From the outside, everything looks in control.
You’re capable, responsible, maybe even admired. You’ve built a career, managed a home, kept things ticking along. But privately, alcohol feels harder to manage than it should — and you don’t know how it got this way.

This blog is for the high achievers. The professionals, the perfectionists, the carers, the doers. The ones who seem to have it all together — except when it comes to drinking.

If that’s you, you’re not alone. And more importantly, you’re not failing.

When Control in Life Doesn’t Mean Control Over Drinking

Many people assume that success in one area should translate into discipline in others. But drinking habits don’t work like that. They’re not about logic — they’re about emotion, pressure, and how we self-soothe when the lights go off and the emails stop.

Often, alcohol becomes the quiet reward. The pressure valve. The “just one glass” that turns into more — not because you’re weak, but because your mind is running on autopilot.

“People who seem the most in control often carry the most pressure. Drinking becomes the off-switch — until it starts to affect your clarity, your energy, your self-trust.”
— Ailsa Frank, renowned British hypnotherapist and creator of the Feel Amazing App

Why High Performers Are More Vulnerable Than You Think

Success doesn't make you immune — in fact, it can make you more at risk. A 2018 report published in The Guardian revealed that people in higher-income jobs — including lawyers, executives, and other professionals — are more likely to drink regularly than any other group in society.

The reasons vary: pressure, networking culture, the expectation to perform — and the sense that drinking is a “normal” release in successful circles. But over time, what starts as a glass to unwind can become a nightly ritual that’s harder to control than you’d like to admit.

Common Thought Patterns Behind High Functioning Drinking

These internal scripts quietly fuel high-functioning drinking:

  • “I deserve this after the day I’ve had.”
  • “I’m not hurting anyone, so it’s fine.”
  • “Everyone in my position drinks like this.”
  • “If I stop now, I’ll fail — again.”
  • “It’s the only part of the day that feels like mine.”

These aren’t excuses — they’re signals. Your mind is asking for a different kind of support.

The Hidden Signs of High Functioning Drinking Struggles

Because you keep showing up — to work, school runs, meetings — it’s easy to overlook the problem. But functioning drinkers often pay hidden costs: blurred focus, disrupted sleep, emotional numbness, and creeping tolerance.

Take a moment to reflect. Are you noticing any of these?

  • You regularly drink to unwind or mark the end of the day
  • You’ve set drinking limits you don’t stick to
  • You hide how much you’re drinking from others
  • You wake up tired, anxious, or regretful
  • You feel “off” without a drink in the evening

High-functioning doesn’t mean unaffected. Often, the emotional and physical consequences of drinking show up in subtle ways first — foggier thinking, increased self-criticism, or waking up at 3am with racing thoughts.

You might find yourself creating unspoken rituals: always drinking during certain shows, topping up while cooking, or needing a drink before social events. These patterns often form without conscious intent — they’re just there. If you’ve started negotiating with yourself (“just one tonight,” “I’ll be good next week”) or hiding your drinking from loved ones, it’s not a sign of failure. It’s a signal your body and mind are asking for a more supportive way to unwind.

Why Emotional Disconnection Fuels Drinking

Many high achievers are taught to manage, perform, and move on — but not necessarily to feel. Over time, this creates emotional disconnection. You become so focused on outcomes that you lose touch with your inner signals — hunger, fatigue, sadness, even joy.

Alcohol can feel like a shortcut back to sensation. It dulls discomfort and offers momentary relief from the numbness or pressure. But it never gets to the root. True healing begins when you reconnect with yourself — your emotions, your boundaries, your needs — and support them in healthier, more lasting ways.

Why Willpower Alone Doesn’t Work — Even for High Achievers

You’re used to solving problems. So why can’t you just stop drinking?

Because emotional drinking doesn’t come from the rational mind. It’s driven by the subconscious — the part of you that links alcohol to comfort, reward, or relief.

Willpower only works for a while. Real change comes when you teach your mind a calmer way to cope.

“You can’t out-discipline your emotions. But you can teach your mind a better way to feel safe, calm, and in control — without alcohol.”
— Ailsa Frank

How Hypnotherapy Helps You Reset From Within

Hypnotherapy isn’t about giving up control — it’s about reclaiming it from within. By working with the subconscious, it helps dissolve the triggers and automatic urges behind emotional drinking.

Inside the Feel Amazing App, Ailsa’s ‘Take Control of Alcohol’ recording gently rewires these internal habits. Instead of relying on willpower, the session builds a sense of calm, choice, and control — from the inside out.

You don’t have to push harder. You just need a gentler path.

What Taking Back Control Might Feel Like

When your emotional patterns shift, your habits do too. You might start to notice:

  • Feeling clearer and more present in the evening
  • A genuine ability to say “not tonight” without struggle
  • Sleeping more deeply and waking without regret
  • Enjoying social settings without needing a drink
  • Quiet pride — even on ordinary days

You might also notice more subtle but meaningful shifts:

  • No longer thinking about alcohol all day
  • A more consistent mood throughout the week
  • Feeling proud of how you handled stress without reaching for a glass
  • Rediscovering hobbies or sleep routines you used to enjoy

These are not dramatic overnight changes. They are steady, internal shifts — the kind that build emotional resilience and self-trust over time. They’re the quiet proof that your mind and body are healing, even if you haven’t said it out loud yet.

This isn’t about perfection. It’s about peace.

Real Story: “I Kept Everything Perfect — Except Myself”

“I’ve always been high-achieving. But wine became my evening crutch — even though I was ashamed of it. Ailsa’s recordings helped me separate stress from the urge to drink. I haven’t given up completely, but I finally feel in control of when and why I drink.”
— Feel Amazing App user

It’s Not About Stripping Back — It’s About Rebuilding Powerfully

You’ve built a successful life. Now it’s time to build peace inside it.

Hypnotherapy helps you create a space where alcohol isn’t the default. Where you can enjoy an evening without regret. Where you go to bed proud — not panicked. Where your calm comes from you, not your glass.

Try the Feel Amazing App Today

If alcohol feels like the hidden pressure valve in your otherwise successful life, you’re not alone — and you’re not stuck.

Explore Ailsa’s ‘Take Control of Alcohol’ recording inside the Feel Amazing App. You’ll also find supporting sessions such as ‘Stop Worrying – 10 Minute Daily’, ‘Switch Off from Work 10 Minute Daily’, and ‘Good Night’s Sleep’.

There’s no pressure to be perfect. Just the tools to feel like your best self again — clear, calm, and in control.