. One Sunday morning, after what was supposed to be a “fun night out,” I sat on my couch with a pounding head and an anxious chest, asking myself: Why I didn’t decide to quit drinking forever. I just wanted to press pause. A month off, I told myself. Nothing drastic, just an experiment. The first week was the hardest— not because I craved alcohol, but because I noticed how automatic the habit had become. Sitting down to dinner felt strange without a glass in hand. Saying no at social gatherings felt awkward at first. But the awkwardness passed quickly, and something else started to replace it. do I keep doing this? PRESSING PAUSE I
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EC Magazines | Manila Edition 2025
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