How to Break the 5PM Drinking Habit (Without Losing Your Mind)

If your witching hour feels like a daily emotional ambush—when the stress, noise, and cravings all collide—you are not alone. That 4 or 5PM pull toward wine or alcohol isn’t just a bad habit… it’s a wired-in loop your brain has learned over years. And breaking it takes more than willpower.

In this episode of Addiction Unlimited, we’re diving deep into why 5PM is such a trigger—and how to interrupt the craving cycle before it takes over.

Angela unpacks what’s really happening when that evening craving hits, from decision fatigue to emotional overload to the brain’s need for relief. This isn’t about being broken—it’s about building a new system that supports you when your brain and body are done.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why your brain cues up cravings before you even leave work

• The truth about decision fatigue and emotional depletion

• How to use the “Interrupt Ritual” to break autopilot

• The 5PM Flip: Replacing your reward without punishment

• How to identify emotions using H.A.L.T. and stop numbing with alcohol

• What neuroplasticity means—and why small shifts change everything

Angela also shares a powerful story from her early sobriety behind the bar, proving that the craving loop can be broken—even when it’s deeply ingrained.

This episode is a real-world, neuroscience-backed guide to help you stop surviving your evenings—and start leading them with intention and power.

Links Mentioned in This Episode: 

👉🏼 Related Episode: Relief Not Relapse – Ep. 376
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