Author Dana Bowman: Alcohol, Relapse and Recovery Truths

Author Dana Bowman: Alcohol, Relapse and Recovery Truths

In this episode of The Happiest Hour with Paula Devine, Paula sits down with Dana Bowman for an honest conversation about motherhood, nightly wine habits, menopause, sugar addiction, perfectionism, and the complicated relationship so many women have with alcohol. They also talk openly about relapse — not as failure, but as part of Dana’s story and a turning point that became intentional, honest, and deeply eye-opening. Together they explore what happens when alcohol stops feeling like relief and starts creating more exhaustion, anxiety, and disconnection instead. This conversation touches on: Normalizing the nightly glasses, drinking habits & culture * Midlife stress and sober menopause * Sugar addiction and coping mechanisms * Perfectionism and people-pleasing * Relapse, self-awareness, and starting again * What real freedom and recovery can look like This episode is for the woman quietly wondering if there’s more to life than constantly trying to “manage” alcohol while pretending everything is fine.

Was it even fun anymore?

This week Ashley & I get honest about the thoughts, fears, and mental gymnastics that came with drinking. Waiting for a reason to stop, hoping something external would make the decision for us, the anxiety after the nights out, and the realization that so much of what we called fun was actually exhausting us. If you've ever wondered why you kept going back even when you knew something felt off, this conversation will probably hit home.

3 things I learned from a friend in early sobriety

In this Friday series episode, Ashley and I are sharing 3 things that really stuck with us in early sobriety and beyond. The fears, the shifts, the small moments that actually matter and what it looks like when everything feels new and a little uncomfortable. Not the polished version...the real version. If you've ever wondered : "Could I actually do this?" or "What does it really look like in the beginning?" This one's for you!

From Chaos to Calm: Sobriety, Narcissistic Relationships & Healing Your Nervous System with Allie

Sobriety was just the beginning. In this episode with Ali Clark, founder of the Sober Dream Team, we talk about how alcohol, narcissistic relationship dynamics, and a dysregulated nervous system can all feed off each other—and what it actually takes to start feeling safe, clear, and grounded again. www.soberdreamteam.com

"How did I get here?" with Wendi

Wendi and I go there. From “How did I get here?” to actually doing something about it. If you’ve ever looked at your life and thought, “This isn’t how I thought it would be…” — this episode is for you. Wendi shares her journey through divorce, motherhood, and working as a first responder—all while navigating her relationship with alcohol. We talk about sober dating, identity shifts, and what it really takes to surrender and seek help. Because the truth is..nothing changes if nothing changes, and sometimes the bravest thing you can do is admit something isn’t working anymore. Resources: hanleycenter.org  phone: 855-751-4673 verobeach recoverycenter.com phone: 772-584-3083