#E33 Trading Alcohol for Self-Love: A Story of Transformation

In this episode, Louise candidly shares her personal sobriety story, exploring the cultural and emotional nuances that accompanied her upbringing around alcohol, the challenges she faced through personal trauma, and the transformative power of choosing sobriety.

This episode is packed with practical advice for those curious about sobriety, alongside details about a supportive 21-day sobriety challenge designed to inspire and motivate listeners on their own paths.

Louise emphasises that sobriety is not about deprivation but liberation, leading to deeper connections and self-growth.

Join Louise and uncover the secrets often hidden in shame and fear, empowering people to create a life filled with intention and purpose.

Released January 9th 2025

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Our Host 🫶🏻

Louise Bryant is a professional certified coach, intuitive eating counsellor, and a trauma-informed domestic abuse specialist as well as survivor.

Through her platform, "Secrets in the Powder Room," Louise fosters open conversations about the often-hidden struggles women face, including social anxiety and trauma.

Her expertise, drawn from personal and professional experiences, aims to guide others in healing through alternative therapies, body kindness and intuitive eating.

Passionate about breaking the silence around women's issues, Louise provides free, simple tips and profound insights to ease anxiety and promote well-being.

Links

• Join the 21-Day Sobriety Challenge

  Share Your Story (anonymously if you wish)

• For more podcasts secretsinthepowderroom.com

• Get the Free Self-Care Course Louisebryant.coach

• Follow us on Instagram.secretsinthepowderroom

• Work With Me Louise Bryant

Newsletter 📧

🌼 Embrace Sobriety with Confidence - Join Our 21 Day Challenge!

Dear Secret listeners,

Welcome to a brand new year and season of fresh possibilities with the Secrets in the powder room podcast! I'm Louise Bryant, and I'm thrilled to invite you to embark on a transformative journey of self-discovery and empowerment through sobriety.

Why Sobriety? Why Now?

In our latest episode, Trading Alcohol for Self-Love: A Story of Transformation we delve deep into the heart of redefining our relationship with alcohol. Whether you're sober curious or contemplating cutting back, this is your call to step into a life of clarity, healing, and unparalleled self-love.

I share my personal journey, laden with challenges and triumphs, to resonate and assure you that you're not alone. Sobriety isn't about giving up; it's about gaining so much more. It's about making space for meaningful connections with yourself and those around you.

Join the 21 Day Sobriety Challenge!

Kickstart your sober journey with our empowering 21-Day Sobriety Challenge. Here's what you can expect:

• Daily Motivation: Receive uplifting emails packed with tips, journaling prompts, and encouragement designed to keep you on track.

• Community Support: If you're a woman, connect with a tribe of like-minded individuals in our supportive WhatsApp group.

• Empowerment Resources: Equip yourself with knowledge on how alcohol affects your mind and body, reinforcing your commitment to living with intention.

To join, simply visit louisebryant.coach/services or click the link in my bio.

Your Story Matters

We believe that sharing stories can inspire others in their sobriety journey. If my story resonates with you, I'd love to hear yours. Share your story anonymously using the link in the description for a chance to be featured in future podcast episodes or my upcoming book!

Let's Thrive Together

Subscribe to the Secrets in the Powder Room podcast and stay tuned for more heartfelt conversations aimed at healing, growth, and empowerment. Remember, sobriety is not about deprivation. It’s about liberation and creating the life you truly deserve.

Until next time, take care of yourself, and know that you've got this!

Louise x

P.S. Don't miss out on our transformative workshops and resources – join our mailing list to stay updated on all the latest!

Blog 🚨

Embracing Sobriety: A Journey to Self-Love and Liberation

Exploring My Path to a Healthier Relationship with Alcohol

Introduction

As we step into a new year, there's no better time for reflection and change. It's with excitement that I welcome you to this episode of "Secrets in the Powder Room." This space is dedicated to anyone who, like me, is curious about sobriety, or those thinking of cutting back, wishing to redefine their relationship with alcohol. This journey I've embarked on is more than just abstaining from drinking—it's a radical act of self-love, and I’m here to share my story of liberation with you.

