It’s been a long day. Maybe the emails didn’t stop, the house is in chaos, or your nerves are frayed from yet another hard conversation. So you reach for a glass of wine — not to party, but just to pause. To unwind. To feel like yourself again. But what if there’s another way?

For many people, alcohol has become the default way to take the edge off. But while that first sip might feel soothing, over time it can create a cycle that doesn’t serve your body or mind. The good news? You can handle stress — without relying on a drink. And it can actually feel better than you think.

Why Wine Feels Like a Shortcut to Calm

Wine is marketed as self-care. Whether it’s memes, adverts, or everyday culture, we’re constantly shown that alcohol equals relaxation. And biologically, it does slow the central nervous system down temporarily — which is why it can feel like a quick fix for stress.

But what we’re often craving isn’t the alcohol itself. It’s the feeling: of switching off, of being taken care of, of putting the day behind us.

Sometimes, that glass of wine is standing in for something deeper — like the need to feel emotionally safe, heard, or simply allowed to rest. But when we keep using alcohol to soothe, it can mask our real needs. Over time, our stress response becomes tied to drinking, not healing. What feels like relief can actually dull our ability to process emotions or develop better coping tools.

In reality, wine is acting as a signal to our brain: the day is over, you can relax now. The problem is, when that signal becomes linked to alcohol alone, it can make it harder to wind down without it.

When Stress and Drinking Become Entwined

Many people turn to alcohol in moments of stress, anxiety, or low mood — using it as a way to ‘self-medicate’. While it may offer a brief sense of calm, the long-term impact on mental wellbeing can be harmful. As Alcohol Change UK notes, using alcohol to cope with emotional struggles often makes those issues worse over time, and can delay people from getting the support they truly need.

You might not even notice it happening at first. A glass here or there becomes a nightly habit. Then, it becomes harder to say no — not because you have no willpower, but because your brain has learned to associate relief with that drink.

This is where hypnotherapy can help shift the pattern — not by forcing change, but by creating a new path to peace.

Meet Ailsa Frank: Hypnotherapist and Habit Change Expert

Changing the way you respond to stress isn’t just about willpower — it’s about shifting the underlying patterns in your mind. That’s where hypnotherapy can make a powerful difference.

Ailsa Frank is a leading British hypnotherapist, motivational speaker, and author of Cut the Crap and Feel Amazing. Over the past 20 years, she has helped thousands of people overcome stress and alcohol-related habits through her compassionate yet no-nonsense approach.

Through her Feel Amazing App, Ailsa offers short, practical hypnotherapy recordings that create lasting change at a subconscious level — guiding people to break free from emotional triggers and reconnect with their calm, clear-headed self.

How Hypnotherapy Can Help You Rewire the Habit

The Feel Amazing App offers a wide selection of hypnotherapy recordings to support emotional wellbeing — whether you're trying to relax, sleep better, or break long-standing habits. Each session is designed to gently guide your mind toward calm and clarity, making it easier to handle life’s pressures without relying on alcohol.

If drinking has become your way of coping with stress, the Take Control of Alcohol recording in the Habit Breaking section is a powerful place to begin. It helps you shift the need for that evening glass by rewiring your emotional triggers — safely, naturally, and in your own time.

“People don’t just want to drink less — they want to feel stronger, calmer, more in control. That’s what I help people unlock.”
— Ailsa Frank

Practical Ways to Handle Stress — Without a Drink

You don’t need to overhaul your entire life to begin changing the way you deal with stress. Sometimes, one small swap is all it takes to loosen the grip of a nightly drink. Here are a few gentle ways to start:

• Breathe deeply for two minutes.
  It lowers cortisol and signals safety to your nervous system.
  
• Try a hypnotherapy session.
  Listen to a recording before bed, such as ‘Take Control of Alcohol’, ‘Good Nights Sleep’ or ‘Release Daily Stress’ — it’s like giving your brain a warm bath.
  
• Replace wine with a ritual.
  Herbal tea, scented candles, or journaling can all mimic the feeling of winding down.
  
• Go for a walk or stretch.
  Movement helps release tension and restore calm energy.
  
• Talk it out.
  Even one honest conversation can ease internal pressure and stop the stress cycle.
  
• Digital detox for 30 minutes.
  Reduce sensory overload and give your mind space to breathe.
  
• Create an evening playlist.
  Soothing music can become your new signal that the day is done.
  
• Keep a ‘wind-down box’.
  Fill it with calming tools — essential oils, a good book, comfy socks — anything that feels like self-care.
  
• Evening visualisation.
  Imagine yourself in a peaceful place, like a beach or quiet forest. This gently tells your nervous system it’s safe to relax.

Rebuild Calm From Within

The real goal isn’t just to remove the wine — it’s to replace it with something better. Something that actually nourishes you, not numbs you.

And that starts by listening to what your stress is really asking for. Is it rest? Reassurance? Stillness? Your body and mind already have what they need to cope — sometimes, they just need a little help remembering how.

Hypnotherapy teaches emotional self-soothing — the ability to meet your feelings with calm rather than resistance. Over time, this builds emotional resilience: the strength to stay centred, even when life gets messy.

The Feel Amazing App is designed exactly for that. With sessions like ‘Take Control of Alcohol’, ‘Release Daily Stress’, and ‘De-Stress Your Life’, you can begin to reconnect with your natural ability to stay grounded, no matter what the day brings.

A Calmer Life Starts with One Small Step

Stress is a signal — not a flaw. And your desire to cope isn’t wrong — it just deserves better tools.
You don’t have to be perfect. You don’t even have to stop drinking entirely. But if you’re ready to feel more in control — without that evening glass — know this:

You already have the strength. Now you have a supportive way forward.

Take Your First Step with the Feel Amazing App

Thousands have already started their journey with the Feel Amazing App — and found freedom from the stress-drink-repeat cycle.

“I used to pour a glass the second I got home. Now I press play on the app instead — and I genuinely feel better.”
— Feel Amazing App user

The Take Control of Alcohol session, in the Habit Breaking section, is a powerful place to begin. Or try Release Daily Stress 10 Minutes Daily — completely free — to reset your nervous system after a long day.

The app is private, gentle, and fits easily into your life. Whether you’re ready to cut back or just want to feel calmer before bed, there’s a session to support you.Download the Feel Amazing App today and take your first step towards a clearer, calmer version of you — no wine needed.