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Episode 2707:

Tonya Lester challenges the common belief that alcohol relieves anxiety, explaining how it can actually exacerbate stress and disrupt sleep, leading to a harmful cycle. By exploring the brain's response to alcohol and offering practical steps to assess and reduce drinking, Lester encourages a more mindful approach to alcohol use for better mental health.

Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.tonyalester.com/blog/alcohol-and-anxiety-does-drinking-really-help-you-relax

Quotes to ponder:

"Alcohol as medication is a terrible idea. If your drinking is medicinal, it's time to look for safer, more effective ways to cope."

"The slowing down of the excitatory neurotransmitter is how alcohol acts as a depressant. Once dopamine levels go back to normal, we're still left with a depressed system, which often leads to another drink to get the dopamine levels back up."

"Sleep is the ultimate self-care activity. The importance of quality sleep in all mental health issues, and overall well-being, cannot be overstated."

Episode references:

Why We Sleep: https://www.amazon.com/Why-We-Sleep-Unlocking-Dreams/dp/1501144316

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