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Podcast episode cover for Addiction Unlimited with Angela Pugh, titled “Should I Moderate or Quit?” Episode #378. Background includes soft pink soundwave design, with text directing listeners to addictionunlimited.com/episodes.

If you’ve been telling yourself, “I don’t think I need to quit completely—maybe I can just cut back…”

This episode is for you.

I’m sharing a story about a client—let’s call her Sarah—who had all the drinking “rules”:

✅only on weekends

✅never before 5 p.m.

✅only wine

And still… every Monday, she felt ashamed.

Not because she got blackout drunk—but because she broke yet another promise to herself.

That’s when it hit me—what Sarah really wanted wasn’t moderation.

She wanted to drink without consequences.

And that’s the trap.

Because moderation feels like control… but it’s actually just a delay tactic.

One that keeps you stuck, confused, and constantly negotiating with something you’ve already lost control of.

In this episode, we’re pulling back the curtain on:

  • Why moderation seems safer but quietly steals your progress

  • What’s really happening when you keep trying to “regain control”

  • The emotional truth that no one’s saying out loud

  • And my 3-question Clarity Framework to help you figure out your next step

This isn’t just information—it’s a turning point.

And if you’ve been white-knuckling the moderation loop, trying to avoid quitting altogether, it’s time for some real relief.

You’re not doing anything ‘wrong’, you’re just tired from trying to fix something that can’t be fixed.

🔗 Links & Resources:

If this episode cracked something open for you, “Relief Not Relapse” is the perfect follow-up—especially if you’re caught in the on-again, off-again loop. Go listen when you’re done here!

⏱️ Episode Timestamps:

0:00 – Intro
Sarah’s story, the trap of moderation, and why this episode is your turning point.

1:20 – Welcome + What We’re Talking About Today
Why this conversation matters, what moderation really represents, and what you’ll learn.

2:30 – Segment 1: The Moderation Mindset
Why moderation feels safer, how it keeps you stuck, and the emotional bait-and-switch no one talks about.

7:45 – Segment 2: The Dangerous Truth About Moderation
The real-life costs of trying to moderate, the risks you’re inviting, and the moment that could change everything.

11:30 – Segment 3: The Clarity Framework
Three powerful questions to get honest about your next step (and stop spinning in the maybe).

14:30 – Your Takeaway + Invitation
What to remember from this episode, where to get your Clarity Questions, and how to take the next step with support.