When the Hangxiety Became Impossible to Ignore | Madeline's Sober Story

Madeline Forrest grew up knowing firsthand what alcohol could do. Her mom got sober at 21, and her dad struggled with alcohol addiction throughout much of Madeline’s childhood. So when Madeline eventually began questioning her own relationship with alcohol, she knew the warning signs — but her drinking didn’t look the way she thought a problem with alcohol was supposed to look.

She considered herself a “happy drunk.” She wasn’t constantly causing chaos or getting into trouble. But underneath it all were blackouts, shame, and increasingly difficult anxiety the morning after drinking.

After years of trying to convince herself her drinking wasn’t that bad, a month-long break from alcohol and several attempts at sobriety began showing Madeline something she couldn’t ignore: she was happier when she wasn’t drinking.

In this episode of The Sober New Yorker, Madeline shares how her drinking progressed, why her first attempts at sobriety didn’t stick, and the realization that ultimately changed everything — she had to become willing to experience the discomfort of wanting a drink without acting on it.

Madeline also shares how sobriety opened up an entirely new chapter of her life, from creating Happiest Sober and building a worldwide sober community to hosting group trips — including the trip where she unexpectedly met her now-fiancé.

It’s a conversation about hangxiety, learning from multiple Day Ones, getting comfortable with discomfort, finding community, and discovering that sobriety can become about much more than simply not drinking.

If you’ve ever wondered whether your drinking is “bad enough” to stop, Madeline’s story offers a different question: What if life could simply be better without it?

Connect with Madeline: https://www.instagram.com/happiestsober/