Trending Series Pt7 "What is Dry Drunk?" - FROM THE VAULTTrending Series Pt7 "What is Dry Drunk?" - FROM THE VAULT
Sober.Coffee Podcast
Mike and Glenn talk through what "dry drunk" means, contrasting mere abstinence with genuine sobriety and sharing how AA, community and self-care can ease the misery many feel in early recovery. Their stories and tips focus on moving from pain toward small but real moments of peace.
28:31•4 Nov 2026
Dry vs Sober: Mike and Glenn Talk Honestly About ‘Dry Drunk’
Episode Overview
- Being a "dry drunk" is described as not drinking while keeping the same harmful behaviours and mindset.
- True sobriety is linked to community and working the AA 12 steps, rather than trying to do it alone.
- Post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS) can cause misery and anxiety months into recovery, but it is temporary.
- Regular meetings, honest self-awareness and using recovery tools help move from pain toward moments of peace.
- Practical actions such as self-care, journalling and avoiding triggers are suggested to ease dry drunk symptoms.
“"From my perspective, dry drunk is somebody who's not drinking, but they haven't changed their behavior."”
What are the common struggles and victories in addiction recovery? This chat in the Sober.Coffee shop zooms in on a phrase hundreds of thousands of people have searched for: "dry drunk." Mike and Glenn sit in their usual corner with coffees in hand, pulling apart what this term actually means in day-to-day sober life. They track its roots to Alcoholics Anonymous and describe "dry drunk syndrome" as being physically abstinent yet stuck in old ways of thinking and behaving.
As Glenn puts it, a dry drunk is "somebody who's not drinking, but they haven't changed their behavior," while Mike bluntly adds, "not drinking, same shitty behaviour." You’ll hear them compare genuine sobriety with simply being dry, stressing that “drunk” and “dry” can be done alone, but “sober” takes community. Using personal stories, they bring the concept to life.
Glenn talks about early recovery as "sitting in my own shit" without alcohol or tools, and how he had to "suffer better" until the AA steps started to shift his thinking. He recalls going from pain to "snippets of peace," moments when, just for a few minutes, everything felt okay inside. Mike highlights the danger signs he watches for today: am I acting and thinking like I did before recovery?
They also touch on post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS) and remind you that feeling miserable, irritable or anxious months into sobriety doesn’t mean you’re failing; it may simply mean your brain is still healing. Practical tips come thick and fast: self-care, journalling, staying connected to meetings, using the AA steps, and remembering that "the symptoms will eventually pass" if you keep working.
If you’ve stopped drinking but still feel stuck, grumpy or lost, this relaxed, honest conversation might help you ask a hard question: are you dry, or are you actually getting sober?
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