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/

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