Why We Believe Alcohol Helps and How to Break These Beliefs
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Media and culture often glamorize alcohol, presenting it as a mark of attractiveness and success. This stereotype is perpetuated further with TV shows like Netflix's "The Girl Across the Street From the Girl in the Window," showing characters overcoming alcoholism without withdrawal symptoms or relapse, just through sheer will. This portrayal, unfortunately, reinforces the false notion that anyone unable to control their drinking is weak-willed or a 'loser'.
Brand placement and alcohol use in popular movies, including children's films, have also grown exponentially, further embedding positive associations between alcohol and perceived attractiveness or success. It's no wonder that we are socially programmed to think that alcohol helps us fit in, unwind, or enhance our social interactions.
Your beliefs are holding you back from quitting drinking
These beliefs are biologically reinforced when we consume alcohol, which triggers the release of dopamine. Dopamine creates a memory of this pleasurable experience, prompting cravings when we encounter associated cues - a certain time of day, a favorite bar, or even a negative emotion. It's one reason why quitting drinking and staying sober can seem impossible.
However, this perceived benefit of alcohol is often a placebo effect, heavily influenced by our beliefs. Studies have shown that people who believe they've consumed alcohol display increased confidence and sociability, even if they've only had a mocktail. These effects can be traced back to the semantic network model of memory - concepts that frequently co-occur are stored close together in our memory, triggering associated feelings.
How to change your beliefs about alcohol
If you're looking to quit drinking, consider this: your beliefs shape your reality. If you believe that alcohol helps you connect or relax, you might find sober life uncomfortable initially. But with time and conscious effort to dismantle these beliefs, you'll discover that life without alcohol can be just as enjoyable, if not more so.
The key to debunking these beliefs is proof. Put sobriety to the test. Plan fun, sober weekends or find relaxation techniques without alcohol. By taking control of your experience, you'll realize that the brief high from drinking is often followed by prolonged misery. It's not life that sucks; it's the hangover. Unraveling this belief helps you embrace sobriety and break free from the cycle of alcohol dependence. It's not always easy, but the sober curious journey is definitely worthwhile.
Learn more in episode 114
When you think about quitting drinking you might feel sad and anxious at the thought of never drinking again. How is it even possible to have a good life without drinking alcohol? We have all of these beliefs that alcohol helps and it’s essential for happiness and connection, but it’s really not. It’s just a drink. We rationalize why it’s helpful because we’re obsessed with it, but when we get some distance we see that alcohol was causing more bad than good. These beliefs, or positive alcohol expectancies, are formed when we’re really young and then they are reinforced through the way alcohol affects our brain. In this episode you’ll learn how these beliefs are formed, how they are reinforced, and how you can start breaking them down.
What to listen to next:
E11: Why Alcohol Feels Good (Endorphins and Opioid Receptors)
E62: Dopamine Deep Dive
E101: Does Alcohol Really Unlock Creativity?
E77: Are Non-Alcoholic Drinks Okay to Drink?
E61: How Alcohol Memories are Triggered in Sobriety
Sources
Begue, L. et al. ‘Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder’: people who think they are drunk also think they are attractive. Br J Psychol. 2012
Cite this episode
Tietz, G. Episode 114: Why We Believe Alcohol Helps and How to Break These Beliefs. Sober Powered. 2022.
