Why do we miss alcohol—even when we know it’s destroying us?

In this raw and powerful episode, I’m unpacking the real reason it feels like grief when you quit drinking. We’ll look at how alcohol grooms you like a toxic partner, hijacks your identity like a cult, and lingers in your brain like a sleeping bear that’s always ready to wake up.

This isn’t just about quitting a habit—it’s about breaking up with a manipulative force that’s been running your life. And when you understand why it hurts so much to let it go, you’ll finally be able to reclaim your peace, your power, and your self-trust.

💥 In this episode, we’ll cover:

What makes alcohol feel like a “best frenemy”

The grooming phase: when drinking felt fun, light, and helpful

How alcohol rewires your brain and conditions emotional dependency

The cult-like takeover of your identity and social life

What it really means to “poke the bear” in sobriety

5 actionable ways to rebuild trust and keep the bear asleep

Why you’re not crazy for missing it—and how grief is actually a sign of healing

 

📥 Free Resource: Goodbye, Alcohol Healing Journal

Download your free guided journal prompts to help you process the grief of quitting drinking and reconnect with your true self.

✅ Process the emotional layers of letting go✅ Understand what alcohol really gave you—and what it took✅ Start journaling with purpose, power, and peace

🔗 Links + Resources:

✨ Book a FREE coaching call with me → addictionunlimited.com/call

🔥 Another episode:  Grieving the Loss of Alcohol

💛 Join the community → Facebook Group

📱 Follow me on Instagram → @addictionunlimited

 

⏱️ Timestamps – Episode #380: Grief in Sobriety: Saying Goodbye to Your ‘Best Frenemy’

00:00 – Why You Miss Alcohol (Even When It’s Hurting You)Exploring the emotional confusion of quitting drinking and why it feels like grief.

01:30 – What No One Tells You About Early SobrietyAngela shares the emotional chaos of missing alcohol and how it impacts your identity.

03:15 – How Alcohol Slowly Takes Over Your LifeThe grooming phase: how drinking goes from social fun to emotional dependency.

06:10 – The Science of Craving: How Alcohol Hijacks Your BrainLearn how alcohol rewires your reward system and trains your brain to believe you need it.

08:25 – When Alcohol Becomes Your IdentityFrom “fun wine girl” to isolation—how alcohol slowly shapes how you see yourself and your social life.

11:40 – Grieving the Lie: The Emotional Breakup with AlcoholWhy quitting feels like losing a part of yourself—and how to start healing emotionally.

13:00 – The Bear Analogy: Understanding the Addicted BrainAngela’s signature tool to explain relapse triggers and how to protect your progress.

15:45 – 5 Triggers That Wake the Bear (and What to Do Instead)Clear, actionable tools to stay grounded in recovery and stop sabotaging your success.

19:30 – Coaching That Helps You Go DeeperHow personalized support can take you from surviving sobriety to building a life you love.

21:00 – Free Recovery Resource: Goodbye, Alcohol Healing JournalGrab the journal prompts that help you unpack your grief and stay emotionally clear.

💬 If this episode hit home…

Please share it with someone who needs to hear it.