This Naked Mind Podcast

Have you ever felt like your reactions are out of your control? Today, Rosie and Tamara explore the roots of self-judgment and shame with Coaches Cole and Hayley, Alcohol Freedom Guides for The Path. Rosie is working to reframe her reactive responses to stress and anxiety, which she realizes are tied to a childhood feeling of being "shut down." Tamara uncovers her core belief that she isn’t "good enough," a pattern reinforced by past relationships and growing up with a parent who struggled with alcohol use. These conversations show how identifying deeply rooted beliefs can be the first step in breaking the cycle of self-criticism and building a new way forward. Rosie's Session: Understanding her "knee-jerk reactions" to stress & anxiety Linking current reactivity to past experiences of feeling shut down or unheard Reframing shame & self-judgmentUsing curiosity and awareness with emotional responses Creating a "pause" between an external trigger & her reaction Practicing new skills for changing long-standing patterns Seeing her anger as a "guard dog" trying to protect her Tamara's Session: Facing fear of rejection & feeling "not good enough" Naming the origin of her core beliefs in childhood experiences of feeling a lack of attention & love Seeing how her beliefs were reinforced by a parent's alcohol use & pressure to "over-excel" Noticing how anxiety & panic led her to drink to cope Finding other tools for self-regulation like journaling & yoga Embracing glimmers of joy & self-worth Listing positive qualities to build self-validation & quiet her inner critic Using self-reflection as a catalyst for growth 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. More on Cole: https://thisnakedmind.com/coach/cole-harvey/ 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. More on Hayley: https://thisnakedmind.com/coach/hayley-scherders/ Episode links: nakedmindpath.com Related Episodes: Why Does It Take So Long To Feel Confident After Quitting Alcohol? - Alcohol Freedom Coaching - E833 - https://thisnakedmind.com/why-does-it-take-so-long-to-feel-confident-after-quitting-alcohol/ How do you get rid of the punishing voice inside your head? - Reader Question - E634 - https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-634-readers-question-how-do-you-get-rid-of-the-punishing-voice-inside-your-head/ You’re Enough Without the Drink - Alcohol Freedom Coaching - E815 - https://thisnakedmind.com/how-to-set-healthy-boundaries-with-alcohol-e815/ Ready to take the next step on your journey?  Visit https://learn.thisnakedmind.com/podcast-resources for free resources, programs, & more. Quince: Find gifts so good you'll want to keep them with 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/nakedmind⁠⁠ with code nakedmind Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at ⁠⁠Shopify.com/mind⁠⁠  Aura Frame: Get $35 off Aura’s Carver Mat frame at ⁠⁠AuraFrames.com⁠⁠ with promo code NAKEDMIND Masterclass: Get 15% off any annual membership at ⁠⁠MasterClass.com/NAKEDMIND⁠

How do you handle holiday triggers without alcohol when every gathering feels like a test? The clinking glasses, "just one won't hurt" comments, and family dynamics can overwhelm anyone navigating an alcohol-free holiday season. Coach Zoe has a game-changing perspective: triggers aren't your enemy—they're messengers pointing to what you actually need. In this powerful Joy Edit episode, you'll discover the brain science behind holiday triggers and learn Annie Grace's visualization technique for preparing your nervous system before challenging situations. Instead of white-knuckling through parties, you'll explore practical tools like "curiosity goggles," the ACT method (Awareness, Clarity, Turnaround), and trigger mapping. Coach Zoe breaks down the most common holiday triggers—from party pressure to family flashbacks—and reveals the unmet needs hiding beneath each one. You'll learn why willpower crashes, but awareness builds lasting change, how to make "tonight commitments" instead of overwhelming forever promises, and simple regulation techniques like HALT checks (Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired) and anchor gestures. Transform your holiday one breath at a time, and create the life you don't want to escape. Coach Zoe is sharing: How to handle holiday triggers without alcohol by treating them as information, not evidence that you’re failing Why “curiosity goggles” can shift you from reactive to responsive at parties and family events The difference between willpower and awareness, and why collecting evidence you can trust yourself matters How visualization, “tonight I choose…” commitments, and experimentation reduce pressure and increase freedom A science-backed look at stress, alcohol’s brain chemistry, and mindful ways to soothe your nervous system The ACT tool (Awareness, Clarity, Turnaround) and how to build a personalized holiday trigger map Practicing response instead of reaction so your wise inner adult—not old patterns—leads the way How these grace-first tools help you stay present, protect your peace, and more topics… Episode links: nakedmindpath.com Related Episodes: Cravings & Triggers: What Exactly Are They And How Do You Deal With Them? - Reader Question - E36 - https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-36-reader-question-cravings-triggers-what-exactly-are-they-and-how-do-you-deal-with-them/ Effective Strategies for Setting Boundaries with Family - Reader Question - E622 - https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-620-readers-question-effective-strategies-for-setting-boundaries-with-family/ Getting Past Emotional Drinking Triggers - Reader Question - E616 - https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-616-readers-question-getting-past-emotional-drinking-triggers/ 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: Find gifts so good you'll want to keep them with 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/nakedmind⁠⁠ with code nakedmind Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at ⁠⁠Shopify.com/mind⁠⁠  Aura Frame: Get $35 off Aura’s Carver Mat frame at ⁠⁠AuraFrames.com⁠⁠ with promo code NAKEDMIND Masterclass: Get 15% off any annual membership at ⁠⁠MasterClass.com/NAKEDMIND⁠

