This Naked Mind Podcast

Are you struggling with how to stop using alcohol as a crutch when it’s all you’ve ever known for comfort, confidence, or escape? When alcohol becomes the go-to for numbing pain, soothing nerves, or simply making it through the day, letting it go can feel like losing a lifeline. Mark leaned on alcohol to suppress decades of emotional trauma and mask neurodivergent traits that made emotional expression difficult. Glenn turned to beer as a buffer against social anxiety and the constant pressure to fit in, using it to quiet a mind that never stopped spinning. In this episode, Coaches Hayley and Ruby help both men uncover the deeper beliefs that shaped their drinking behaviors—and explore how discovering healthier emotional tools can lead not just to freedom from alcohol, but to a more grounded, present, and emotionally connected life. In Mark’s session: Exploring childhood trauma and emotional suppression The connection between neurodiversity and alcohol reliance Why alcohol became a long-term emotional safety blanket How to stop using alcohol as a crutch and find new emotional tools Body scan practices to access suppressed feelings Visualization and the emotion wheel as tools for emotional insight The difference between masking emotions vs. processing them Recognizing progress even when it doesn’t look like expected healing Finding alternative ways to self-soothe and cope and more… In Glenn’s session: Growing up in a home where alcohol was a symbol of adulthood Using beer to manage social anxiety and introversion The rise in drinking during isolation and how it became a daily habit How to stop using alcohol as a crutch for connection and calm The emotional highs and lows of early alcohol-free living Discovering joy in ordinary moments and accepting melancholy Letting go of perfection in mindfulness and meditation Rewriting social rules and embracing introversion Building confidence through small steps and self-acceptance and other topics… Hayley Scherders is a certified TNM Coach with training from the Canadian Addiction and Mental Health Association. Drawing from personal experiences, Hayley understands how tough change can be and provides a safe, compassionate, and judgment-free space where her clients can feel supported. She believes that with the right mindset, anyone can change their life at any time. Learn more about Coach Hayley: https://thisnakedmind.com/coach/hayley-scherders/ [https://thisnakedmind.com/coach/hayley-scherders/]   [https://thisnakedmind.com/coach/zoe-ewart/] Ruby Williams is a certified Naked Mind Senior Coach dedicated to helping people rethink their relationship with alcohol. With 19 years of experience in the wine industry, Ruby understands how alcohol can become a regular part of life, especially in social or stressful situations. After finding freedom in 2019, she was empowered to improve her health, lose weight, and achieve lifelong goals. Ruby uses thoughtful questioning to help clients shift their mindset and build a more balanced, fulfilling, and healthier relationship with alcohol. Learn more about Coach Ruby: https://thisnakedmind.com/coach/ruby-williams/ [https://thisnakedmind.com/coach/ruby-williams/]

Why do I need wine every night now when I used to be able to control my drinking? Ronna faced this exact question during the pandemic when her occasional wine with dinner transformed into a nightly necessity for coping with grief and stress. As a musician and pastor's wife, she grew up in a family where alcohol was normalized, but a series of devastating losses—including her sister-in-law's suicide and her mother's death just ten days apart—pushed her daily drinking from social habit to survival tool. After discovering This Naked Mind and learning the science behind alcohol addiction, Ronna realized she wasn't weak or destined to repeat family patterns—she was simply human, responding to an addictive substance during unimaginable pain. In this episode, Ronna joins Coach Cole to share her 448-day journey from shame and hiding to freedom and self-compassion. Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussion of suicide and family loss. Coach Cole and Ronna discuss: Growing up in a family where alcohol was normalized and expected Starting drinking as a teenager and touring musician lifestyle The slow progression from wine with dinner to daily necessity How pandemic stress amplified existing drinking patterns Dealing with devastating family losses including suicide and death Using alcohol as a tool to cope with grief and stop overthinking The shame of hiding drinking while in a visible church position Discovering This Naked Mind and learning addiction science Realizing "why do I need wine every night now" had scientific answers Finding freedom in "I drink as much as I want, I just don't want to" Choosing self-compassion over shame about past drinking And other topics…

