It's Not About the Alcohol

Colleen Freeland
  • 4.9 (138)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Weekly

Would you like to reduce your alcohol consumption by 80 percent so you can enjoy drinking socially without relying on alcohol to manage your stress, anxiety, loneliness and boredom when you're by yourself? Most high achieving women assume over-drinking is caused by a lack of willpower--or worse, the incurable disease of "alcoholism." So they beat themselves up and avoid asking for help because they feel ashamed and out of control. Whether you're a daily drinker who can't break the habit, or you're still going to sobriety meetings even though you don't drink anymore, the real problem is that you don't trust yourself. Which means it's not about the alcohol. It's about your relationship with yourself. I'm an intuitive drinking coach helping professional women learn how drinking less (or not at all) is actually a superpower, even when the idea of giving up the only thing that helps them quiet their mind feels impossible. The solution to alcohol use disorder is a FEELING. If you felt comfortable in your own skin and at ease in your life, you would drink like someone who is comfortable and at ease! Join me each week for holistic, evidence-based strategies to fix your dopamine deficit, regulate your nervous system, cure imposter syndrome, manage sugar cravings, improve your sleep and reclaim your mental health so you no longer have the urge to escape your own body. Get happy, not sober. Because happy people don't drink themselves into a stupor.

  1. EP346: How to cope with conflict in your relationship without drinking with Karen McMahon

    2d ago

    EP346: How to cope with conflict in your relationship without drinking with Karen McMahon

    You've been drinking more lately because of your partner. Their mood is the problem. Their lack of effort. Their inability to have an honest conversation.  But if this is their problem, why are you stuck? My interview with high conflict divorce coach Karen McMahon will show you how to take your power back instead of drowning it with alcohol. What you'll learn: Why drinking feels safer than conflict (and what's actually happening in your nervous system) The seven levels of emotional energy and how drinking keeps you on the lower end How to shift your focus from what your partner needs to change to what you need to change Why your boundaries keep getting plowed and what to do about it Three somatic tools you can use mid-conflict to stop reaching for the wine If you're ready to take full responsibility for where you are and where you want to be, the first step is identifying the pattern that's running you. Take the 3-minute quiz to find out which of the four drinker types is driving your pattern and get the Take It or Leave It Roadmap. [Take Quiz Here] Ready to stop figuring this out alone? Book a free discovery call. The call isn't about figuring out what's wrong with you. It's about figuring out what kind of support you actually need. [Book Your Discovery Call] Resources: Karen McMahon: Journey Beyond Divorce Podcast Free Guide: Understanding and Managing Your Emotional Energy journeybeyonddivorce.com

    47 min
  2. EP345: The KNOW-DO Gap: Why you keep drinking when you know you shouldn't.

    Jun 2

    EP345: The KNOW-DO Gap: Why you keep drinking when you know you shouldn't.

    You know you should be drinking less, but you can't follow through. You promise and plan to do something different and then repeat the same mistakes over and over. This episode explains the gap between knowing what you should be doing and actually doing it. And gives you the perspective shift that you need to make to close it. What you'll learn: The two reasons "knowing" doesn't translate to doing Why your "celebration drinking" is often stress drinking in a party dress The perspective shift that turns your dopamine back on What actually has to change before your drinking can change Quiz: Take the free 3-minute quiz to find out why YOU can't just take it or leave it: [Take the quiz here] Ready to stop trying to figure this out alone? Book a free 20-minute discovery call with one of Colleen's certified coaches. You'll leave with clarity about where you are, where you want to be, and what's standing in your way. No pressure, no sales pitch. [Book your Discovery Call here]

    37 min
  3. EP344: The Hidden Hormone Imbalance Making You Drink Too Much (And The Labs Your Doctor Isn't Running)

    May 26

    EP344: The Hidden Hormone Imbalance Making You Drink Too Much (And The Labs Your Doctor Isn't Running)

