The Truth About Wine, Perimenopause & Your Mood - Sarah Rusbatch

Send us Fan MailThe midlife story we’re handed tells us to slow down, shrink our world, and pour a glass to cope. This conversation with grey area drinking coach and author Sarah Rusbatch offers a different possibility. We explore how even a short break from alcohol can reset sleep, ease anxiety, sharpen focus, and open the door to a stronger, brighter midlife—without losing your social spark.We begin where many women find themselves: using wine as a reward at the end of a long day, only to wake up foggy, flat, or anxious. Sarah breaks down the real drivers behind habitual drinking—boredom, stress, loneliness—and explains why shifting to effort-based dopamine changes everything. She shares simple, science-backed tools you can start today: progressive strength training, protein-forward meals for hormone support, cold-water exposure, and evening rituals that protect sleep instead of sabotaging it. We also explore alcohol-free swaps, navigating identity shifts beyond “the party girl,” and handling social pressure with humour, boundaries, and grace.Perimenopause magnifies alcohol’s impact, so we get practical about energy, belly fat, hot sweats, and mood. Sarah talks openly about her own shift from nightly drinks to marathon training at 50—making a compelling case that a strong body and a regulated nervous system are the bedrock of a joyful midlife. Parenting comes into the mix too: delaying teen drinking, modelling fun without booze, and staying present instead of numbing out.If you’re curious about trying a 30-day break, joining a community challenge, or exploring Sarah’s book Beyond Booze, this episode gives you the map, the mindset, and the momentum to begin.If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a friend who’s sober-curious, and leave a quick review so more women can find it. Your next chapter starts with one curious step.Visit our website to find out more about this week's guest.All of our guests, including this one, are included in our Guest Directory so that you can find out more about them and the work that they do.https://midliferebelpodcast.com/guest-directoryIf you'd like to support the show you can buy me a coffee!https://buymeacoffee.com/midliferebelpodcast