Here’s Why You Have Mood Swings After Quitting Drinking (E264)

Listen here. The episode will automatically load in your preferred podcast listening app.

Are you cranky AF after getting sober? Is your mood volatile and unpredictable? Are the little things setting you off? This is a normal part of the sober experience, so congrats on getting started. In this episode, I’ll explain why we have mood swings after quitting drinking. You’ll learn what’s going on in the brain, when it should start to ease up, and things to look out for as you continue working on your sobriety.

What to listen to next:

E232: The 3am Wake Up of Shame: Alcohol and Anxiety

E231: Everything You Need to Know About Alcohol Withdrawal

E247: Sober Sleep is the Best Sleep, But Not Right Away

E249: Alcohol and Cortisol: Extra Stress and Extra Cravings

E240: Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS) After Quitting Drinking: 8 Tips to Cope

Resources I offer:

Sober Support:

• Community & Meetings: Living a Sober Powered Life

• Weekly emails on Fridays

 Work with me:

• Sober Coaching

• Anger Management Coaching

Courses:

• The non-negotiable mindset

• Sober milestones: what to expect when you quit drinking

Thank you for supporting this show by supporting my sponsors.

If you enjoyed this episode please consider buying me a coffee to support all the research and effort that goes into this podcast. This is a one woman show!

Listen here. The episode will automatically load in your preferred podcast listening app.

Get My Weekly Email

Enter your email to get emails from me every Friday.

First name

Email address

Let's Go!

Thank you for subscribing!

---

Cite:

Gillian Tietz. Here’s Why You Have Mood Swings After Quitting Drinking (E264). Sober Powered. 2025

Please respect my intellectual property and properly credit me if you share my work.

Sources

1. Volkow, N., Fowler, J., Wang, GJ. et al. Dopamine in drug abuse and addiction: results from imaging studies and treatment implications. Mol Psychiatry 9, 557–569 (2004).

2. Becker, H. Mulholland, P. Neurochemical Mechanisms of Alcohol Withdrawal. Handb Clin Neurol. 2020

3. Cara A. Palmer, et al. Sleep loss and emotion: A systematic review and meta-analysis of over 50 years of experimental research. Psychological Bulletin, 2023

4. Vandekerckhove, M. Emotion, emotion regulation and sleep: An intimate relationship. AIMS Neurosci. 2008

5. Kahn, M. Sleep and emotions: Bidirectional links and underlying mechanisms. International Journal of Psychophysiology. 2013

6. Lollies, F. Associations of sleep and emotion regulation processes in childhood and adolescence - a systematic review, report of methodological challenges and future directions. Sleep Sci. 2022.

7. Palmer, C. Associations among adolescent sleep problems, emotion regulation, and affective disorders: Findings from a nationally representative sample. Journal of Psychiatric Research. 2018

8. Steinig J, et al. Perception of sleep and dreams in alcohol dependent patients during detoxification and abstinence. Alcohol 2011