A Psychologist’s Story of Sobriety: What Alcohol Was Really Doing to Me | Aldo

“The truth about my drinking… is that I didn’t think I had a problem.” In this episode of Unfiltered: Eat Better. Think Better., Jaini sits down with Aldo — a psychologist — to explore his deeply personal journey with alcohol, binge drinking culture, and the quiet realisation that something wasn’t right. This isn’t a story of rock-bottom chaos. It’s a story many high-functioning adults will recognise: Weekend drinking that feels normal. Social patterns that don’t raise alarm bells. And the slow, subtle expansion of something that begins to affect your clarity, your energy, and your mental health. As both a psychologist and someone who has lived this experience, Aldo offers a rare dual perspective — clinical insight and lived truth. In this conversation, we explore: • The psychology of binge drinking • Why “I’m fine” is often the hardest belief to challenge • The mental health effects of alcohol we don’t talk about • Identity shifts when you stop drinking • Social pressure and masculinity around alcohol • The clarity that comes with sobriety • What finally made him decide to stop This episode isn’t about shame. It’s about awareness. If you’ve ever questioned your relationship with alcohol — even quietly — this conversation may meet you in a way that feels honest and grounding. You can find Aldo here:   / abominable_froman   ✨ Unfiltered: Eat Better. Think Better. is a space for real stories, real growth, and real healing. Explore more at: www.eatbetterthinkbetter.com ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Welcome to Unfiltered: Eat Better. Think Better. 00:50 – Meet Aldo + why this conversation matters 01:56 – “Who was Aldo before you took a break from alcohol?” 02:15 – Being introduced to alcohol young + drinking culture 03:56 – When alcohol stopped being “just social” 04:07 – Tolerance increases + weekend drinking expands 07:28 – Escapism: what alcohol was doing emotionally 11:30 – “I’m fine” vs being truly well 12:24 – Introspection + the wake-up of what’s being sacrificed 14:04 – Binge drinking culture + researching after stopping 14:49 – Stop looking for loopholes 16:10 – “If it’s not a big deal, stop for a bit” 17:21 – What scared him most about stopping 18:18 – How he approached stopping (the decision point) 18:51 – The shift: not taking a break to “go back” 19:22 – Clarity: why going back didn’t make sense 21:50 – Early sobriety + mental health changes 24:40 – Substitutes + how patterns expand (Jaini’s reflection) 26:15 – Socialising sober + identity and confidence 30:08 – Practising sobriety: learning to socialise without alcohol 31:49 – How sobriety changed how he shows up as a psychologist 33:18 – A simple self-check: can you stop? 37:45 – Closing message + invitation to community and support