Addiction, astrology, and emotional healing take center stage in this episode of Sisters in Sobriety, as Sonia sits down with humanistic astrologer Jessica Lanyadoo. Together, they unpack how addiction isn’t just about substances—it’s about emotional patterns, coping mechanisms, and the ways we abandon ourselves. Jessica brings a grounded, no-nonsense approach to astrology, helping Sonia explore how tools like astrology, community, and self-awareness can support sobriety and long-term healing.

What role does emotional regulation play in addiction? Can astrology reveal patterns behind compulsive behaviors or anxiety? How do dopamine-driven habits like scrolling or shopping mirror substance use? Sonia and Kathleen guide the conversation through big questions around fate vs. free will, the psychology of addiction, and whether spiritual tools—like astrology—can become coping mechanisms themselves. The discussion also explores the complexities of recovery spaces, including the benefits and challenges of 12-step programs, shame, and accountability.

The conversation weaves together concepts like harm reduction, emotional processing, and the neuroscience of addiction. Jessica introduces the idea that addiction is often rooted in an inability to tolerate feelings, rather than a lack of willpower. She breaks down how different types of anxiety and coping behaviors can manifest, and how misdiagnosis—both psychologically and personally—can keep people stuck. The idea of “momentum” becomes a powerful framework: how addictive behaviors build quickly, while healing and self-connection require slower, intentional practice.

Through personal reflections, Sonia shares moments from her own sobriety journey—navigating divorce, resisting the urge to drink, and recognizing how other behaviors can mimic addiction. The episode shifts into a deeper, more vulnerable space as they explore recovery tools like AA, the concept of “dry drunk” vs. true sobriety, and the emotional weight of making amends. Jessica offers a nuanced take on “living amends,” boundaries, and why healing doesn’t always require direct reconciliation—sometimes it requires protecting yourself while still taking accountability.

This is Sisters in Sobriety, the support community that helps women change their relationship with alcohol. Check out our substack for extra tips, tricks and resources.

Highlights

00:00 – Introduction to Jessica Lanyadoo and her humanistic approach
01:15 – What humanistic astrology actually means
03:00 – Addiction beyond substances: emotional and behavioral patterns
05:30 – Astrology’s perspective on different types of addiction
08:15 – Dopamine, escapism, and modern-day addictive behaviors
09:30 – Can astrology become a coping mechanism?
10:45 – Is addiction fate or free will?
12:30 – Physiological vs. emotional components of addiction
14:00 – Different types of anxiety and how they show up
16:30 – Misdiagnosis and why some treatments don’t work
17:45 – The concept of momentum in addiction vs. healing
19:00 – “Dry drunk” vs. true sobriety
20:00 – Why AA works (and why it doesn’t for everyone)
22:00 – Shame, community, and healing in recovery spaces
24:00 – The complexity of group dynamics in AA
26:30 – Boundaries, triggers, and navigating recovery communities
28:00 – The truth about making amends
29:30 – What are “living amends”?
31:30 – Trauma, safety, and when not to reconnect
34:00 – Self-abandonment and taking personal accountability

Jessica's Links

Ghost of a Podcast

Access free horoscopes + other goodies and classes available for purchase at lovelanyadoo.com

SIS Links

💌 Sisters In Sobriety Substack – where the magic (and the mocktail recipes) happen

📬 Sisters In Sobriety Email

📸 Sisters In Sobriety Instagram

🌐 Kathleen’s Website Kathleen does not endorse any products mentioned in this podcast

📸 Kathleen’s Instagram