Ever wondered why alcohol can feel like "liquid confidence," or if there’s a better way to build self-belief without a drink in hand? In this episode of The Big Drink Rethink, host Anna Donaghey is joined by Sue Reid, certified confidence and self-belief coach, NLP master practitioner, hypnotherapist, and author of Building Confidence: How to Thrive as a Shy Person . Anna and Sue take a deep dive into the real root causes of low self-esteem and how these hidden stories about our worth can shape and sometimes sabotage our relationship with alcohol. They unpack the difference between true self-confidence and the act of “faking it,” why so many of us turn to alcohol in social situations, and how to “rewire” your brain for authentic, lasting confidence. If you’ve ever felt like you’re not enough without a drink, this episode is for you. Here are the highlights: 00:00 Introduction 02:22 Sue’s journey from shy childhood to coaching confidence after 40 years in banking 04:55 The difference between confidence, self-belief, and the four pillars of true self confidence 08:48 Why “liquid confidence” is a myth and what really undermines our self-esteem 13:53 How early life experiences, family dynamics, and comparison shape our sense of self 18:25 How men and women experience low confidence and the impact of cultural conditioning 21:02 What actually happens in the brain when alcohol makes us feel more confident 22:48 The true cost of relying on alcohol for self-confidence 27:54 Why self-acceptance (and knowing your limits!) matters more than being “the life of the party” 34:30 Sue’s practical, psychology-backed techniques for building confidence without alcohol 46:46 Why confidence and trust skyrocket when you rethink your drinking and how to experiment fearlessly 🏆Please vote for The Big Drink Rethink in the ITV bCreator Awards 2025 1. Click on the link below 2. Pop in your email 3. Select I’M A SUBSCRIBER / FOLLOWER 4. Select CREATOR SHORTLIST 5. Hit SUBMIT YOUR VOTE 6. Scroll down to the Podcast bCreator category and vote for THE BIG DRINK RETHINK Here’s the link: 🔗 https://www.bcreator.co.uk/awards/ 🔗 Get the free resources from: https://www.thebeliefscoach.com If you’re a mum wanting to explore your relationship with alcohol, join ‘Mummy Doesn’t Need Wine’ here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mummydoesntneedwine Anna’s group coaching community ‘Unstuck!’ helps identify your alcohol ‘stories’ and beliefs, breaking the cycle of alcohol and all the shame that goes with it. For more information and to find out how to join, please follow this link : Unstuck! community information To further explore your relationship with alcohol, check out Anna’s self-guided programme, The Big Drink Rethink Experiment: https://www.thebeliefscoach.com/the-big-drink-rethink-experiment And apply the code POD99 to purchase for just £99 as a podcast listener If you’re loving the podcast and would like to give Anna a warm, fuzzy feeling of appreciation, then you can buy her a coffee:
