View Top 200 Chart

Back to Rankings Page

Health & Fitness

It’s Not About the Alcohol

Would you like to reduce your alcohol consumption by about 80 percent? Become the version of you who can just “take it or leave it” so that 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.

Colleen Freeland is a a mindful 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.

Latest Episodes:

Ep:117 Five Mistakes that turn Normal Drinkers into OverDrinkers Apr 09, 2024

Show notes

Do you worry about how much you drink?

Health conscious, high achieving women who prioritize clean eating, exercise, anti-aging supplements and skin care routines tend to have a lot of anxiety when it comes to alcohol.

You know drinking is a bad habit, yet giving up the reward at the end of a stressful day feels impossible.

But instead of setting realistic goals to change, you beat yourself up for not being perfect…and secretly worry that you might have to quit drinking for good. Because you seem to lose control after one or two drinks.

When you compare yourself to your friends, you're less worried. But you don't actually know how much they drink beyond social situations. And you're afraid to ask.

The criteria for alcohol use disorder has nothing to do with how much alcohol you drink. It's a subjective assessment based on a single question: do you drink more than you think you should drink?

Which means you're dealing with a thinking problem, not a drinking problem.

In this episode you'll learn:

The 5 mistakes that turn normal drinkers into overdrinkers
Why the solution to over-drinking is not abstinence
How to interrupt the thought patterns that make you crave alcohol

Click here to BOOK A DISCOVERY CALL WITH COLLEEN Are you're looking for a coach instead of a sobriety program? I can help you reduce your drinking by 80 percent within a month so you don't have to quit. Walk away with clarity about why you're struggling and what tools you need to achieve your goals.

Ep116: Why the ADHD brain is more susceptible to addiction with Eric Trivers Apr 02, 2024

Show notes

Are you the type of person who tends to over-do it, because if one is good, ten is better?

The inability to self-regulate is a hallmark symptom of ADHD. Because the ADHD brain does not regulate dopamine well. Which makes it hard to get started when a task seems boring, and hard to stop when you're feeling good.

Typically perceived as a learning disability in school-aged boys, the ADHD diagnosis for women ages 30-49 has doubled in the last few years.

Which is good…because without a proper diagnosis, most ADHDers attribute their struggles to a lack of integrity and discipline. But feeling like a failure only compounds the emotional energy required to function. And further increases your risk of addiction.

Eric Trivers is a licensed clinical social worker, certified ADHD service provider and host of the hit podcast ADHD Rewired. In this episode, you'll learn:

How ADHD impairs executive function and drains your emotional reserves
How menopause affects the symptoms of ADHD in women
Why undiagnosed ADHD makes you more susceptible to addiction
How stimulant medications support the ADHD brain when overcoming alcohol use disorder
Why the primary coping strategies for ADHD are awareness and self-compassion

Find more with Eric Trivers @ADHDreWired on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.

Click here to BOOK A DISCOVERY CALL WITH COLLEEN: If you're looking for a coach instead of a sobriety program so you can reduce your drinking without having to quit, schedule a free consultation with Colleen. You'll walk away from the call with clarity about why you're struggling and what tools you need to achieve your goals.

Ep115: Simple meditation practices that inhibit the urge to drink when you're stressed with Ann Swanson Mar 26, 2024

Show notes

Do you feel pressure when you think about changing your relationship with alcohol? Like "good behavior" is just one more thing you have to work on?

The reason drinking less (or not at all) feels impossible for many women is because alcohol has become a coping mechanism for stress.

The problem is that drinking to relieve stress is the fast-past to addiction. Because the more stress you feel, the more you want to drink. And when you start drinking more than your body can tolerate, your own guilt and shame fuel the cycle.

But learning how to reduce your stress with meditation can quickly inhibit your desire for alcohol…even if you've never meditated for a minute in your life. You don't have to spend hours or commit to a regular practice.