Alcohol: A Cultural and Personal Staple

For many of us, alcohol is woven into the fabric of our lives, present in celebrations, social events, and even as a mechanism to relieve stress. My story begins with a childhood steeped in this cultural norm, where alcohol was the centrepiece of weekends spent among gigs and pubs due to my father and brother’s involvement in bands. As I transitioned into my teenage years, alcohol and drugs became coping mechanisms for the unaddressed trauma of childhood. At the time, it seemed like a source of comfort, yet ultimately, it camouflaged the emotions I struggled to process.

The Turning Point: Choosing Sobriety

A series of life events brought me to the pivotal point where I chose sobriety. An abusive relationship compounded by an injury that ended my career as a hairdresser forced me to face the harsh reality of my dependency on alcohol. It was both a tool for survival and a means to numb the physical and emotional pain. Yet, I came to realise sobriety isn't about giving something up, but creating space for healing, personal growth, and forging deeper connections with myself and those around me. My first attempt in 2019 led to a profound sense of clarity, confidence, and freedom. Unexpectedly, though, a move and subsequent loneliness challenged my resolve, leading to a relapse as old habits resurfaced.

The Permanent Transition

In 2023, a crucial realisation dawned upon me—true healing, particularly through therapy to address resurfaced trauma, was impossible with alcohol in my life. My therapist's insistence that I couldn't fully heal while drinking was a wake-up call, prompting my commitment to sobriety for good. This transformation has granted me stronger relationships, healthier habits, and a clearer vision for the future. Now, sobriety feels not just possible, but permanent, underscoring that letting go of alcohol is an act of liberation, not deprivation.

Practical Steps to Begin Your Sobriety Journey

Every journey is unique, and I'm here to offer you practical steps that have shaped my own sobriety path:

1. Set Your Intentions: Reflect on your desire to change your relationship with alcohol. Write down your reasons to keep them as a source of motivation to revisit on challenging days.

2. Track Your Progress: Celebrate your alcohol-free achievements, documenting them in a journal, on a calendar, or using an app. These small wins will inspire big momentum.

3. Build a Support System: Connect with like-minded individuals. I invite you to join my WhatsApp community or Facebook support group. Finding your tribe ensures that you don't face this journey alone.

4. Educate Yourself: Arm yourself with knowledge about how alcohol affects your mind and body. Understanding its impact can empower and reinforce your decision to stay sober.

5. Practise Self-Compassion: Remember, it's about progress, not perfection. If you stumble, don’t linger on it—be kind to yourself, forgive, and keep moving forward.

21 Day Sobriety Challenge: A Supportive Step Forward

I’ve initiated a free 21-day sobriety challenge to support your journey, offering daily emails filled with tips, journaling prompts, and encouragements. If you're a woman, you’ll also gain access to a supportive WhatsApp group of like-minded individuals. This challenge is designed to help you start 2025 with intention and purpose.

Conclusion

Sharing my story through "Secrets in the Powder Room" is my way of offering hope and inspiration. My journey demonstrates that sobriety isn't an act of sacrifice, but a path to self-liberation and a fulfilling life. If you're ready to rethink your relationship with alcohol, I invite you to join the 21-day challenge or connect with our community. Together, let's pave the way for self-discovery, healthier habits, and the life you truly deserve.

Journaling Questions ✍🏻

Here are some journaling questions inspired by the podcast episode "E33 Sobriety" to help you reflect on your own experience with sobriety and your relationship with alcohol:

1. What initially prompted you to consider changing your relationship with alcohol?

   Reflect on any key moments or events.

2. How has alcohol been a part of your life up to this point?

   In what ways has it impacted your social interactions, emotions, and overall lifestyle?

