It’s that time of year again. Time for company happy hours, holiday parties, and seeing family. It’s also a time of year when most people drink a lot more than usual. I quit drinking in early November, so I was a little baby sober for my first holiday season. In this episode, I’ll walk you through the strategies that helped me the most during my first year. Plus, I’ll also share some interesting statistics about holiday drinking.

What to listen to next:

E190: Non-Alcoholic Drinks: The Pros and Cons

E245: Want to Stay Sober? You Need to Be Consistent

E248: You Can’t Be Comfortable AND Stay Sober

E250: What Does it Mean to “Be Ready” to Get Sober

Sober Support:

• Community & Meetings: Living a Sober Powered Life https://www.soberpowered.com/membership
• Weekly emails on Fridays https://www.soberpowered.com/email

 Work with me:

• Anger Management Coaching https://www.soberpowered.com/anger
• Sober coaching https://www.soberpowered.com/sober-coaching

Thank you for supporting this show by supporting my sponsors. Learn more:

https://www.soberpowered.com/sponsors

If you enjoyed this episode please consider buying me a coffee to support my work https://www.buymeacoffee.com/soberpowered

Sources are posted on my website

Disclaimer: all of the information described in this podcast is my interpretation of the research combined with my opinion. This is not medical advice. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The most difficult part of the process of quitting drinking is getting from the point where you realize your drinking is problematic and that you need to quit, to where you actually quit and accept that you are done. That is by far the worst stage and I can't tell you how long that lasts. However, what I would like to tell you in this special episode for my 5 year soberversary is the little micro realizations that I had right before I reached acceptance. I hope in hearing mine, you can start to pay attention to your own.

What to listen to next:

E164: how taking breaks helped me quit drinking for good

E200: my greatest shame

Sober Support:

• Community & Meetings: Living a Sober Powered Life https://www.soberpowered.com/membership
• Weekly emails on Fridays https://www.soberpowered.com/email learn how I keep myself sober and cope with emotions/discomfort

 Work with me:

• Anger Management Coaching https://www.soberpowered.com/anger
• Sober coaching https://www.soberpowered.com/sober-coaching

Thank you for supporting this show by supporting my sponsors. Learn more:

https://www.soberpowered.com/sponsors

If you enjoyed this episode please consider buying me a coffee to support my work https://www.buymeacoffee.com/soberpowered

Sources are posted on my website

Disclaimer: all of the information described in this podcast is my interpretation of the research combined with my opinion. This is not medical advice. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever vowed to stop drinking, but then you drink again anyway? It’s a rhetorical question. I know the answer is yes. It’s frustrating when we keep doing this to ourselves and it destroys our belief in ourselves, which is an essential part of staying sober. In this episode I’m discussing instant gratification, the decision making process, and how alcohol alters the way the brain makes decisions to keep us stuck in a loop. 

What to listen to next:

E224: alcohol simplifies the brain

E211: the anticipation of a drink

Sober Support:

• Community & Meetings: Living a Sober Powered Life https://www.soberpowered.com/membership
• Weekly emails on Fridays https://www.soberpowered.com/email

 Work with me:

• Anger Management Coaching https://www.soberpowered.com/anger
• Sober coaching https://www.soberpowered.com/sober-coaching

Thank you for supporting this show by supporting my sponsors. Learn more:

https://www.soberpowered.com/sponsors

If you enjoyed this episode please consider buying me a coffee to support my work https://www.buymeacoffee.com/soberpowered

Sources are posted on my website

Disclaimer: all of the information described in this podcast is my interpretation of the research combined with my opinion. This is not medical advice. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you making being sober harder for yourself? I had no idea what I was doing when I first quit drinking and maybe you feel the same way. Over the years there are things that I’ve noticed people tend to do that makes their sobriety journey more difficult and in this episode I’m going to explain them. If you’ve been doing any of these things then I hope this episode helps ease the unnecessary burden you’re putting on yourself.

What to listen to next:

E195: When Does Sobriety Get Better?

