Stop Over-drinking and Start Living

Angela Mascenik - Certified Stop Over-drinking Coach
  • 4.8 (293)
  • MENTAL HEALTH
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Stop Over-Drinking and Start Living is a podcast for high-functioning women who want to stop over-drinking, cut back on alcohol, and change their relationship with wine and drinking. Certified Stop Over-Drinking Coach Angela Mascenik shares compassionate, practical self-coaching tools to help you feel like yourself again and handle life without using alcohol to cope. No labels. No “never again” rules. Just honest conversations and real strategies for women who are sober curious, want to drink less, or are exploring an alcohol-free life with clarity and self-trust. Listen to 5 powerful stories of women who changed their drinking here https://www.angelamascenik.com/5stories

  1. Ep 377 REWIND - I'm Afraid Of Losing Connection Without Alcohol

    2D AGO

    Ep 377 REWIND - I'm Afraid Of Losing Connection Without Alcohol

    Please enjoy this podcast REWIND: I received a great question last week around the fears we have when we think about changing our drinking. Here it is: The biggest fear I have about not drinking is a potential loss of emotional connection with other people. My husband and I have a routine of drinking together, having one of our great, deep conversations. And with other people - I love to connect deeply with people and put them at their ease - and so many people use mutual drinking to do that! I met a friend of mine who’s going through a hard time. I didn’t drink, so she didn’t drink, but it felt like neither of us could quite relax and enjoy ourselves. And with new friends - so often people use mutual drinking with me to let their guards down and get to know each other. I know this is all just an unfortunate part of the drinking culture, but this, I feel, is the biggest barrier to me not socially drinking: the loss of apparent mutual intimacy. This is such a great question. This podcast episode addresses this common fear, how alcohol actually doesn't help build true intimacy, and some ideas on how to start building intimacy without drinking. Enrollment for Alive AF! is open until April 3!Join here → www.angelamascenik.com/aliveaf

    21 min
  2. Ep 376 Your Drinking Is a Response That Became a Habit

    MAR 27

    Ep 376 Your Drinking Is a Response That Became a Habit

    [Alive AF! stop over-drinking membership is now open through April 3rd!] www.angelamascenik.com/aliveaf If you’ve been trying to drink less for years; making rules, starting over on Mondays, doing Dry January or “taking a break” and it keeps not working the way you hoped, this episode will help you understand why. For many high-functioning women, drinking didn’t begin as a habit. It began as a response. A response to stress, pressure, loneliness, overstimulation, reward, or simply the need to finally relax at the end of a long day. Over time, that response gets repeated enough that it starts to feel automatic. Like something you don’t fully choose anymore. Like a pattern your brain runs before you even have time to think. In this episode, Angela Mascenik, certified stop over-drinking coach, breaks down how drinking habits actually form, why behavior-based approaches often don’t last, and what it really takes to create lasting change from the inside out. If you’re successful, responsible, and “high functioning” on the outside but privately exhausted from managing alcohol in your head, this conversation will feel very familiar. What you’ll learn in this episode • Why drinking often starts as an emotional or nervous system response  • How the brain builds automatic drinking patterns over time  • The difference between conscious choice and conditioned habit  • Why rules, challenges, and behavior-only approaches don’t always stick  • What it means to work underneath the habit instead of just on top of it  • How learning to feel and process discomfort changes your relationship with alcohol  • What real, sustainable change can look like Ready for deeper support? Alive AF! is Angela’s monthly coaching membership for high-functioning women who want to change their relationship with alcohol in a thoughtful, sustainable, shame-free way. Inside you’ll get coaching, community, workshops, and real tools to help you interrupt old patterns and build new ones. Enrollment is open now through April 3.Join here → www.angelamascenik.com/aliveaf

    13 min
  3. Ep 375 Why High-Functioning Women Stay Stuck With Alcohol (And What Actually Creates Change)

    MAR 18

    Ep 375 Why High-Functioning Women Stay Stuck With Alcohol (And What Actually Creates Change)

    If you’ve been trying to drink less for years, making rules, cutting back, starting over every Monday, and it still is not sticking, this episode will help you understand why.In this episode, certified stop over-drinking coach Angela Mascenik explains why high-functioning women stay stuck in the drinking cycle even when they are motivated, capable, and successful in other areas of life. You will learn why behavior-based strategies and willpower alone often fail, what is actually happening in your brain when you reach for a drink, and what creates real, lasting change from the inside out.This conversation is for sober curious women who feel mentally exhausted managing their drinking and want a different approach. Angela shares practical insight into how automatic patterns form, why moderation attempts can feel so draining, and how to begin changing your relationship with alcohol without shame, rigid labels, or the pressure to quit forever.If your life looks put together on the outside but you are privately frustrated by your drinking habits, this episode offers clarity, relief, and a new path forward.What we cover in this episode:•  Why willpower and discipline are not the real problem • How high-functioning women develop automatic drinking patterns • What your brain is doing when you reach for alcohol • The hidden mental load of trying to control drinking • Why behavior-only approaches often do not create lasting change • How to start shifting your relationship with alcohol from the inside out SAVE THE DATE, Alive AF! My monthly stop over-drinking online membership opens on March 27th! There are only three spots left for the May Magic House Retreat in Lisbon! Click the link to get more info:https://www.angelamascenik.com/magichousefounderscircle

