This Naked Mind Podcast

What happens when you're crushing your break, feeling better than you have in years, but that little voice starts whispering, "Okay, but what about day 31?" In this episode, Coaches Soraya and Hayley help two Path members figure out exactly that. Christine opens up about her "Hellcat" pattern of achievement and escape, learning how to stay on track after a 30-day alcohol break by understanding the anxiety underneath it all. Alex discovers he doesn't need a task to check off—he can follow how good he feels as his GPS. These conversations get real about navigating life beyond the break, being with uncomfortable feelings, and building momentum that lasts.

In Christine's session:

Understanding binge drinking cycles as responses to anxiety and perfectionism

Learning how to stay on track after a 30 day alcohol break by addressing underlying emotions

Why seeking worthiness through external validation fuels the urge to escape

The "Hellcat" pattern of going full speed then crashing with alcohol to decompress

Discovering anxiety isn't the enemy—it's a signal asking for attention and care

Tools for being with uncomfortable emotions instead of numbing or escaping them

How transforming your relationship with anxiety breaks the drinking cycle

And more breakthroughs about worthiness, self-compassion, and finding calm...

In Alex’s Session:

Why day 31 feels more uncertain than day 30 when the break structure ends

Practical strategies for how to stay on track after a 30 day alcohol break using emotion-based goals

The difference between completing tasks versus building a life you don't want to escape from

How lengthening your break can provide vital feedback and create new goals

Reframing potential setbacks from disappointment to curiosity and valuable data points

Choosing "renewed" over "horrible" and why emotional shifts drive lasting change

And more insights...

Soraya Odishoo is a compassionate Certified This Naked Mind Coach who blends somatic healing with therapeutic models to support recovery. She serves people who feel disconnected from their true selves and want freedom from substances or behaviors that no longer serve them. She takes a trauma-informed, heart-centered approach with a strong focus on accessibility for BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities.

Learn more about Coach Soraya: https://thisnakedmind.com/coach/soraya-arjan-odishoo-alpc/

Hayley Scherders is a Senior Coach with This Naked Mind with training from the Canadian Addiction and Mental Health Association. Drawing from personal experience, Hayley provides a safe, compassionate, judgment-free space where clients feel supported. She believes that with the right mindset, anyone can change at any time.

Learn more about Coach Hayley:⁠ http://thisnakedmind.com/coach/hayley-scherders/⁠

Episode links:

nakedmindpath.com

Related Episodes:

How do I go back to normal life after The Alcohol Experiment? - Reader Question - E508 - https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-508-reader-question-how-do-i-go-back-to-normal-life-after-the-alcohol-experiment/

What is a data point? - Reader Question - E520 - https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-520-reader-question-what-is-a-data-point/

How To Stop Numbing Your Feelings and Start Living - Alcohol Freedom Coaching - E859 - https://thisnakedmind.com/using-alcohol-to-numb-emotions-afc-e859/

Ready to take the next step on your journey? 

Visit https://learn.thisnakedmind.com/podcast-resources for free resources, programs, and more. Until next week, stay curious!

This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp, Quince, and Shopify. BetterHelp: BetterHelp is offering our listeners 10% off at betterhelp.com/nakedmind . Quince: get free shipping and 365-day returns at quince.com/naked . Shopify: Sign up for a $1 month trial at shopify.com/mind

Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions of divorce and loss of a loved one to cancer.

Have you ever wondered why life changes can make old habits suddenly feel louder? Jan never imagined retirement would lead her here. She had done everything “right”—worked hard, raised her kids, showed up for everyone else. Alcohol had always felt manageable. Until it didn’t. When retirement, relocation, and COVID collided, Jan found herself drinking more to fill the long afternoons and quiet evenings. Drinking more after retirement felt normal at first, even expected. What she didn’t expect was how disconnected, anxious, and unlike herself she began to feel. In this warm, honest conversation with Coach Cole, Jan shares how she began questioning not just her drinking, but the lifelong pattern of putting herself last. Through This Naked Mind and The Path, she learned that nothing was wrong with her—and that alcohol had simply become a stand-in for rest, relief, and emotional safety.

Coach Cole and Jan discuss:

Growing up in a dysfunctional home with two alcohol dependent parents and learning to shut down emotionally

Moving to Colorado during COVID and experiencing the perfect storm of retirement, isolation, and empty nest syndrome

Drinking more after retirement and how it escalated from afternoon drinking to morning drinking

The terrifying fall down the stairs that led to hospitalization and overwhelming shame

Why AA meetings didn't feel like the right fit and how finding Annie's book changed everything

Joining The Path in April 2024 and celebrating 20 months alcohol-free

Navigating divorce after 35 years of marriage and her sister's death from cancer—all without alcohol

Learning to put herself first after a lifetime of taking care of everyone else

Starting over at nearly 70 and believing the best is yet to come

And more topics…

Episode links:

nakedmindpath.com

Related Episodes:

Alcohol & Older Adults, What We Need To Know - Reader Question - E152 - https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-152-reader-question-alcohol-and-older-adults-2/

Alcohol Over 60 - Coaching Questions - E418 - https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-418-coaching-questions-with-scott-pinyard/

Alcohol Free at 83 - Barbara’s Naked Life - E307 - https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-307-naked-life-story-barbara/

Ready to take the next step on your journey? Visit https://learn.thisnakedmind.com/podcast-resources for free resources, programs, and more. Until next week, stay curious!

Quince: Go to⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Quince.com/naked⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns 

Hungryroot: Get 40% off your first box + a free item for life at ⁠⁠⁠⁠Hungryroot.com/mind⁠⁠⁠⁠ with code mind

BetterHelp: BetterHelp makes it easy to get matched online with a qualified therapist. Sign up and get 10% off at ⁠⁠BetterHelp.com/nakedmind⁠⁠

Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Shopify.com/mind⁠⁠

Stopping the shame spiral—what if the fastest way out isn’t more willpower, but more compassion? In this episode of Alcohol Freedom Coaching, Coach Hayley supports Carol, a newly retired grandmother who felt “so far behind” after a vacation slip, and Coach Cole guides Nancy, a devoted mom caring for a daughter with complex special needs, who’s learning to relax without wine and let go of “I should be doing more” guilt. Together, they model how to shift from self-blame to curiosity, build emotion-based goals (happiness, energy, motivation), and reconnect with support inside The Path.

In Carol’s session:

Naming the belief: “I’m so far behind” vs. “I’m exactly where I’m meant to be.”

Turning slips into data points—not identity—and choosing curiosity over criticism.

Building emotion-based goals: happiness, energy, motivation as a north star.

Breaking overwhelm: 15-minute re-entry (one video, one call, one journal prompt).

Navigating travel and social events without defaulting to comparison or shame.

Finding connection again: taking up space on calls even when you feel “not bad enough.”

Practical reframe for 3 a.m. thoughts and night-after guilt.

Tools for stopping the shame spiral after a vacation or wedding slip

.…and more.

In Nancy’s session:

Spotting guilt in the body (chest/shoulders tightness) and softening with micro-moments.

Permission slips: letting older siblings help, one small experiment at a time.

Replacing the 4 p.m. wine ritual with soothing, sensory evening routines.

Distinguishing healthy guilt (course-correct) from toxic shame (self-attack).

Creating a “treat” that isn’t alcohol: porch time, breathwork, a few pages of a novel.

Scripts to ask for help without apologizing for your needs.How curiosity interrupts ruminating about “not doing enough.”

Practical ideas for stopping the shame spiral when responsibilities feel nonstop

.…and more.

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/

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/

Episode links:

nakedmindpath.com

Related Episodes:

How can I not feel guilty for all the time I spent trying to fix myself? - Reader Question - E240 - https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-240-reader-question-how-can-i-not-feel-guilty-for-all-the-time-i-spent-trying-to-fix-myself/

 How to Explore Drinking Without Judgment - Alcohol Freedom Coaching - E813 - https://thisnakedmind.com/how-to-explore-drinking-without-judgment-alcohol-freedom-coaching-e813/

Ready to take the next step on your journey? 

Visit https://learn.thisnakedmind.com/podcast-resources for free resources, programs, and more. Until next week, stay curious!

Quince: Go to⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Quince.com/naked⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns 

Hungryroot: Get 40% off your first box + a free item for life at ⁠⁠⁠⁠Hungryroot.com/mind⁠⁠⁠⁠ with code mind

BetterHelp: BetterHelp makes it easy to get matched online with a qualified therapist. Sign up and get 10% off at ⁠⁠BetterHelp.com/nakedmind⁠⁠

Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Shopify.com/mind⁠⁠

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains discussions of severe alcohol use disorder, blackout drinking, hospitalization, family trauma, and parental death.

Using alcohol to calm down—does it actually work, or does it quietly make everything harder? Monnica didn’t start drinking to escape her life. She drank to manage it. What began as a way to settle postpartum nerves slowly turned into a cycle of binge drinking, blackouts, and fear. For years, Monnica believed alcohol was helping her cope with anxiety, stress, and overwhelm—until it stopped working altogether. In this episode, Monnica shares how undiagnosed anxiety shaped her relationship with alcohol, the wake-up calls that forced her to look closer, and how learning to regulate her nervous system helped her finally break free.