E202: WTF is “The Work”

E240: Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS)

E196: How the Brain Recovers After Quitting Drinking

E248: You Can’t Be Comfortable AND Stay Sober

E245: Want to Stay Sober? You Need to Be Consistent

E252: How Many Attempts Does it Take to Quit Drinking

E213: Self-Care is NOT Temporarily Turning Off Your Brain

Sober Support:

• Community & Meetings: Living a Sober Powered Life https://www.soberpowered.com/membership
• Weekly emails on Fridays https://www.soberpowered.com/email

 Work with me:

• Anger Management Coaching https://www.soberpowered.com/anger
• Sober coaching https://www.soberpowered.com/sober-coaching

Thank you for supporting this show by supporting my sponsors. Learn more:

https://www.soberpowered.com/sponsors

If you enjoyed this episode please consider buying me a coffee to support my work https://www.buymeacoffee.com/soberpowered

Sources are posted on my website

Disclaimer: all of the information described in this podcast is my interpretation of the research combined with my opinion. This is not medical advice. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Multiple quit attempts are common when you are trying to get sober, but how many tries does it take before it finally sticks? In this episode I’ll cover the statistics on relapse rates and share all the data I’ve found on the number of quit attempts it takes to stay sober for good. You’ll learn about what makes sobriety more challenging, and what you can do to make this quit attempt your final try.

What to listen to next:

E249: Alcohol and Cortisol: Extra Stress and Extra Cravings

E248: You Can’t Be Comfortable AND Stay Sober

E238: Why Moderation Doesn’t Work

E197: Making the DECISION to Quit Drinking

Sober Support:

• Community & Meetings: Living a Sober Powered Life https://www.soberpowered.com/membership
• Weekly emails on Fridays https://www.soberpowered.com/email

 Work with me:

• Anger Management Coaching https://www.soberpowered.com/anger
• Sober coaching https://www.soberpowered.com/sober-coaching

Thank you for supporting this show by supporting my sponsors. Learn more:

https://www.soberpowered.com/sponsors

If you enjoyed this episode please consider buying me a coffee to support my work https://www.buymeacoffee.com/soberpowered

Sources are posted on my website

Disclaimer: all of the information described in this podcast is my interpretation of the research combined with my opinion. This is not medical advice. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The intensity of our emotions determines how we deal with them. If the intensity gets too much and we become overwhelmed, we can use avoidance coping mechanisms, like drinking, but avoiding emotions just increases their intensity. In this episode, I’ll explain why some of us have more intense emotions than others, what the window of tolerance is and how this relates to your drinking, and how your brain interprets things to lead to these intense emotions. Our perception is in our control, so I’ll leave you with some mindset shifts on how to manage your emotions better and reduce overwhelm.

What to listen to next:

E248: You Can’t Be Comfortable AND Stay Sober

E216: 4 Types of Impulsivity: Which One Are You?

E213: Self-Care is NOT Temporarily Turning Off Your Brain (Getting "Me Time")

E212: Why Some People Get Sober and Others Don’t (Resilience and Epigenetics)

Sober Support:

• Community & Meetings: Living a Sober Powered Life https://www.soberpowered.com/membership
• Weekly emails on Fridays https://www.soberpowered.com/email

 Work with me:

• Anger Management Coaching https://www.soberpowered.com/anger
• Sober coaching https://www.soberpowered.com/sober-coaching

Thank you for supporting this show by supporting my sponsors. Learn more:

https://www.soberpowered.com/sponsors

If you enjoyed this episode please consider buying me a coffee to support my work https://www.buymeacoffee.com/soberpowered

Sources are posted on my website

Disclaimer: all of the information described in this podcast is my interpretation of the research combined with my opinion. This is not medical advice. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When I was struggling to quit drinking people would constantly tell me that I wasn’t “ready” yet. I felt ready. I was suffering and wanted it to end. What more did I need to be ready? In this episode you’ll learn about the stages of change, what each one might look like with our drinking, and how to move into the next stage if you are stuck in one. I’ll also discuss 3 things that keep us from being “ready” to get sober and if a rock bottom moment is required.

What to listen to next:

Moderation episodes: 99, 238

Withdrawal/mushy brain episodes: 191, 205, 224

Sober Support:

• Community & Meetings: Living a Sober Powered Life https://www.soberpowered.com/membership
• Weekly emails on Fridays https://www.soberpowered.com/email

 Work with me:

• Anger Management Coaching https://www.soberpowered.com/anger
• Sober coaching https://www.soberpowered.com/sober-coaching

Thank you for supporting this show by supporting my sponsors. Learn more:

https://www.soberpowered.com/sponsors

If you enjoyed this episode please consider buying me a coffee to support my work https://www.buymeacoffee.com/soberpowered

Sources are posted on my website

Disclaimer: all of the information described in this podcast is my interpretation of the research combined with my opinion. This is not medical advice. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stress is a main reason many of us drink and it’s a big trigger for relapse after getting sober. In this episode you’ll learn all about cortisol- how it’s released, how chronic stress and heavy drinking disrupt our stress response, and when your stress response system may recover in sobriety. I’ll explain what happens with cortisol in withdrawal, in early sobriety, and give you a timeline for when this should normalize. 

What to listen to next:

E204: can anyone get addicted to alcohol?