Becoming skilled in techniques that shut off stress hormones means you'll no longer have to rely on alcohol, medications or supplements to relax and quiet your mind. Ann Swanson is a yoga therapist and best selling author of two books: The Science of Yoga and Meditation for the Real World. In this episode, you'll learn:

How meditation changes your brain chemistry and structure… making you smarter and happier.
How to find a meditation practice that meets your needs so that you're motivated to stick with it
Simple strategies and techniques that non-meditators can use to get started
How to use mindfulness practices to change your relationship with alcohol

Click here to find Ann's new book + free meditations and find her on YouTube and Instagram

Are you on TikTok? I just joined! Follow my new account…@hangoverwhisperer

Want to learn how to reduce your drinking by 80 percent within a month so you don't have to quit? Register for my FREE 2-Part Training Series on the Accelerated Recovery Process©. Learn how to use the 7 core principles of emotional sobriety to fix the thinking habits that cause alcohol use disorder.

Ep114: What to do when you can't sleep with Helen Sernett Mar 19, 2024

Show notes

Do you have insomnia or identify as a person who has trouble sleeping?

For many people, feeling tired is a way of life. We think we "can't" sleep…and so we don't sleep.

We develop bad habits to cope with exhaustion…relying on caffeine and other stimulants for energy, skimping on workouts and healthy eating, and then scrolling on our phones or watching television when we can't fall asleep.

Because what else can you do?

Over time, sleep deprivation takes a toll on our mental health. But most of us lay awake at night anxiously thinking that our stress is caused by other people, lack of time, and malfunctioning hormones and brain chemistry.

You might be assuming that sleep is some magical event that just happens to lucky people.

But sleep is actually a skill…and you can relearn. You'll need to shift your strategy from trying to bypass the symptoms of fatigue to actually embracing them…so you can fall asleep and stay asleep.

Helen Sernett is the host of the hit podcast Sleep Lists, which she launched after recovering from insomnia. In this episode you'll learn:

How sleep impacts your mental health (and vice versa)
Why your brain turns on (instead of off) when you get into bed
How thinking you "can't" sleep perpetuates bad habits that keep you awake
How long it takes to cure insomnia

Want to learn how to drink mindfully so you can reduce your alcohol consumption by 80 percent? Register now for my FREE 2-Part Training Series to fix the thinking habits that cause over-drinking using the 7 Core principles of emotional sobriety.

Like this episode? I'd love to hear from you! DM me on:

Instagram: @recoverwithcolleen

TikTok: @hangoverwhisperer

Facebook group: It's Not About the Alcohol Podcast Discussion

Or send me an email colleen@recoverwithcolleen.com

Find Helen Sernett and the Sleep List podcast and blog at https://www.sleeplists.com/

Ep113: How alcohol influences the power struggle between breadwinner and homemaker Mar 06, 2024

Show notes

Has your drinking intensified the power struggle in your marriage?

Women who assume the role of "caregiver" to balance their partner's role as the "breadwinner" understand that staying home is a privilege.

But career moms quickly learn there's a big difference between financial support and financial power. And overtime, sacrificing your own needs because your job doesn't come with a paycheck creates a pressure cooker of anger, resentment and unhappiness.

Many of us turn to alcohol as a way to keep going. And in the beginning, it helps. The tension subsides! Our partners get to keep doing what they're doing and nothing has to change.

But exchanging your power for drink tickets eventually bites you in the ass.

In this episode, we'll discuss:

How we go from being grateful for our privilege to feeling like second class citizens in our own home
How to start negotiating from a place of power, regardless of past mistakes
Why you need to learn how to be happy (with yourself) before you decide whether or not to get a divorce.

Are you ready to reclaim your power so you can become unfuckwithable? Register for FREE masterclass to learn how to fix the thinking habits that cause alcohol use disorder using the 7 core principles of emotional sobriety.

Ep112: The scientific approach to curbing excessive drinking with Alcohol Minimalist Molly Watts Mar 05, 2024

Show notes

Have you considered that the reason it feels hard to drink in moderation might be that you're operating on bad information?

The biggest mistake that perpetuates over-drinking is the belief that you actually enjoy the third (or seventh) drink. Which means that limiting yourself requires a lot of willpower.

But alcohol is a biphasic drug. Which means that low and high amounts of alcohol have opposite effects. So even if you have a high tolerance, continuing to drink after you achieve a mild buzz (phase one) doesn't enhance the experience. In fact, phase two (BAC exceeds .055) follows the law of diminishing returns.

You already know the more you drink, the worse you feel. And educating yourself on the proper use of the drug we call alcohol can actually improve your experience of drinking while also eliminating the urge to over-do it.

