All posts tagged: booze

Welcome to Anxietyland: I used alcohol to hide my fear – but booze became a very bad friend | Anxiety

Welcome to Anxietyland: I used alcohol to hide my fear – but booze became a very bad friend | Anxiety

In 2018, I was in my 30s and living in Oakland, California, having moved there from the UK in 2015. I had always struggled with anxiety and panic attacks, but I was doing fairly well – until suddenly I wasn’t. I started having back-to-back panic attacks, wandering the streets of Oakland and nearby Berkeley in a desperate attempt to shake them, without success. My life felt like an out-of-control fairground ride. Actually, it felt more like an entire theme park. I could see the rides in my head: attractions like the Emotional Rollercoaster, representing the rise and fall of a panic attack, the Depression Obstacle Course, a treacherous and challenging trail, and the House of No Fun, a confusing maze of dissociation and depersonalisation. Eventually I saw the whole map: Anxietyland. I knew Anxietyland well. I had ridden on the Anxie-Tea Cups, on which I realised that drinking a nice cup of tea – as one counsellor suggested – was not sufficient treatment for a clinical anxiety disorder. I had sat through the Magical Thinking …

The best no- and low-alcohol wines for when you’re off the booze (yes, good ones do exist) | Wine

The best no- and low-alcohol wines for when you’re off the booze (yes, good ones do exist) | Wine

Are you a zebra-striper, alternating your alcoholic drinks with non-alcoholic versions to moderate your intake? Or are you booze-free? As curbing drinking becomes more popular, it’s clear that this moment of sober curiosity is moving beyond Dry January and into the everyday. The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. Luckily, the drinks industry is scratching our sobriety itch with a bevy of good alcohol-free products. If you’re ready to wet your whistle with something delicious that won’t have you stumbling into the next day with a sore head, read on to discover the best no- and low-alcohol whites, reds and rosés from my taste testing (as well as a couple of mid-strength options), perfect for any time, any place. The best non-alcoholic and low-alcohol wines No- and low-alcohol white wines Moderato Colombard cuvée révolutionnaire, 0.5% £14 at Wise Bartender £14.50 at Majestic (£12.50 as part of Mix Six package) Born from French winemaking heritage, this alcohol-free white is one of the few that …