    You've been blaming yourself for drinking too much. You assume the brain fog, the fatigue, the weight you can't shift, the way you can't stick to your plan, all of it, is because you drink. But what if the reason you're drinking so much is that your hormones are off? This episode walks you through what to test for and what to do when your doctor tells you everything looks "normal." What you'll learn: The symptoms most women blame on their drinking that are actually hormone imbalances The specific labs your doctor probably isn't running (and what they should cost) Why your labs can come back "normal" while you still feel like crap How nervous system dysregulation creates the cascade that keeps you stuck Why hormone support is a foundation, not a fix, for changing your drinking Take the 3-minute quiz to find out which of the four drinker types is running your nervous system, and get a roadmap tailored to your specific pattern. [Take Quiz Now] Ready to do the other piece? [Book a free discovery call] Resources: Amber Romaniuk: amberapproved.ca The No Sugarcoating Podcast with Amber Romaniuk

    49 min
  4. EP343: Why drinking to relax anxiety makes it's worse (and what to do instead)

    May 19

    EP343: Why drinking to relax anxiety makes it's worse (and what to do instead)

    You've been searching for something to take the edge off. Some tool or strategy that can help you relax so you don't feel like you need to drink so much. CBD. THC gummies. A sleepy-time tea. The anti-anxiety medication your doctor offered. This episode explains why nothing you've tried works as well as alcohol, and what your nervous system really needs. What you'll learn: Why alcohol helps you relax in the short term (and how that traps you in dependancy) The two parts of anxiety your doctor doesn't understand Why willpower isn't the issue here Three practices that change your relationship with anxiety for good Before you can break the pattern, you have to see it. After coaching thousands of very successful, professional women, Colleen has identified four specific types of drinkers. Each requires a unique approach. Take the free 3-minute quiz to find out what type of drinker you are and get the Take it or Leave it Roadmap Series built for your specific pattern.  If you'd like to have a private conversation with a certified coach about which Emotional Sobriety Coaching program would be the best fit for you, click here to schedule a free discovery call.  Resources mentioned: The Anxiety Rx by Dr. Russell Kennedy EP190: Interview with Dr. Russell Kennedy  Can you Take it or Leave it? Take the quiz to discover what type of drinker you are so you can understand what's behind your biological urge to drink. Click here to take the quiz.  Find me on: YouTube: @HangoverWhisperer TikTok: @hangoverwhisperer Instagram: @thehangoverwhisperer  X (Twitter) : @NotAboutTheAlc

    32 min
  5. EP342 Change THIS if you want to drink like a normal person again

    May 12

    EP342 Change THIS if you want to drink like a normal person again

    You've been told that the best way to stop drinking too much is to stop drinking entirely. This episode shows you why that advice usually doesn't work for high-achieving women. Dr. Tammie Kennedy is here to share her experience as one of my students in The Next Chapter. She'll tell you the truth about not only what's changed for her, but also what hasn't changed after nearly a year in the program. What you'll learn: Why the women who try the hardest are often the slowest to change their drinking  What changes first when you stop trying to fix the drinking  The shame loop that keeps high-achieving women stuck in restriction-and-rebound cycles  What really stops most women from being able to change Click here to take the 3-minute quiz to find out which of the four drinker types is running your nervous system.  Do you need to speak with someone? Click here to schedule a free discovery call with Colleen or one of her certified coaches. Find me on: YouTube: @HangoverWhisperer TikTok: @hangoverwhisperer Instagram: @thehangoverwhisperer  X (Twitter) : @NotAboutTheAlc

    31 min
  6. EP341: Why You Need Alcohol To Go To Sleep (And how to break the pattern)

    May 5

    EP341: Why You Need Alcohol To Go To Sleep (And how to break the pattern)

    You can't fall asleep without a few drinks. Every time you've tried going to bed without it, you end up back on the couch an hour later pouring a glass because your brain wouldn't shut down. This episode explains what's happening in your nervous system and gives you three practices to rebuild your desire (and ability) to go to sleep without alcohol. What you'll learn: Why trying to "not drink" leads to drinking earlier to "knock yourself out"  The difference between alcohol-induced sedation and sleep on your emotional well-being How to get back to sleep when you wake up at 3 a.m.  The importance of letting yourself feel tired The best morning and evening practices to reset your circadian rhythm Wand to know why can't YOU just take it or leave it? Click here to take the 3-minute quiz to find out which of the four drinker patterns is running your nervous system. You'll get your results plus my new Take It or Leave It Roadmap series that's built for your drinker type delivered to your inbox.    Find me on: YouTube: @HangoverWhisperer TikTok: @hangoverwhisperer Instagram: @thehangoverwhisperer  X (Twitter) : @NotAboutTheAlc