Molly Watts, host of the top-rated podcast, The Alcohol Minimalist, reveals her unique scientific approach to mindful drinking that allows you to create a peaceful relationship with alcohol. In this episode you'll hear:

How Molly was able to reduce her drinking without quitting entirely
Why Molly had no desire to live without alcohol and how to honor your truth without letting it hold you back
Why understanding the therapeutic effects of alcohol strengthens your desire to drink less
How to align your core values with the narrative in your head so you no longer need willpower to control yourself

I'd love to hear your takeaways! DM me on Instagram @RecoverwithColleen

Are you ready to break the habit of using alcohol as a substitute for self-care? Register for FREE 2-Part Training Series and get immediate acces to Part One: How to fix the 5 thinking habits that cause alcohol use disorder. Then join me LIVE to learn how to use the 7 core principles of emotional sobriety to reclaim your personal power so you can stop worrying about alcohol.

Click here to connect with Molly Watts and The Alcohol Minimalist podcast.

Want to transform your mental health into a superpower? Click here for the link to my SECRET podcast....get the Foundations of Emotional Sobriety audio course delivered right to your phone for FREE!

Ep#111 Simple mindfulness strategies that quickly restore your personal power with Michelle Maidenburg Feb 28, 2024

Show notes

Do you rely on negative self-talk for motivation?

Most high achieving perfectionists are unknowingly driven by a fear of failure. We think we have to DO good in order to BE good…Worthiness must be earned.

We're conditioned at an early age to avoid punishment and chase rewards. And the voices of judgment and criticism are so deeply ingrained in our psyche that we don't even notice the stream of verbal abuse that creates a constant state of threat in our nervous system.

Which means we misinterpret external circumstances as the source of our anxiety and stress. And exhaust ourselves with attempts to control the outside world to meet our subconscious standards.

But even when we succeed, the relief is only temporary. Because the definition of "good enough" is always changing.

The solution is to learn how to manage your mind. Stop the negative self-talk. So that you can feel safe and secure…with yourself…and have the resilience to manage the problems in everyday life.

Michelle Maidenber, Ph.D., MPH and LCSW-R is the author of ACE Your Life: Unleash Your Best Self and Live the Life You Want. You'll walk away from this interview knowing….

What most people get wrong about mindfulness (and how to know if you're doing it right)
The difference between mindfulness and meditation
How to use mindfulness to cause structural changes in your brain that slow the aging process
Why you shouldn't make decisions in a state of hyper- or hypo- arousal (and how to use mindfulness to access your "window of tolerance").
Easy and simple mindfulness practices that quickly reconnect you with a sense of personal power no matter what's going on around you.

Find Dr. Maidenburg on her website and YouTube.

Click here to register for my FREE Masterclass! Learn the 7 cope principles of emotional sobriety AND the 5 thinking habits that turn normal drinkers into over-drinkers LIVE THIS THURSDAY with Colleen.

Want to transform your mental health into a superpower? Click here for the link to my SECRET podcast....get the Foundations of Emotional Sobriety audio course delivered right to your phone for FREE!

Ep110: The difference between intuition and anxiety with Nicole Tsong Feb 27, 2024

Show notes

Does over-thinking and second-guessing yourself actually improve the quality of your decisions?

Most of us assume that the perfect solution to a problem will be reasonable, practical and maybe even popular with our people. We don't want to act on gut instinct unless it makes perfect sense.

Because what if we're wrong?

And so we get stuck in our heads because we think there's something to figure out. As if more time, information and analysis will ease our anxiety and guarantee perfect results.

But perpetual indecision erodes our confidence and autonomy. We don't set boundaries with codependent people because we're emotionally dependent on their help, validation or approval. And we end up regretting more of what we didn't do than what we did.

Which is why understanding the secret language of intuition is an essential skill if you're wanting to transform your life. Intuition is your built-in navigation system that you can access at any time. But like the cruise control setting on your car, it only works if you turn it on.

Nicole Tsong is an award-winning journalist, best selling author and host of the School of Self Worth podcast. In today's interview, you'll learn:

What is intuition…where does it come from? Is it always "right?"
How to create a relationship with your intuition so you have access to guidance and support with everyday decisions
What does (and does not) happen when you ignore your intuition
Simple strategies to develop your felt-sense of intuition
The benefits of shifting from logic to intuitive thinking

I'd love to hear your takeaways! DM me on Instagram @RecoverwithColleen

Find Nicole on her website and on IG @NicoleTsong. Download her private podcast: The Secret Language of Intuition.

Register for my FREE Accelerated Recovery Process© masterclass to learn the 7 core skills of emotional sobriety that you'll need to manage your mind and learn how to think on purpose…. so you're no longer a victim of circumstance and/or self-sabotage. See you on Thursday!

Are you ready to reclaim your personal power? Click here for the link to my SECRET podcast....get the Foundations of Emotional Sobriety audio course delivered right to your phone for FREE!

Ep109: The mindset mistakes that make sustainable weight loss impossible with Allan Misner Feb 21, 2024

Show notes

Are you in the habit of "starting over" when it comes to losing weight?

Most of us pair an ideal number on the scale with an end date on the calendar when trying to lose weight. And then radically alter our diet and exercise routines in a full sprint towards the goal.

If we fail, we feel depressed, defeated and convinced that we either have no willpower OR a faulty metabolism (and probably both).

If we succeed, the victory feels heroic. We buy the flattering outfit, humbly accept the compliments and share the highlights of our transformation with jealous friends.

But either way, within a few months, our body returns to its enigmatic "set point" weight. And we get tired of swimming against the tide.

Allan Misner is the host of the top-ranking podcast, 40+ Fitness and author of The Wellness Roadmap. Allan became a health and fitness coach after he escaped the rollercoaster that kept him bouncing between fitness and fatness. You'll walk away from this interview with:

Strategies that actually generate motivation in your brain (so you can stop hoping it magically appears next Monday)
Allan's mindset mapping strategy that teaches you how to achieve external goals by first strengthening your connection to your internal core values and identity.
How to set goals you're excited to work towards where weight loss is the side effect instead of the sole focus.

I'd love to hear your takeaways! DM me on Instagram @RecoverwithColleen

Find more with Allan Misner at 40plusfitness.com

Register for my FREE Accelerated Recovery Process© masterclass to learn the 7 core skills of emotional sobriety that you'll need to manage your mind and learn how to think on purpose…. so you're no longer a victim of circumstance and/or self-sabotage. See you on Thursday!

Click here for the link to my new SECRET podcast....get the Foundations of Emotional Sobriety audio course delivered right to your phone for FREE!

Ep108: The secret to turning short-term sobriety into long-term happiness with Camille Kinzler Feb 20, 2024

Show notes

Are you the victim of the all-or-nothing mindset when it comes to alcohol?

Every time you try and fail to drink less (or not at all), the belief that "I can't do this" gets stronger.

But sometimes, you do get it right. And while that feels good, it's also confusing and scary. Because you don't know if the problem is real.

Having the occasional hangover is one thing. But normalizing blackouts, brain fog and hangxiety is not a BOSS move.

And so at some point, out of fear, shame and the exhaustion that comes from beating your head against a bottle, many of us end up doing what we swore we'd never do…ask for help.

If you've ever googled "sober curious" or "alcohol-free lifestyle," you know there's a lot of help out there. And the upfront messaging is inviting. You no longer have to identify as an alcoholic or quit drinking forever!

But is living as a "non-drinker with a zero-tolerance for poison" all that different?

My guest is Camille Kinzler, a fellow sobriety coach and friend I met at SheRecovers. You're about to hear an unedited conversation about our experiences in the sober community. We discuss:

How and why our opinions have changed about the all-or-nothing approach to sobriety
Why your desire to drink changes naturally when you focus on following your dharma
Our personal evolutions from over-drinkers to non-drinkers to women who completely trust themselves to make good decisions when it comes to alcohol

Find Colleen on Instagram @RecoverwithColleen

Find @Camille_Kinzler on IG at @Think Beyond the Drink

Register now for my FREE Accelerated Recovery Process© masterclass to learn the 7 core skills of emotional sobriety that you'll need to manage your mind and learn how to think on purpose…. so you're no longer a victim of circumstance and/or self-sabotage. See you on Thursday!

Click here for the link to my new SECRET podcast....get the Foundations of Emotional Sobriety audio course delivered right to your phone for FREE!

Related Podcasts