3. What fears or concerns do you have about reducing or eliminating alcohol from your life?

   How might you address these concerns?

4. What positive changes do you envision experiencing in your life by choosing sobriety or reducing alcohol consumption?

5. Reflect on a time when alcohol affected your life negatively.

   How do you feel about this event now, and what have you learned from it?

6. Who in your life can you turn to for support on your sobriety journey?

   List people, groups, or resources that could be part of your support system.

7. How do you feel about being part of a community, such as Louise's WhatsApp group or a similar support group?

   How might this benefit your journey?

8. What are your intentions and goals for your sobriety journey?

   Write them down clearly, and consider how they align with the life you want to create.

9. Consider the role of self-compassion in your journey.

   How can you be kinder to yourself if you encounter setbacks?

10. Reflect on one thing you can do today to reinforce your commitment to your sobriety journey and improve your mental and physical health.

Transcript 📝

NOTE: This podcast was transcribed by editing tool, Please forgive any typos or errors

Hey. I'm so excited to kick off season 3, our series of pillar talk with you. January is a perfect time for a fresh start and shaping how we want to thrive into 25 and beyond. This episode is for anyone who's sober curious or maybe thinking about cutting back on alcohol already to redefine their relationship with alcohol. I will share my own sobriety journey, the highs, the lows, and everything in between, along with some practical tips to get you started. Plus, I'll tell you about my free 21 day sobriety challenge that's here to help you stay motivated. So stick around for all the details. Welcome to the Secrets in the Powder Room where we share stories and open up conversations about all the secrets women are forced to keep out of fear and shame.

Louise Bryant00:00:55 - 00:01:22

I'm Louise Bryant, professional certified coach, intuitive eating counsellor, and trauma informed domestic abuse specialist and spiralling. We're here to support you on your healing journey and help you feel like you're not alone. This is not to be a replacement of your own professional, medical, or legal advice. This podcast contains adult language and content. Listener discretion is advised. Right. Let's face it. Alcohol is everywhere.

Louise Bryant00:01:22 - 00:02:12

It's woven into celebrations, socialising, and even stress relief. It's so normalised that we often don't realise how much we rely on it. So deciding to step away can feel overwhelming, but sobriety isn't about giving it something up. It's about gaining something much, much better. By letting go of alcohol, you're creating space for your healing, for your growth, and for deeper connections with yourself and other people around you, believe it or not. Sobriety is a radical act of self love. One of those that has the power to transform your life in ways that you just can't imagine. So I wanna share my journey because I know how isolating it can feel to struggle with alcohol.

Louise Bryant00:02:13 - 00:03:08

Growing up, drinking was normal. My dad and brother were both in bands, and weekends often revolved around pubs and gigs. And alcohol wasn't just a drink. It was part of our lifestyle and a way also to numb emotions that I didn't know how to deal with. And as a teenager, I turned to alcohol and drugs as a coping mechanism for what I now know was a coping mechanism for some childhood trauma possibly, but also it was the culture. We were all kind of that was what we did in the nineties. And something I only truly fully understood later through therapy, is how alcohol played a big part in my numbing out my feelings. Now in my twenties, I found myself in an abusive relationship where alcohol was ever present.

Louise Bryant00:03:08 - 00:04:18

So it became both a source of comfort and a tool to survive in a painful and chaotic environment. But, also, it was part of our so called fun times as well. But then later on, I met my husband, and drinking remained a part of our lives and my life, except obviously during my pregnancies and breastfeeding. But when I had my injury on my right hand and I was forced to give up my career as a hairdresser, I found myself drinking more to numb both the physical and the emotional pain, and also because I didn't couldn't drive anymore. It also became a ritual, a vodka in the afternoon, and a wine at night, all under the disguise of maybe taking the edge off. And when I became a coach, I realized that I needed to live in alignment with the person I wanted to be. So in 2019, I quit drinking for the first time, and it felt amazing. I was clear headed, confident, and free.

