The Real Sober Moms with Gillian

7 snips

Jan 13, 2025

Gillian shares her journey from a chaotic childhood surrounded by alcohol to realizing its grip on her identity as an adult. She reflects on her first drink at 13 and the years spent underestimating her drinking habits. Personal stories reveal the emotional struggles tied to alcohol, including the wake-up call she experienced during pregnancy. Embracing sobriety opened her eyes to transformation and the strength found in shared narratives, particularly among women. This journey highlights the empowerment that comes from acknowledging and overcoming the challenges of alcohol.

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ANECDOTE

Childhood and Alcohol

Gillian grew up in a household where alcohol was pervasive, leading to both positive and negative childhood experiences.
Early exposure normalized drinking but also exposed her to drunken arguments and unsafe situations.

ANECDOTE

Impact of Family Dynamics

Gillian's parents' divorces and remarriages created instability and a lack of safety in her childhood.
This early insecurity shaped her identity and later contributed to her drinking habits.

ANECDOTE

First Drink

Gillian's first drink at 13 gave her a sense of cozy warmth and peace.
Despite getting caught, the positive feeling hooked her, leading to increased drinking.

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Alcohol was at the center of the world that Gillian grew up in, and the things she witnessed made her feel very unsafe. That lack of safety stayed with her into adulthood and ultimately became the main driver of her own drinking. Gillian’s first drink at 13 gave her a sense of cozy warm peace that she desperately craved, and from that moment she was hooked.

After over a decade of being the life of the party, Gillian’s first break from alcohol came during pregnancy. That taste of sobriety felt so surprisingly good that she fleetingly considered quitting after she gave birth. It was a thought that only lasted two hours into the birth of her son when someone brought champagne to her hospital room.

For years, Gillian was able to push aside any thought that her drinking was problematic. She ‘didn’t have a problem’. She could still show up for her life, her fitness and her family! Yet, as she aged, these things started to change. Hangovers and blackouts upended her once manageable lifestyle, and with it cracks began to appear in her work and her family.

One day, Gillian accidentally listened to a podcast about the benefits of going alcohol-free, and she had a shocking epiphany: Alcohol was the source of all of her problems. Yet, sobriety felt terrifying. She didn’t know who she was without alcohol. It seemed central to her entire personality. Despite it all, though, she found the courage to try.

Gillian is now 9 ½ months sober and has experienced a full transformation. She doesn’t even recognize the person that she was anymore. She is now out and proud about her sobriety. She’s found so much meaning in influencing others (including her mom!) to stop drinking. She encourages you to share your sobriety journey too!

Enrollment for the next Sober Mom Retreat is now live, and you’re invited! We’ll be gathering at the Mountain Shadows Resort in Arizona from Feb 27-Mar 2, 2025. If you’re looking for community and self care in sobriety, this retreat is for you! Book your spot here.

Are you looking for community in sobriety? Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe!

For $40/month, you’ll get access to 12 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed, our monthly book club and happy hour, the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and even a monthly Bravo chat! For a limited time, get one week free!

We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you’ll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed, the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting.

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