
Let’s Talk Nervous Systems – with Sarah Rusbatch
From Sober Awkward by soberawkward
April 5, 2026 · 53 min · Season 13 · Episode 8
About this episode
Vic chats with sobriety coach Sarah Rusbatch about the impact of alcohol on our nervous systems and how to regulate ourselves without drinking.
This week on Sober Awkward , Vic chats with one of her favourite sober buddies, sobriety coach - Sarah Rusbatch about something many of us completely ignored while we were drinking… our nervous systems. For years we thought alcohol was helping us relax. Turns out it was often doing the exact opposite, keeping our bodies stuck in stress mode. Sarah breaks down what’s really going on in our nervous systems, why so many of us feel wired, anxious or exhausted, and what we can actually do to regulate ourselves without reaching for a drink. Vic admits she learned loads in this chat and had a few lightbulb moments along the way. Make sure you listen right to the end for a simple breathing exercise you can try with us. And in true Sober Awkward style, Vic pops back in 24 hours later with a little update after trying a couple of the things Sarah suggested. It’s amazing what a difference a day can make when you start paying attention to your nervous system. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. Find Sarah's courses, retreats, challenges and more here - https://sarahrusbatch.com @sarahrusbatch and join her amazing April alcohol reset challenge here…
People in this episode
Host: Vic
Guest: Sarah Rusbatch
Topics covered
- nervous systems
- sobriety
- stress
- breathing exercises
- self-regulation
Keywords
- nervous system
- sobriety coach
- alcohol
- stress mode
- breathing exercise
- self-regulation
- anxiety
- exhaustion
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Sober Awkward, sarahrusbatch.com
Books & works: A Thousand Wasted Sundays
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