High Performance Health

Grey Area Drinking, Hormones & Midlife: What Every Woman Needs to Know | Sarah Rusbatch author of Beyond Booze

Apr 13, 2025
Guest
Sarah Rusbatch
Sarah Rusbatch, author of 'Beyond Booze' and a health coach, dives deep into the topic of grey area drinking, where many women struggle with their alcohol use without fitting traditional labels. She uncovers the unique physiological and hormonal challenges women face, especially as they age. Sarah emphasizes the importance of community support and alternative relaxation methods while reflecting on the journey of sobriety, its transformative effects, and the necessity of reassessing one’s relationship with alcohol for improved health and self-discovery.
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INSIGHT

Understanding Gray Area Drinking

  • Gray area drinking is the space between social drinking and severe alcohol dependency.
  • It involves emotional reliance on alcohol, often using it to relieve stress or gain confidence.
ANECDOTE

Hurdles in Quitting Alcohol

  • Sarah experienced social pressures and relationship challenges when she stopped drinking.
  • She had to create new rituals and overcome fears of becoming "boring" or losing connection, especially in her marriage and intimacy.
INSIGHT

Alcohol's Neurochemical Trap

  • Alcohol causes a short-lived GABA calming effect but leads to increased cortisol and stress after.
  • Regular drinking depletes GABA, raising anxiety and making it biologically hard to stop after one or two drinks.
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