The Feeling of Lost Time From All the Years We Spent Drinking (E295)
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I’ve been wanting to make this episode for years, but I felt like it would be offensive if I talked about how I struggled with feeling like I wasted years of my life drinking because I quit at 29 and I know most people quit way later. I finally decided to move forward with this because I noticed an interesting trend in the people I work with. In this episode, we’ll talk about why the sense of wasted years hits so hard in early sobriety, how our brains are wired to replay “what if” scenarios, and why younger and middle-aged adults struggle more with regret than older adults do. Most importantly, we’ll explore how you can shift from shame over the past to meaning and opportunity in the present—so no matter when you quit, you can stop looking backward and start living the years you have now.
What to listen to next:
E283: Alcohol Shortens Your Perception of Time (Instant Gratification)
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Listen here. The episode will automatically load in your preferred podcast listening app.
Cite:
Gillian Tietz. The Feeling of Lost Time From All the Years We Spent Drinking (E295). Sober Powered. 2025
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