    17 min
  4. Ep 374 Why It Feels So Hard to Stop Over-Drinking (The Discomfort Is the Process)

    MAR 11

    Ep 374 Why It Feels So Hard to Stop Over-Drinking (The Discomfort Is the Process)

    Have you ever wanted to change your relationship with alcohol but kept waiting for it to feel less hard? In this episode, I get into why so many women know exactly what they want. Better sleep, clearer mornings, freedom from the daily mental negotiation. But still struggle to move forward. Understanding how your brain is wired is really important. We are designed to avoid discomfort and seek pleasure. So you aren't missing willpower or lacking motivation. Real change can't avoid discomfort. The real changes come from it. I talk about why the brain resists change, what the discomfort of early habit shifts actually means, and why sitting with an urge instead of giving in to it is not a sign that something is wrong. It's the process working exactly as it should. I also get into the emotional side of change. The anxiety that doesn't have a quick fix anymore. The boredom. The social awkwardness. The grief of letting something go. These are the things most people aren't prepared for, and why so many women stall out before they ever see results. In this episode, you'll learn: Why the brain treats discomfort as a stop sign and what it actually means Why cravings and emotional restlessness are signs your nervous system is recalibrating The difference between physical and emotional discomfort in early habit change Why waiting until it feels easy is keeping you stuck What it looks like to move through discomfort instead of around it How every woman who has made lasting change did it and what they all have in common If you've ever thought "I'll start when things calm down" or "I just need to find a way that doesn't feel this hard," this episode is for you. This episode is especially helpful for women who are sober curious, questioning their drinking, or ready to stop waiting for change to feel comfortable before they begin. If you’re curious about taking this work to a deeper level, you can book a Clarity Call to learn more about private coaching or the Magic House Retreat in Lisbon.Schedule your call here:https://www.angelamascenik.com/claritycallAnd if the retreat experience is calling you, there are only three spots left for the May Magic House Retreat in Lisbon:https://www.angelamascenik.com/magichousefounderscircle

    14 min
  5. Ep 373 Alcohol Trains the Brain to Seek Relief From Itself

    MAR 5

    Ep 373 Alcohol Trains the Brain to Seek Relief From Itself

    Have you noticed that alcohol can make you feel relaxed in the moment but more anxious, restless, or on edge the next day? Or maybe you haven’t made that connection yet, but you say you aren’t drinking in the morning and then by the evening, your mind is telling you you need something to take the edge off. In this episode, I break down the powerful loop that alcohol creates in the brain.  At first drinking can feel fun, help you relax or connect at parties or outings. But over time, alcohol begins changing the chemistry of your nervous system in ways most people never realize. Alcohol can actually train your brain to create the very stress it promises to fix. I explain how alcohol affects your nervous system, what rebound stress chemistry is, and why many people start drinking for one reason but eventually find themselves drinking for completely different reasons. You’ll also learn why the daily cycle of morning promises and evening negotiation happens and how understanding the brain science behind alcohol can remove shame and confusion around your drinking habits. If you’ve ever found yourself thinking, “Why do I still want a drink when I know it doesn’t really make me feel better?” this episode will help you understand what’s actually happening. In this episode, you’ll learn: • Why alcohol initially feels relaxing but can increase anxiety later • How rebound stress chemistry affects your nervous system • Why drinking shifts from pleasure to relief over time • The brain loop that keeps many people stuck in drinking habits • Why you may wake up determined not to drink and still feel the urge later • How your nervous system recalibrates when alcohol is removed Understanding this alcohol relief loop can change the way you think about drinking and help you stop blaming yourself for something that is actually a predictable biological response. This episode is especially helpful for women who are sober curious, questioning their drinking, or exploring what a different relationship with alcohol might look like. If you’re considering private coaching or an in-person retreat at The Magic House in Lisbon, you can book a Clarity Call here: https://www.angelamascenik.com/claritycall or https://www.angelamascenik.com/magichousefounderscircle

    15 min
  6. Ep 372 I Know What To Do. So, Why Am I Not Doing It?

    FEB 26

    Ep 372 I Know What To Do. So, Why Am I Not Doing It?

