262. I Thought Drinking Made Me Happy. Nick's Story262. I Thought Drinking Made Me Happy. Nick's Story
The Alcohol ReThink Podcast
Nick shares how college drinking turned into a nightly habit, blackouts and anxiety, and how coaching helped him reshape his beliefs and reach nearly two years alcohol-free. The conversation focuses on emotions, family support and building a life that feels genuinely happy without alcohol.
36:12•16 Oct 2026
“I Thought Drinking Made Me Happy”: Nick’s Journey to 700+ Days Alcohol-Free
Episode Overview
- Question the belief that alcohol is essential for happiness, especially when hangovers and regret are constant.
- Take small, steady steps instead of chasing quick fixes; think crawling, walking, then running in your alcohol-free journey.
- Use positive self-talk and give yourself grace rather than beating yourself up for slips or slow progress.
- Let trusted family or friends know what you’re going through so you don’t feel alone and can accept support.
- Notice how marketing links alcohol with feeling refreshed and choose genuinely refreshing alcohol-free options instead.
“I believed that the only way that I could find happiness was through drinking.”
Experience the emotional and inspiring tales of recovery as Nick shares how he went from thinking booze was the key to happiness to feeling proud of more than 700 days alcohol-free. This chat on The Alcohol ReThink Podcast is especially aimed at men who drink most nights, feel stuck in a loop of regret and anxiety, and secretly wonder if alcohol is running the show.
Nick talks about his early years in the American college drinking culture, where every party and tailgate had alcohol at its centre. He recalls how it all seemed normal and even funny at the time: blackouts, hangovers, stories the next morning about "so-and-so did this while they were drunk". But as marriage, kids and a career arrived, those habits quietly turned into four, five, six drinks a night and frequent blackouts.
He explains a powerful belief that kept him trapped: "I believed that the only way that I could find happiness was through drinking." Hangovers felt like unhappiness, and drinking became the supposed fix, creating what he calls a "circular reference". Coaching with host Patrick Fox helped him question those beliefs, rebuild what truly mattered, and learn that being human means feeling the full range of emotions rather than numbing them.
Nick is honest about the fear and shame of reaching out for help, both to Patrick and to his family. He describes the relief of realising he wasn’t alone, the value of group support, and the importance of positive self-talk and giving himself some grace. One turning point was spotting how marketing had linked alcohol with feeling “refreshed”, and swapping that margarita for a genuinely refreshing alcohol-free drink.
Now he talks about being more present with his kids, coaching his daughter’s football team instead of drinking on the sidelines, and taking better care of himself. His message is simple: investing in yourself is worth every ounce of effort. If you’re stuck in that same loop, what belief about alcohol might you be ready to question today?
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