Alcohol.. Self-Care or Stress Relief? The Conversation Every Woman Needs

We’ve all told ourselves a glass of wine helps us unwind, but what if it’s actually wrecking your rest? Alcohol sedates you, but it doesn’t restore you.In this eye-opening moment, Sarah Rusbatch explains why wine disrupts REM sleep, raises cortisol, and leaves women feeling constantly “just tired.” Even one drink can hijack your brain’s ability to process emotions overnight, and that exhaustion adds up.Join the Weightless in Perimenopause & Beyond Live Event on December 2https://shaunas-menopause-glow.lovable.appIn this episode, you’ll learn:• What “grey area drinking” really means, and why most women who struggle don’t identify as alcoholic• How stress, boredom, and loneliness drive drinking in midlife• The neuroscience of habit and emotional regulation behind alcohol use• Why alcohol has been sold as “self-care” and how to rewrite that story• Practical steps to reduce or stop drinking without shame• How to rebuild social confidence and friendships alcohol-free• The impact of alcohol on sleep, hormones, and midlife health• Why compassion, not willpower, is the key to real changeIf you often wake up exhausted, wired, or low in mood, this episode will help you understand the science behind it, and how to reclaim real, restorative sleep without the nightly glass.Learn more about the 16 week Rediscover You program hereFor more resources from Sarah Rusbatch:Follow Sarah on Instagram, visit her website and download her free guide “100 Things To Do Instead of Drinking” here.Follow Dr Shauna and the podcast on social:Podcast Website: ⁠www.allaboutyoupod.com⁠.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allaboutyou_withdrshaunawatts https://www.instagram.com/drshaunawattsgpLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shauna-watts-a903a5247Disclaimer: This podcast and any information, advice, opinions or statements within it do not constitute medical, health care or other professional advice. Information is provided for educational and entertainment purposes only.00:00 – Why Women Turn to Wine01:14 – Meet Sarah Rusbatch02:18 – When Drinking Stopped Working03:33 – How Alcohol Shapes Women’s Lives08:08 – Becoming a Grey Area Drinking Coach08:56 – Alcohol’s Hidden Impact on Health13:09 – Wine, Friendship & Connection15:00 – The Emotions Behind Drinking16:52 – Stress, Loneliness & Midlife19:24 – What We Learn from Parents’ Drinking21:56 – Why Wine Isn’t Self-Care25:26 – Gender Roles, Pressure & Overload30:05 – What Is Grey Area Drinking?30:30 – Are You a Grey Area Drinker?31:42 – Early Signs You’re in the Grey Zone32:36 – Alcohol, Sleep & Mood34:46 – The Science of Stress & Wine35:43 – Alcohol’s Effect on Skin37:39 – Sedation Isn’t Sleep43:35 – Binge Drinking & Health44:48 – Life After Alcohol* Grey area drinking women* Alcohol free midlife* Stop drinking without rehab* Women and wine culture* Alcohol and menopause* Emotional drinking habits* Sarah Rusbatch Beyond Booze* How to drink less* Alcohol and anxiety* Midlife wellness podcast* Quit-lit for women* Alcohol self-care myth* Female friendship and wine* Perimenopause and alcohol* Dr Shauna Watts interview