What if the hardest part of healing wasn't quitting drinking, but the guilt that lingers afterward? Sandra works with Coach Cole to explore how her inner critic distorts simple moments like skipping a swim into emotional spirals. Sue, coached by Zoe, shares how she was taught to bottle up her feelings as a child and how that habit still drives her urges to drink. Both women confront the deeper question of how to forgive yourself after quitting alcohol—not just to maintain your new path, but to create a life of emotional balance and peace. Their stories show that self-forgiveness is not weakness—it's the foundation of lasting freedom. In Sandra’s session: Understanding the root of internal conflict Why guilt and self-blame persist after your drinking days end Making peace with imperfect decisions The importance of journaling for emotional clarity How forgiving yourself can protect your freedom from alcohol Tools for practicing how to forgive yourself after quitting alcohol and more… In Sue’s session: Emotional cravings vs. physical urges How people-pleasing fuels emotional disconnection Exploring childhood emotional neglect through CEN Reframing living alcohol-free as emotional recovery Tools for anchoring during moments of overwhelm Reclaiming your story without shame or pressure and other topics… Cole Harvey is a certified Naked Mind Senior Coach. For years, he felt lost and used alcohol as a way to cope, until he decided to go alcohol-free and focus on finding his purpose. Through curiosity, self-compassion, and adventure, he transformed his life. As a habit change and mindset coach, Cole helps young men understand themselves, build better habits, and find meaning. Learn more about Coach Cole: https://thisnakedmind.com/coach/cole-harvey/ [https://thisnakedmind.com/coach/cole-harvey/]  Zoe Ewart is a Certified Naked Mind Senior Coach who brings her experience and understanding to help with the tricky parts of life’s big changes. Her coaching gives you an enjoyable, light-hearted, and safe environment to effortlessly take back control of alcohol so you can feel better physically, mentally, and spiritually. Zoe taught Pilates for 15 years. She has four adult children and more animals than the Ark ever had. Learn more about Coach Zoe: https://thisnakedmind.com/coach/zoe-ewart/  [https://thisnakedmind.com/coach/zoe-ewart/]

Is drinking again after a break something you've experienced and felt ashamed about?  Angela's story proves that the stop-start cycle isn't a failure—it's part of the journey. After losing her brother and struggling with childhood trauma from abusive parents, Angela spent decades using alcohol to numb her pain. She tried to quit many times, even achieving six months of sobriety before returning to drinking. But her final attempt four years ago led to a complete life transformation. In this episode, Angela returns to share how she built new habits one tiny step at a time, rediscovered joy and creativity, and created a marriage deeper than ever before, proving that lasting change isn't about perfection—it's about persistence. In this episode, Hayley and Angela discuss: * What Angela learned from drinking again after a break * The truth about stop-and-start sobriety and why it’s normal * Why drinking felt like a “chameleon friend” and how it changed over time * How grief and career stress deepened her reliance on alcohol * Why she didn’t do any emotional healing during her first year sober * The difference between choosing numbness and choosing freedom * Quitting alcohol alongside her husband—and how it changed their relationship * Inner child work, Gabor Maté, and parenting the past self * Feeling guilty about missed moments with her kids—and how she’s healing * And other topics...

What if reprogramming your brain after quitting drinking could transform your entire emotional experience?  That’s what Fran and Carol are discovering in this powerful episode with Coach Lisa. Fran, the youngest of eight, grew up associating alcohol with love, celebration, and anxiety. Her emotional wiring around alcohol began in early childhood and has run the show for decades—until now. Carol, a longtime health coach, used alcohol to unwind and cope with anxiety and depression. After 13 weeks alcohol-free, she’s realizing the emptiness she once filled with wine is now an invitation to feel deeply and live authentically. Through coaching, reflection, and resilience, both women are proof that our emotional landscape isn’t fixed—it can be rewired. In Fran’s session: How childhood experiences with alcohol shaped Fran’s identity Unpacking the dual associations of celebration and fear tied to drinking How early panic sensations created a pattern alcohol numbed out Reprogramming your brain after quitting drinking through micro-disruptions Fran’s experiment with being sober around family and staying present How the narrative of alcohol as “connection” can be replaced with real joy The role of curiosity, compassion, and repetition in lasting change and other topics… In Carol’s session: Navigating major life events like surgery without reaching for alcohol Feeling “empty” in early sobriety and learning to sit with discomfort Finding joy through nature, faith, and relationship with her husband Why being alcohol-free opened the door to emotional clarity How Carol is learning to design joy without relying on external substances Realizing that joy is a choice, not just a feeling and more… Lisa Kwiatkowski is a Certified Senior This Naked Mind Coach and Designing Your Life Coach. After breaking free from daily drinking in 2018, she now helps high-achieving women overcome anxiety and disconnection through intentional, alcohol-free living. Lisa’s coaching blends science-backed mindset work with practical life design strategies, guiding women to create lasting change and authentic joy. With over two decades of leadership in international sport, she brings a grounded, compassionate presence to clients navigating burnout, reinvention, and self-discovery.Learn more about Coach Lisa: https://thisnakedmind.com/coach/lisa-kwiatkowski/ [https://thisnakedmind.com/coach/lisa-kwiatkowski/] Related Episodes: EP 448: What I Wish I Knew Before My First Drink – The Thief of Joy - https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-448-what-i-wish-i-knew-before-my-first-drink-the-thief-of-joy/ [https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-448-what-i-wish-i-knew-before-my-first-drink-the-thief-of-joy/] EP 578: Reader’s Question – Why is it hard to imagine being happy after going alcohol-free? - https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-578-readers-question-why-is-it-hard-to-imagine-being-happy-going-alcohol-free/ [https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-578-readers-question-why-is-it-hard-to-imagine-being-happy-going-alcohol-free/] EP 669: Naked Life Story – Megan W. - https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-669-naked-life-story-megan-w/ [https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-669-naked-life-story-megan-w/] Ready to take the next step on your journey?  Visit https://learn.thisnakedmind.com/podcast-resources [https://learn.thisnakedmind.com/podcast-resources] for free resources, programs, and more. Until next week, stay curious!