In this episode, Monnica discusses:

Starting to drink postpartum and using alcohol to calm down during stressful days as a stay-at-home mom

Saving wine bottles and not recognizing the signs of alcohol addiction escalating

Blackout drinking episodes leading to dangerous situations and memory loss

The devastating night police were called after a confrontation with her son

Waking up in the ER on her daughter's birthday after being found unconscious outside Walmart

Finding This Naked Mind on Instagram and winning free access to The Path

Learning about cognitive dissonance, giving alcohol a job, and the short chemical window of relief

Understanding how childhood trauma and hidden material held her back

The power of vulnerability, curiosity, and compassion in the recovery journey

Receiving an Alive stone in June 2024 and experiencing a profound shift in her relationship with alcohol

And more topics…

Episode links:

nakedmindpath.com

Related Episodes:

Why do I have so much anxiety the day after drinking? - Reader Question - E02 - https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-02-reader-question-much-anxiety-day-drinking/

Overcoming Alcohol-induced Anxiety - Marcus’ Naked Life - E607 - https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-607-naked-life-story-marcus-widblom/

Overcoming Drinking To Cope with Depression and Anxiety - Susan’s Naked Life - E681 https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-681-naked-life-story-susan-h/

Ready to take the next step on your journey? Visit https://learn.thisnakedmind.com/podcast-resources for free resources, programs, and more. Until next week, stay curious!

Quince: Go to⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Quince.com/naked⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns 

Hungryroot: Get 40% off your first box + a free item for life at ⁠⁠⁠⁠Hungryroot.com/mind⁠⁠⁠⁠ with code mind

BetterHelp: BetterHelp makes it easy to get matched online with a qualified therapist. Sign up and get 10% off at ⁠⁠BetterHelp.com/nakedmind⁠⁠

Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Shopify.com/mind⁠⁠

Does the urge to drink ever go away, or is it something you’re stuck managing forever? In this Alcohol Freedom Coaching episode, Coach Hayley works with Mark, and Coach Soraya supports Michael as they share the real, messy middle of change. Mark talks about years of 30, 60, and 90-day breaks, the weight of the “alcoholic” label, and how an emotion-based goal—making alcohol immaterial in his life—finally eased the mental tug-of-war. Michael opens up about being 45 days alcohol-free, feeling “on display” in social situations, and tracing that discomfort back to a lifelong drive to fit in. These are the exact kinds of questions—about cravings, labels, and belonging—that get coached compassionately daily inside The Path.

In Mark’s session:

Exploring if the urge to drink ever goes away through real-life data points

Moving from “I’m an alcoholic who can’t drink” to “alcohol is an addictive substance”

Why time-based goals kept him chasing “normal drinking”

Adopting an emotion-based goal: making alcohol immaterial in his life

Using ACT and curiosity to meet cognitive dissonance instead of fighting it

Noticing how cravings and thoughts faded dramatically by around 90 days

Reclaiming mental real estate, time, and energy for what actually matters

And more

In Michael’s session:

Feeling like he has to explain his choice and wondering does the urge to drink ever go away

Using an ankle injury as a temporary “cover story” while he builds confidence

Linking his discomfort to a deep drive to fit in and avoid conflict

Connecting current social anxiety to teen anorexia and years of trying to blend in

Learning that friends’ reactions often reveal their unease with alcohol

Shifting from autopilot drinking to conscious “pilot” mode with curiosity and logic

Letting the world adapt to his alcohol-free choice instead of shrinking himself

And more

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/

Soraya Odishoo is a compassionate Certified This Naked Mind Coach who blends somatic healing with therapeutic models to support recovery. She serves people who feel disconnected from their true selves and want freedom from substances or behaviors that no longer serve them. She takes a trauma-informed, heart-centered approach with a strong focus on accessibility for BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities.Learn more about Coach Soraya: https://thisnakedmind.com/coach/soraya-arjan-odishoo-alpc/

Episode links:nakedmindpath.com

Related Episodes:

Will I Ever Stop Craving Alcohol? – Reader Question – E676 – http://thisnakedmind.com/ep-676-readers-question-will-i-ever-stop-craving-alcohol/

How Do I Break the Cycle of Recurring Data Points? – Reader Question – E588 – http://thisnakedmind.com/ep-588-reader-question-how-do-i-break-the-cycle-of-recurring-data-points/

From Cravings to Curiosity – Alcohol Freedom Coaching – E851 – https://thisnakedmind.com/why-cant-i-get-rid-of-alcohol-cravings-e851/

Ready to take the next step on your journey? Visit https://learn.thisnakedmind.com/podcast-resources for free resources, programs, and more. Until next week, stay curious!

Quince: Go to⁠ ⁠⁠Quince.com/naked⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns 

Hungryroot: Get 40% off your first box + a free item for life at ⁠⁠⁠Hungryroot.com/mind⁠⁠⁠ with code mind

BetterHelp: BetterHelp makes it easy to get matched online with a qualified therapist. Sign up and get 10% off at ⁠BetterHelp.com/nakedmind⁠

Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at⁠ ⁠⁠Shopify.com/mind⁠