Louise Bryant00:04:18 - 00:05:06

It was tough. Like, it was a hard thing to do. And the fact that my husband was still drinking, obviously, there was lots of challenges, and my friendship circle would be, oh, I'll have a drink. You know? It just wasn't kind of it was like, why are you giving up alcohol? You're not an alcoholic. I wasn't going to AA meetings or anything, but not that I'm knocking AA meetings because I know friends that have gone to AA meetings, and I found them fantastic and very, very helpful. But then life threw me a curveball when I moved to the coast. I felt lonely, and I thought I could handle drinking again, convincing myself that I could intuitively drink. You know, as an intuitive eating counsellor, I intuitively all the time, why not? I can, of course, I can intuitively drink, but it didn't work out like that.

Louise Bryant00:05:06 - 00:06:12

Old patterns resurfaced really quickly, and drinking became a daily habit again. And my children noticed, and I hated the example that I was setting. So in 2023, I reached another turning point, and I wanted to process my trauma through therapy. I know I spoke about this in some other podcasts of mine, but my my trauma that something that happened to me when I was 19 had resurfaced when I moved, and I think a lot of the drinking was trying to numb that out because this trauma was happening every night when I was going to bed. This, presence of this trauma, this PTSD was was coming up every single night. So I think the drinking was helping I thought was helping me, to to to to to not feel that. However, it was probably making it worse. And my therapist said that I couldn't have therapy with her or fully heal while drinking, So that was a bit of a wake up call for me, and I made the decision that I was done with alcohol for good.

Louise Bryant00:06:13 - 00:07:06

So now I'm sober again, and this time it feels permanent. Sobriety has given me a stronger relationships with other people, and it's a much healthier habit, obviously, and I have a clearer vision of my future when I'm not drinking. I've also trained now as a sobriety coach to help others through this process, and it's not as a replacement for medical or therapeutic care, but as a coach who can provide practical and emotional support. So if you're ready to explore your sobriety, here are 5 simple steps to help you begin. Start by setting your intentions. Reflect on your why. Why do you want to change your relationship with alcohol? Write it down and you can revisit this whenever you need some more motivation. Then track your progress.

Louise Bryant00:07:06 - 00:07:41

So celebrate every day that you don't drink, whether it's in a journal or on an app or on a calendar. And remember that the small wins build big momentum. Build a support system. So if you're a female, you can join my WhatsApp community group and connect with other people that might be going on the same journey as you, or find a different support group, or join my Facebook group. You don't have to do this alone. Find your tribe. Find your people that you can share your wins with. And then educate yourself.

Louise Bryant00:07:41 - 00:08:11

So learn how alcohol affects your mind and body. Knowledge is empowering and this will reinforce your decision. And be kind to yourself. This isn't about perfection, it's about progress. And if you slip up, don't dwell on it, forgive yourself, and just keep going. Thank you for spending this time with me. If my story resonates with you, I hope it inspires you to rethink your relationship with alcohol. Sobriety isn't about deprivation.

Louise Bryant00:08:12 - 00:08:55

It's about liberation. It's about creating a life that you deserve. So if you're ready to start your journey, join me on the 21 day sobriety challenge, and you'll receive daily emails filled with tips, journaling prompts, and encouragements. Plus, if you're a woman, you have access to the supportive WhatsApp group of like minded individuals. And to sign up, you can visit louisebryant.coach/services or click the link in bio. And let's start 2025 with intention and purpose. And if you have a story to share, I'd love to hear it. You can submit your story anonymously using the link in the description.

Louise Bryant00:08:55 - 00:09:23

0:00 - 09:24

Your story might be featured in a future podcast episode or even in the book that I'm currently writing. Thank you for listening to this episode of the Secrets in the Power Room Room podcast with me, Louise Bryant. Please remember to subscribe, like, share the podcast, and leave a review if you find any of the podcasts inspiring. And until next time, take care of yourself and remember you've got this.