You’ve had a long day. Maybe work piled up, or life threw extra pressure your way. Your reflex? Pour a drink and unwind. It makes sense — alcohol feels like relief. But underneath that temporary calm lies a biological rebound that often makes things worse.
In this post, we’ll explore why stress drives us to alcohol, how it backfires, and what functional tools (like adaptogenic tinctures and blends) your body really needs to regulate stress long-term.
Why Stress Makes you Reach for Alcohol
Our brains crave quick comfort. Alcohol gives a fast dopamine hit and temporarily quiets the stress response, but here’s the catch:
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Short-term calm, long-term chaos: Alcohol suppresses your nervous system for a bit, but it rebounds by releasing cortisol (the stress hormone).
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Interrupted sleep cycles: Drinking may help you fall asleep, but it blocks REM sleep — leaving you tired, foggy, and more anxious.
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Emotional suppression: Using alcohol to cope stops you from developing the tools to process stress effectively.
➞ The result? You wake up feeling worse, both mentally and physically and your baseline stress keeps climbing. And backfires with secondary effects that your body acquires and becomes difficult to release later on.
What Your Body Actually Needs to Regulate Stress
Instead of numbing the nervous system, your body needs to balance it.
To break the cycle, your body needs support, NOT SEDATION. Here are some of the key pillars:
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Adaptogens & functional herbs
These are plants that help your body adapt to stress, buffer cortisol spikes, and support resilience over time. (E.g. Rhodiola, Ashwagandha, Reishi, Lion’s Mane)
Research shows adaptogens can reduce fatigue and increase mental performance under stress. PMC
➞ These ingredients are found in our tinctures and gummies. -
Nutrition & blood sugar balance
Alcohol spikes blood sugar, which causes mood crashes. Simple carbs and sugar spikes stress your system. Eating balanced meals, focusing on protein, healthy fats, and slow-release carbs supports mood stability. -
Nervous System Support
Through movement and micro breaks. Even 5 minutes of movement (a walk, the stairs, gentle stretching) helps signal to your nervous system: “We’re safe.” -
Routine & Rituals
A nightly ritual tells your brain it's time to unwind. Whether is Box breathing,
A nightly ritual (without booze) signals to your brain: we’re safe, winding down. That’s where a tincture like Mindfeel can come in — a few drops, intentional moments, breathing — all building a new “unwind switch.”
How to Use Tinctures (& blends) in a Stress Toolkit
Tinctures can help you retrain your body’s stress response naturally.
Here’s how to use them intentionally:
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Microdose in moments of overwhelm – a few drops before a stressful meeting or commute.
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Create a wind-down ritual – add to sparkling water or tea as your “evening pour.” This is my favorite. I've created a drink that I sip in the afternoons and helps me unwind. I pair it with journaling. See recipe here.
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Stack with mindfulness – pair with breathwork or journaling. :)
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Cycle – use for 5 days on, 2 off, to keep your system responsive.
➞ Mindfeel our new blend coming soon will help calm your mind and boost mental clarity — minus the alcohol, minus the crash.
Alcohol numbs the symptoms of stress, but adaptogens, rituals, and mindful habits resolve the cause. This month, in celebration of Sober October, instead of reaching for a drink, try reaching for Mindfeel, a breath, and a pause.
We’ve created a Free 3-Day Stress Reset Pack — it includes a simple Micro-Breath Protocol and a Guided Journaling Prompt to help you build a nightly ritual that truly calms your system (without alcohol).
Related Articles:
➞ The Real Hangover Cure: Sleep and Nervous System Recovery
Sober but Still Stressed? How to Rewire Calm Without Wine
How Adaptogens Work in Your Brain