    31 min
  7. EP340: Why your drinking makes perfect sense (and how to actually rewire your brain)

    Apr 28

    EP340: Why your drinking makes perfect sense (and how to actually rewire your brain)

    You've been kicking yourself for finishing the bottle (again) when you promised it was going to be just one glass. This episode explains why trying harder isn't working, and gives you three principles of self-directed neuroplasticity that actually rewire your brain so drinking less stops feeling like you're fighting your own instincts. What you'll learn: Why over-drinking isn't a willpower failure. It's a survival strategy your nervous system built to keep up with your life How to stop setting goals your brain can't work with, and start pointing it at what you actually want The four drinking patterns running high-achieving women, and why you can't see the one running you Why fighting old habits reinforces them, and what to build instead The low bar goal that keeps you consistent when your stretch goal isn't realistic Not sure why you drink the way you do? Click here to take the 3-minute quiz to find out which of the four drinker types is running your nervous system. You'll get your results plus my new Take It or Leave It Roadmap Series delivered to your inbox.  Find me on: YouTube: @HangoverWhisperer TikTok: @hangoverwhisperer Instagram: @thehangoverwhisperer  X (Twitter) : @NotAboutTheAlc

    35 min
  8. EP339: The 3 Hidden Patterns Behind Overdrinking in Busy and Successful Women

    Apr 21

    EP339: The 3 Hidden Patterns Behind Overdrinking in Busy and Successful Women

    You're not a woman who needs more information. You read the books. You follow the sober curious accounts. You've done Dry January. You've downloaded Sunnyside or Reframe. Every Sunday morning you promise yourself this week is going to be different. And here you are, still on the hamster wheel. There's nothing wrong with you. You're just trying to solve the wrong problem. This week Colleen walks through three blindspots that keep busy, successful women stuck in cycles of overdrinking. Why your identity is running the show without you knowing it. Why your refusal to slow down feels like strength. And why you can't criticize or out-think your way out of a pattern you can't see. Plus the story of teaching yoga from a chair while on bedrest with her fourth pregnancy, pushing a double jog stroller a mile and a half to the pool with four kids, and why none of this was ever actually about the alcohol. If you want a raw, real, honest conversation about what's actually going on, book a free discovery call. It's not about what's wrong with you. It's about figuring out what kind of support you actually need. Those are very different conversations.   If you see the benefit in having a private conversation with a certified coach, Click Here To Schedule A Free Discovery Call Watch The Free 45 Minute Masterclass: The science behind take it or leave it–why some women can and how you can too.    Find me on: YouTube: @HangoverWhisperer TikTok: @hangoverwhisperer Instagram: @thehangoverwhisperer  X (Twitter) : @NotAboutTheAlc

    22 min
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4.9
out of 5
138 Ratings

About

Would you like to reduce your alcohol consumption by 80 percent so you can enjoy drinking socially without relying on alcohol to manage your stress, anxiety, loneliness and boredom when you're by yourself? Most high achieving women assume over-drinking is caused by a lack of willpower--or worse, the incurable disease of "alcoholism." So they beat themselves up and avoid asking for help because they feel ashamed and out of control. Whether you're a daily drinker who can't break the habit, or you're still going to sobriety meetings even though you don't drink anymore, the real problem is that you don't trust yourself. Which means it's not about the alcohol. It's about your relationship with yourself. I'm an intuitive drinking coach helping professional women learn how drinking less (or not at all) is actually a superpower, even when the idea of giving up the only thing that helps them quiet their mind feels impossible. The solution to alcohol use disorder is a FEELING. If you felt comfortable in your own skin and at ease in your life, you would drink like someone who is comfortable and at ease! Join me each week for holistic, evidence-based strategies to fix your dopamine deficit, regulate your nervous system, cure imposter syndrome, manage sugar cravings, improve your sleep and reclaim your mental health so you no longer have the urge to escape your own body. Get happy, not sober. Because happy people don't drink themselves into a stupor.

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