Feel Good Alcohol-Free with Lindsay Hennekey

Episode 3: The One Lie Keeping You Stuck

Mar 25, 2025

The discussion explores the pitfalls of moderation in drinking, highlighting why it often fails. Personal experiences reveal the exhausting mental struggles tied to alcohol control. Listeners learn about decision fatigue and how alcohol creates a false sense of control. The episode also challenges the myth that alcohol aids relaxation. It encourages reevaluating drinking rituals and suggests healthier alternatives for unwinding.

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ANECDOTE

The Rewarded 30-Day Reset That Backfired

Lindsay describes repeated 30-day challenges where she felt great then rewarded herself with wine and returned to old patterns.
She watched workouts, meals, and energy slip back as alcohol reentered her life despite rules.

INSIGHT

Why Moderation Is Set Up To Fail

Lindsay explains moderation fails because neural pathways and cues keep driving drinking, not willpower.
Decision fatigue from constant negotiating makes alcohol the center of attention rather than an occasional choice.

INSIGHT

Alcohol Overrides Your Rule-Making Self

Alcohol lowers inhibitions and shuts down decision-making, so rules made sober disappear after a drink or two.
The person who sets rules is not the same person acting after drinking, so discipline appears to fail but is overridden.

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Have you ever told yourself, “This time will be different,” only to find yourself right back in the same drinking cycle? If so, this episode is for you. We’re diving into why moderation always, always fails—and why that’s actually good news.

In this episode, Lindsay shares her personal experience with the health challenge cycle, the myth of moderation, and the exhausting mental gymnastics that come with trying to control alcohol. We’ll break down the biggest lies keeping you stuck, from decision fatigue to alcohol’s sneaky nature, and why the belief that “alcohol helps you relax” is one of the most misleading stories we tell ourselves.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

Why 30-day health challenges never lead to true moderation
The hidden reasons moderation always unravels (hint: it’s not about willpower)
The mental exhaustion of decision fatigue and why it keeps you stuck
How alcohol tricks you into believing you’re in control while keeping you dependent
The real reason Sunday night rituals (and other drinking habits) feel impossible to break
How to challenge the belief that alcohol = relaxation so you can finally be free

Resources:

Try Lindsay's favorite NA red wine Oddbird Addiction and use code: LINDSAYHENNEKEY15 for 15% off
Download Lindsay's guide Sober Shift, to help you get unstuck

Next Steps:

Pick one of the following areas: The signal to unwind, Something to sip on, or A way to truly relax and adjust your ritual. Try a post-work shower or create a new playlist that you put on when you get home and have a little dance party. Crack open an NA fizzy drink and journal for five minutes, or do some yoga.

If this episode resonated with you, please take a moment to subscribe, rate, and review. Your support helps others find this podcast and start their own journey to freedom. See you next week!

Thanks for listening! If you want to stay connected with Lindsay:

Follow her on Instagram: @lindsay_hennekey
Subscribe to her newsletter at www.lindsayhennekey.com/subscribe
Learn more about her coaching programs at www.lindsayhennekey.com

Please rate and review this podcast! Your feedback helps us reach more women who are ready to transform their relationship with alcohol. Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode!

And remember, Lindsay is a sober coach, not a health professional. If you are chemically dependent on alcohol, consult your doctor on the steps you need to take to safely detox.