Being anxiety-free after quitting drinking might sound like a dream, but for Lauren, it’s becoming her reality. Growing up in the U.K., alcohol was everywhere, so normalized that it was almost invisible. But as Lauren got older, the effects of living in a world where every celebration and every crisis involved a drink started to show up in her mental health. This is her story of uncovering the roots of her anxiety, examining her relationship with alcohol, and finding the freedom that comes from finally understanding it.

Growing Up Around Alcohol

I’m from the U.K., so alcohol was just… part of life. Every adult around me drank. I spent loads of time in pubs with my parents’ friends and their kids. It wasn’t abusive or scary on the surface—we always had fun. But I now realize how confusing it was to see adults one way when sober and completely different when they were drinking. Even if they were happy, there was something unsettling about it. I think that’s where my anxiety started.

As a kid, you just absorb it all. You see that every occasion—birthdays, barbecues, even funerals—has a drink in hand. It becomes the background music to life, and you assume that’s just how it works.

Alcohol and Identity in My Teens and 20s

When I got older, alcohol became the thing that made you “fun.” It gave you an excuse to be wild, to mess up, to say something out of line and blame it on being drunk. I leaned into that. Partying, drinking, doing drugs—only when I drank, though. I’d never touch drugs sober, but once I had a few drinks, the door opened to more risky choices.

And even though I never handled alcohol well (I was always the one who ended the night sick), I now feel grateful for that. My body was trying to reject the poison I was pouring into it. I just didn’t know how to listen yet.

When It All Started Falling Apart

Things really shifted during COVID. I had just moved from the U.K. to Canada, and then the world shut down. Isolation set in, and I started drinking daily. Arguments with my partner became constant. Everything felt tense, foggy, disconnected.

That’s when I found This Naked Mind. I started researching audiobooks about quitting drinking. I’ve probably listened to Annie Grace’s book more than 20 times now. It helped me realize I wasn’t broken—I was just stuck in a cycle I didn’t understand.

What I Didn’t Know About Alcohol

The biggest shift for me came from learning the science—what alcohol actually does to the brain, the body, the nervous system. I realized my all-or-nothing approach was making things harder. I kept trying to white-knuckle it and then felt like a failure whenever I gave in and had a drink.

But Annie’s work helped me understand something huge: it’s not about forcing yourself to stop. It’s about changing the desire. Learning that changed everything for me.

The Calm That Came After

I won’t pretend I have it all figured out. I’m still on the journey. I’ve been on and off sober for about four years now. But what I do know is this—my life is so much better without alcohol.

I’m less anxious. I sleep better. I feel healthier. My hormones are more balanced. My mindset is more positive. I’m dreaming about starting a family, and I actually believe I can show up for them in a healthy, grounded way.

This isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress. It’s about remembering that every step toward being anxiety-free after quitting drinking is a step toward a life that finally feels peaceful and aligned.

Want to Experience This Too?

If you’re wondering whether it’s possible to feel anxiety-free after quitting drinking, I want you to know this: you don’t have to figure it out alone.

Join The PATH—a powerful, year-long program that has helped thousands of people completely shift how they view alcohol, themselves, and their healing. The coaching, community, and science-backed approach make all the difference.

What I’d Tell My Younger Self

If I could sit down with the younger version of me—the girl who thought she needed alcohol to be fun, to be accepted, to survive—I’d tell her this:

You are enough exactly as you are.
You’re allowed to feel uncomfortable.
You don’t have to numb it away.
You’re not crazy.
And there’s so much peace waiting for you.

Share Your Story

Did This Naked Mind help you feel more anxiety-free after quitting drinking? Did you get there through our books, the app, the podcasts, or another program at This Naked Mind? We want you to share your story here and inspire others on their journey!

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