    Why insight alone doesn’t change your drinking You already understand your drinking. You’ve read the books. You’ve listened to the podcasts. You’ve promised yourself, “Tonight will be different.” And yet… you still find yourself pouring the drink. If you’ve ever thought, “I know what to do, I’m just not doing it,” this episode will help you finally understand why. In this episode, I explain the real reason awareness and insight don’t automatically lead to behavior change and why nothing is wrong with you if you keep repeating patterns you fully understand. You’ll learn how drinking habits live in a different part of the brain than insight, why stress shuts down your ability to follow through on decisions, and how emotional avoidance and nervous system patterns drive behavior far more than knowledge does. I also walk you through my Stop - Notice - Process (SNP) a simple, science-backed way to interrupt automatic drinking patterns and create change in real time. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why knowing better doesn’t mean doing better The brain science behind habits and alcohol cravings How stress and emotions override logical decisions Why podcasts and self-awareness alone aren’t enough How to use the Stop Notice Process to pause before drinking If you’re sober curious, questioning your drinking, or tired of negotiating with yourself every night, this conversation will help you understand what’s actually happening and what to do next. Listen in and learn how small pauses can create real change If you’re ready to explore private coaching or attending a Magic House Retreat in Lisbon to transform your relationship with alcohol at a deeper level, you can book a Clarity Call here:  https://www.angelamascenik.com/claritycallAnd check out the last 3 spots in the May Magic House Retreat in Lisbon!https://www.angelamascenik.com/magichousefounderscircle

    19 min
  7. Ep 371 The Moderation Myth: When Your Brain Won’t Let You See the Truth

    FEB 18

    Ep 371 The Moderation Myth: When Your Brain Won’t Let You See the Truth

    How many times have you tried to “just drink less”… only to end up right back where you started? In this episode, I’m talking about the hard but freeing truth behind repeated failed attempts at moderation — and the thinking patterns that keep high-achieving women stuck in the cycle of overdrinking. If you’ve ever told yourself:  • “I’ll only drink on weekends.” • “I’ll switch to wine.” • “I just need better rules.” • “This time will be different.”     …this episode is for you. We’re diving into the disordered thinking that protects alcohol instead of protecting you — including moving goalposts, alcohol amnesia, the “just one more try” loop, and the illusion of control that keeps you negotiating instead of deciding. No shame here, just clarity. You’ll learn:  • How to recognize when moderation isn’t working for you • Why your brain keeps convincing you to try again • The difference between perseverance and avoidance • When it might be time to stop managing your drinking and make a clear decision If you’re tired of thinking about alcohol all the time…tired of starting over…tired of proving you “should” be able to control it… This Stop Over-drinking and Start Living Podcast episode is a conversation is for women who are sober curious, cutting back on alcohol, taking a break, or exploring a healthier relationship with drinking and with themselves. If you’re ready to explore private coaching or attending a Magic House Retreat in Lisbon to transform your relationship with alcohol at a deeper level, you can book a Clarity Call here: https://www.angelamascenik.com/claritycallAnd check out the last 3 spots in the May Magic House Retreat in Lisbon!https://www.angelamascenik.com/magichousefounderscircle

    22 min
  8. Ep 370 When You’re Sick of Thinking About Your Drinking (And What It Actually Means)

    FEB 12

    Ep 370 When You’re Sick of Thinking About Your Drinking (And What It Actually Means)

    Are you exhausted from thinking about your drinking all the time? Tired of analyzing, planning, negotiating, starting over, and wondering why it still feels so hard? In this episode of Stop Over-Drinking and Start Living, I break down a phase of change that almost no one talks about—the moment when you’re not motivated anymore, you’re not excited, and you just want a break from thinking about alcohol altogether. You’ll learn: Why feeling “over it,” unmotivated, or numb is a normal stage of emotional change What these thoughts really mean (and why they’re not a sign you’re failing) How to move through this phase without white-knuckling, quitting on yourself, or numbing out How support and self-trust matter most after the initial motivation fades This episode is for women who are sober curious, cutting back, taking alcohol-free breaks, or trying to change their relationship with alcohol especially if you’re tired of thinking about it and want relief, clarity, and a more sustainable way forward.No shame, labels or muscle through advice here. Just honest insight into what’s happening emotionally and how to keep moving forward with compassion and support. If you’re ready to stop over-drinking and start living with more ease, this conversation will help you understand exactly where you are and what comes next. Now is the best time to have your support team on lock. Consider working with me privately or signing up for a retreat go here and see if talking to me directly would help. https://www.angelamascenik.com/claritycall

    16 min
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4.8
out of 5
293 Ratings

About

Stop Over-Drinking and Start Living is a podcast for high-functioning women who want to stop over-drinking, cut back on alcohol, and change their relationship with wine and drinking. Certified Stop Over-Drinking Coach Angela Mascenik shares compassionate, practical self-coaching tools to help you feel like yourself again and handle life without using alcohol to cope. No labels. No “never again” rules. Just honest conversations and real strategies for women who are sober curious, want to drink less, or are exploring an alcohol-free life with clarity and self-trust. Listen to 5 powerful stories of women who changed their drinking here https://www.angelamascenik.com/5stories

Information

  • Creator
    Angela Mascenik - Certified Stop Over-drinking Coach
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    380
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Copyright
  • Show Website
    Stop Over-drinking and Start Living

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