Ep. 76 Can Hypnotherapy Help You Quit Drinking? The Surprising Truth

Listen to the PODCAST Here
Watch the Podcast on YouTube Here 

Unlocking a Healthier You: How Hypnotherapy and Self-Discovery Transform Life Without Alcohol

Rethinking Our Relationship with Alcohol

Alcohol often comes wrapped in cultural and social scripts: it’s part of teenage rites of passage, the centerpiece at weddings, or a remedy after a stressful day. For many, drinking is habitual, automatic—an action tied deeply to emotional routines and the desire to fit in. But what happens when our bodies, or our minds, start pushing back against this norm?

Silvia Subirana, clinical psychologist and head of content at Unconscious Moderation, shared her powerful journey of listening to her body and redefining her relationship with alcohol on the Feel Lit Alcohol Free podcast. Her story and expertise shed light on how anyone can begin to reconsider drinking, foster fulfillment, and live a more authentic, healthy life.

Listening to Your Body: The First Step to Change

Silvia’s journey started like many others: social pressure and expectation led her to drink during her youth. But physical discomfort—gut issues and strong emotional aftereffects—signaled that her body wasn’t on board.

“I never really liked it that much… I felt a lot of emotional effects, like anxiety and sadness the day after,” Silvia explained. Even after her gut issues were resolved, the experience of drinking worsened. Rather than push through, she chose to listen, letting her body guide her towards quitting—a decision that became less about willpower and more about honoring her well-being.

So many people, especially women going through menopause or anyone experiencing health changes, can relate. Sometimes the loudest voice encouraging change isn’t external advice, but the subtle (or not-so-subtle) wisdom of our own bodies.

Demystifying Hypnotherapy: Breaking Old Habits, Building New Pathways

A major component of the Unconscious Moderation program is hypnotherapy. But what is it, really? Many people imagine it as a theatrical performance—a magician swinging a watch and putting you “under.” In reality, hypnotherapy is a deeply relaxing, meditative state in which the mind is more open to positive suggestions.

Silvia draws the connection between our habits and neural pathways: “When, for example, we feel stressed, a lot of people feel stressed and then they have a glass of wine... that path, that habit, is a path in the brain between neurons.” Hypnotherapy helps weaken the grip of unhealthy patterns, like turning to alcohol for stress relief, and strengthens alternative, healthier responses.

Combined with journaling, conscious reflection, and other Unconscious Moderation tasks, hypnotherapy works on both the conscious and unconscious levels. It’s a powerful tool, but not a magic wand—lasting change requires ongoing attention and self-care.

The Myth of the “21-Day Habit” and the Power of the Pause

A popular belief is that it takes 21 days to form a new habit, but as Silvia points out, forming new habits—especially around substances like alcohol—is much more complex. “Maybe it takes a month, maybe a year. It’s so subjective.” The real benefit of a focused program like Unconscious Moderation isn’t a definitive cure, but a meaningful reset—a chance for participants to check in with their needs, values, and physical cues.

One of Silvia’s top strategies? The power of the pause. When in a social situation, she recommends asking:
--- Do I want this drink because I want it, or because I feel pressured, or out of habit?
Sometimes just pausing is enough to bring subconscious patterns into conscious awareness, opening the space for genuine choice.

Rediscovering Joy, Fun, and the “Precious” Self

One of the biggest fears about quitting alcohol is the loss of fun or connection. Silvia’s experience? “That part of myself that I loved—that fun, silly, goofy part—is inside me. I don’t need a substance.” Living alcohol-free became less about deprivation and more about self-discovery.

As many on this path find, life without alcohol brings clarity, deeper connection, and new forms of joy, whether it’s dancing, movement, meaningful conversation, or creative pursuits. Fun comes not from a bottle, but from within—waiting to be rediscovered.

Small Steps Lead to Big Changes

Silvia’s advice for anyone considering change: break it down. Don’t focus on “quitting forever,” but on making the next right choice. Experiment. Celebrate small wins—a single social outing, a new alcohol-free ritual, a moment of self-compassion. Change, after all, is always possible; the real transformation is in realizing its power, and yours.

Living a healthier, more fulfilled life isn’t about denying yourself pleasure—it’s about discovering where true fulfillment lives, and giving yourself permission to seek it.
___________

Listeners have said that our podcast has helped them get alcohol free! So we created Feel Lit 21, a way for you to press your reset button and take a 21 day break from alcohol. Every day you will receive emails with videos, journal prompts, and the inspiration you need to embrace 21 days without alcohol that feels lit!  https://feellitpodcast.com/FeelLit21-sg

 Find community and connection on the Feel Lit Alcohol Free Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/feellitalcoholfreepodcast

Ruby Williams at Freedom Renegade Coaching https://www.freedomrenegadecoaching.com/

Follow Coach Ruby: @rubywilliamscoaching
Email: [email protected]