Eric Wood, director of the Counseling & Mental Health Center at Texas Christian University, recently shared his expertise with Forbes for its story How to Relax and Unwind Without Turning to Alcohol. 

The article addressed the cultural conditioning of drinking to calm one’s nerves, alternatives to doing so and the growing trend of choosing alternatives. Wood specifically spoke about college-aged individuals.  

“There’s research confirming the role of placebos for people who assume that they need alcohol to function better socially,” Wood said. “In my experience with young adults, the main difference for those who feel awkward in social situations is that they tend not to be as critical or hypervigilant while drinking, but these can be done without alcohol.”  

Read the full story in Forbes.