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EP319: The #1 skill that will reduce your drinking without (much) willpower episode artwork

Feb 10, 2026 45 min

EP319: The #1 skill that will reduce your drinking without (much) willpower

from It's Not About the Alcohol Hosted by Colleen Freeland

You told yourself this morning you weren't going to drink tonight. But now that it's time to make that decision, it feels impossible to say no. That moment is exactly what Colleen breaks down in this episode — because the path forward requires you to understand that this is not a lack of discipline and it's not a willpower problem. The relief you feel when you take that first sip has nothing to do with alcohol. It's about what's been happening inside your body all day long — the dumpster fire of stress and anxiety that has chronically become your state of normal. In this episode, Colleen teaches you the foundational skill that changes the way you move through your entire day, so that by evening, instead of telling yourself no, you're telling yourself yes — and there are a lot more options on the menu than just drinking. In This Episode: The two versions of you: regulated vs. dysregulated, and why you're a completely different decision-maker in each state Why your body isn't craving alcohol — it's craving relief The difference between skills and strategies, and why strategies fail without this foundational skill Practical strategies that work when you're regulated: Delay Don't Deny, mental rehearsal, talking to your tomorrow self, and extracting the lesson instead of spiraling in shame The RISE framework: Recognize, Integrate, Strategize, Embody What it takes to become the version of you who can take or leave alcohol You don't need to be "ready." You just need to be honest with yourself about where you are. Start with a Discovery Call. CLICK HERE. Uncover just how supportive a community of women can be when we are all co-creating positive change with intention and clarity. Find me on: YouTube: @HangoverWhisperer TikTok: @hangoverwhisperer Instagram: @thehangoverwhisperer X (Twitter) : @NotAboutTheAlc

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EP319: The #1 skill that will reduce your drinking without (much) willpower

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This episode was published on February 10, 2026.

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