Using alcohol to numb emotions—does it really keep you safe, or just keep you stuck in old patterns? For Ann, alcohol became the shortcut to avoid conflict and silence emotions she’d been told to keep hidden since childhood. For Mandy, the urge to drink after work felt like the only way to shut off stress and self-criticism. In this powerful coaching session, Coach Zoe invites both women to explore what’s really underneath the desire to drink when feelings become overwhelming. Together, they uncover the links between shame, perfectionism, anxiety, and cravings—and learn practical ways to process emotions without running from them. Their stories show how self-compassion, body awareness, and simple grounding tools can open the door to healing. This conversation is both raw and hopeful, reminding us that the urge to numb is really an invitation to feel, heal, and choose differently. In Ann’s session: The lifelong habit of emotional suppression The neuroscience behind drinking to numb feelings Learning to identify and name emotions for the first time Recognizing that needing is not a threat to survival Starting to care for yourself and your body as a path to healing The power of holding space for yourself and your emotions Acknowledging the journey of emotional recovery And more topics… In Mandy’s session: The emotional weight of unprocessed past experiences How a lifetime of hypervigilance creates the need to escape Realizing that self-sabotage is a coping mechanism Finding new, creative hobbies to replace drinking The wisdom of the body and the courage to feel Gaining confidence in your own perspective and voice Acknowledging that the journey to healing is not always linear And more… Zoe Ewart is a Certified Naked Mind Senior Coach who brings her experience and understanding to help with the tricky parts of life’s big changes. Her coaching gives you an enjoyable, light-hearted, and safe environment to effortlessly take back control of alcohol so you can feel better physically, mentally, and spiritually. Zoe taught Pilates for 15 years. She has four adult children and more animals than the Ark ever had. Learn more about Coach Zoe: https://thisnakedmind.com/coach/zoe-ewart/ Episode links: nakedmindpath.com Related Episodes: How To Rewire Your Brain To Stop Drinking - Meet Our Coaches -  E827 - https://thisnakedmind.com/how-to-rewire-your-brain-to-stop-drinking-e827/  Feeling Your Emotions Without Alcohol - Understanding the Urge to Drink - Alcohol Freedom Coaching - E799 - https://thisnakedmind.com/understanding-the-urge-to-drink-e799/ Healing From Using Alcohol to Numb Emotional Pain - Reader’s Question - E564 - https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-564-coaching-questions-how-to-start-healing-from-numbing/ 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: Find gifts so good you'll want to keep them with 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/nakedmind with code nakedmind Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at Shopify.com/mind Aura Frame: Get $35 off Aura’s Carver Mat frame at AuraFrames.com with promo code NAKEDMIND Masterclass: Get 15% off any annual membership at MasterClass.com/NAKEDMIND

Explore how the holidays can be both joyful and overwhelming. One host shares her journey through an alcohol-free holiday while processing grief. Discover the power of grace over willpower and learn to replace judgment with curiosity. The discussion includes insightful tools for recognizing triggers and creating new traditions. A five-step reflective exercise helps listeners cultivate self-compassion. By the end, you’ll feel empowered to navigate the season with ease and a personal grace statement.

Tory (T) joins the conversation, sharing her journey through a one-on-one coaching session as part of The Path community. She candidly discusses her nightly wine ritual, likening the urge to an itchy 'deprivation sweater' she feels when resisting drinking. Together with the coaches, they explore unmet creative needs and how alcohol masks frustrations about personal growth. The session unveils the importance of compassionate self-exploration, highlighting practical tools to understand and address hidden feelings around drinking.

Jennifer reflects on her turbulent relationship with alcohol, revealing how childhood trauma shaped her drinking habits. She discusses the importance of viewing mistakes as valuable data instead of failures. With insights into her 'nine fine, one catastrophic' moderation pattern, she shares the impact of a pivotal night in Cabo and the lessons learned from legal troubles. Through honest journaling and self-compassion, she emphasizes the necessity of facing discomfort and fostering curiosity in order to break free from destructive cycles.

Discover the transformative power of mindful drinking through practical coaching strategies. Learn how small, repeatable steps can convert mindless habits into conscious choices. Coaches discuss redefining success with internal markers rather than just streaks. Explore techniques for navigating social situations and tackling sudden urges with curiosity. Visualizations like the 'rock' help externalize urges, fostering emotional regulation. This journey emphasizes self-compassion, awareness, and building lasting freedom from alcohol.

Scot opens up about growing up in a family shaped by heavy drinking and how it impacted his early life. He shares his struggle with neurodivergence, using alcohol as a crutch for socializing due to shyness. Vividly describing the 'mental noise' he experienced, he reveals the consequences of his drinking on his family and self. A pivotal moment with his daughter inspired him to embrace sobriety. Now, Scot thrives without alcohol, finding healthier outlets and accepting his unique challenges with creativity.

This engaging discussion dives deep into healing from trauma and the impact of alcohol on relationships. Sherri opens up about escaping a verbally abusive marriage and the revelation that drinking masked her pain rather than providing true happiness. Kevin shares his journey to sobriety, confronting childhood emotions and how alcohol numbed his feelings. Both address how newfound clarity and compassionate self-reflection can break damaging patterns and rekindle self-trust, suggesting practical steps to embrace an alcohol-free life.

Tiffany shares her wild journey from being the ultimate party animal to embracing sobriety. Struggling with heavy drinking and losing a job, she reflects on the wake-up calls that changed her life. Discovering a new perspective on alcohol allowed her to redefine fun without ethanol. Support from her boyfriend and practical strategies helped shift her rituals from bars to cozy coffee shops. Tiffany emphasizes the importance of community and deeper relationships, revealing that the best gatherings don't require alcohol.