E199: frustration tolerance

Sober Support:

• Community & Meetings: Living a Sober Powered Life https://www.soberpowered.com/membership
• Weekly emails on Fridays https://www.soberpowered.com/email

 Work with me:

• Anger Management Coaching https://www.soberpowered.com/anger
• Sober coaching https://www.soberpowered.com/sober-coaching

Thank you for supporting this show by supporting my sponsors. Learn more:

https://www.soberpowered.com/sponsors

If you enjoyed this episode please consider buying me a coffee to support my work https://www.buymeacoffee.com/soberpowered

Sources are posted on my website

Disclaimer: all of the information described in this podcast is my interpretation of the research combined with my opinion. This is not medical advice.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Getting sober is tough. We have to figure out how to live again and finally learn some coping skills and tools. It’s uncomfortable. In this episode, I’ll talk about stepping outside of our comfort zone to stay sober and how to recognize and take advantage of growth opportunities that show up during the journey. I’m going to share some uncomfortable truths in this episode, but I think if you can really hear me, then it may help you reframe your perspective and start doing some of “the work”.

What to listen to next:

E164: How Taking Breaks from Drinking Helped Me Quit For Good

E202: WTF is "the work"?

Sober Support:

• Community & Meetings: Living a Sober Powered Life https://www.soberpowered.com/membership
• Sober coaching https://www.soberpowered.com/sober-coaching
• Tired in Early Sobriety Course https://www.soberpowered.com/why-am-i-so-tired-after-quitting-drinking
• Anger Management Program https://www.soberpowered.com/anger
• Weekly emails on Fridays https://www.soberpowered.com/email

Thank you for supporting this show by supporting my sponsors. Learn more:

https://www.soberpowered.com/sponsors

If you enjoyed this episode please consider buying me a coffee to support my work https://www.buymeacoffee.com/soberpowered

Sources are posted on my website

Disclaimer: all of the information described in this podcast is my interpretation of the research combined with my opinion. This is not medical advice. If you think I made a mistake somewhere, please reach out. I will look into it and make a correction if needed.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You’ve heard people say it, sober sleep is the best sleep, but when are you going to get some of this great sleep yourself? In this episode, I explain why we think alcohol helps with sleep, how alcohol affects sleep, and what to expect with your sleep when you quit drinking. You’ll learn more about insomnia in the first month, why we have drinking dreams, and how sleep recovers over time. I promise, if you stick with sobriety you will have that amazing sleep you hear everyone else talking about. This is an opportunity to practice being patient.

What to listen to next:

E240: post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS)

Sober Support:

• Community & Meetings: Living a Sober Powered Life https://www.soberpowered.com/membership
• Sober coaching https://www.soberpowered.com/sober-coaching
• Tired in Early Sobriety Course https://www.soberpowered.com/why-am-i-so-tired-after-quitting-drinking
• Anger Management Program https://www.soberpowered.com/anger
• Weekly emails on Fridays https://www.soberpowered.com/email

Thank you for supporting this show by supporting my sponsors. Learn more:

https://www.soberpowered.com/sponsors

If you enjoyed this episode please consider buying me a coffee to support my work https://www.buymeacoffee.com/soberpowered

Sources are posted on my website

Disclaimer: all of the information described in this podcast is my interpretation of the research combined with my opinion. This is not medical advice. If you think I made a mistake somewhere, please reach out. I will look into it and make a correction if needed.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many of us worry that we’ve done permanent damage to our brains with our heavy drinking or that it’s been too long to make a change. In this episode you’ll learn more about dementia, how heavy drinking damages the brain and increases the risk of developing dementia, and what you can do to reduce your risk of dementia, besides quitting drinking of course. I will also discuss wet brain, also known as Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome, which is another consequence of long term heavy drinking. 

What to listen to next:

E196: how the brain recovers after quitting drinking

E224: alcohol makes your brain stop working

E240: post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS)

Sober Support:

• Community & Meetings: Living a Sober Powered Life https://www.soberpowered.com/membership
• Tired in Early Sobriety Course https://www.soberpowered.com/why-am-i-so-tired-after-quitting-drinking
• Anger Management Coaching https://www.soberpowered.com/anger
• Weekly emails on Fridays https://www.soberpowered.com/email

Thank you for supporting this show by supporting my sponsors. Learn more:

https://www.soberpowered.com/sponsors

If you enjoyed this episode please consider buying me a coffee to support my work https://www.buymeacoffee.com/soberpowered

Sources are posted on my website

Disclaimer: all of the information described in this podcast is my interpretation of the research combined with my opinion. This is not medical advice.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices