How Not to Drink When The World Is Burning Down
And other things to do to cope with stress during uncertain times.
As someone who doesn’t have politics in my resume, I’ve preferred to remain on the sidelines of commenting on what’s going on in the world.
But I’ve reached the point where I can no longer stay silent because the stress of the world ultimately plays a big role in our everyday stress, and therefore, can be a big trigger when it comes to drinking and unhealthy coping mechanisms.
In the spirit of less, it has been one of my priorities to consume less news and social media coverage of US and Global affairs. Maybe you’ve tried this, too.
This, however, has become impossible by the time we’ve reached late June of 2025. It reminds me of a meme about “precedented times” from the pandemic…
Ya know, five years ago??!
And alas, we’re still living in unprecedented times.
How’s a gal who’s designed to break under stress and pressure supposed to deal with the crushing weight of constant fear and worry for the safety of humanity?
If you’re like me, you’re regularly walking on eggshells just to keep your own head straight. And then BOOM. Another outside factor comes in to rain on your delicate balance and you’re sent spiraling into doom, anxiety, and maybe even depression.
I see you.
Every single day, we open our phones to a new, wild headline that seems to be something that was predicted in the movie Idiocracy back in 2006. If you haven’t seen this amazing film starring Luke Wilson, Dax Shepard and Maya Rudolph, it’s time to watch it (but we warned that it may be triggering).
So today I want to share with you a few things that are helping me to deal with the chaos of the world without having to drink alcohol.
Taking time off: Recently I decided to put a few one-week vacation blocks on my schedule for the rest of the year. I have found the most benefit from scheduling “stay-cations”. It seems that right now, planning a trip, spending money, and adding more to-dos to the list creates added stress. Instead of traveling during my time off, I’ve preferred to stay local and low-key. In my week off last week, I took a road trip, went to a local museum, took a day on the couch, and even finally organized a few drawers.
Putting down the phone: After my recent experience with my silent meditation retreat (more on that here), I’ve really tried to stick with better boundaries around my phone. Not only around limiting social media, but also simply just leaving my phone in another room a few times per day. I even bought a real live alarm clock so that I can cut back on using my phone to wake me up. (P.S. If you ever call or text me, I apologize because I am terrible with staying on top of my messages and calls.)
Doing outside things: I’ve been spending more time saying yes to going outside — on walks, taking drives with my partner to new places, putting my feet in the grass, going down to the beach at sunset to take photos (as shown above). Getting outside and into the real world is helping me stay focused on what’s right in front of me and keeping me present in the moment.
Staying open & honest: When I am stressed, it serves us ZERO to keep it inside and let it fester. What helps me is to see a therapist, get support from my sobriety community, attend sobriety meetings, and connect with others in recovery. I share how I am feeling and where I can use support. I support others however I can, too.
If you’re feeling triggered to drink alcohol or use substances, know this:
Alcohol will not solve any problems. It will not make any of this better. It will likely make you feel worse, increase your stress, and lead to more challenges.
You got this.
I would love to know more about what’s helping you stay away from alcohol during these challenging times. Let me know in the comments!
Sending you love & permission to do less,
Xo, Dr. Brooke
PS, there’s still time to join my Functional Sobriety Academy July launch with our Early Bird pricing!
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So many helpful ideas, Dr. Brooke! I am ordering an alarm clock. I have used 'I need my phone for an alarm' excuse long enough. Thanks for the inspiration!