In this deeply personal reflection, Colleen opens up about her own history with bulimia and the years she spent trying to control her body to manage her emotions. Inspired by Jennette McCurdy's memoir I'm Glad My Mom Died, she explores how disordered eating, drinking, and perfectionism all share the same root: unprocessed emotion and the desperate need to feel safe, seen, and in control. Through her story — and Jennette's — Colleen reframes recovery as a compassionate, iterative process. True healing isn't about getting it right; it's about breaking the shame cycle that turns a slip into a slide. She reminds us that slips are part of rewiring the brain, not proof of failure. Shame is what cements the pattern — compassion is what breaks it. This episode invites listeners to soften around their own humanity, to stop waiting for perfection, and to practice self-acceptance as the foundation for lasting change. 🔑 Key Takeaways Why perfectionism fuels relapse and self-sabotage The "slip vs. slide" mindset and why it's essential for sustainable healing How shame disguises itself as self-control What emotional sobriety looks like beyond alcohol — in food, body, and identity Why healing happens one processed emotion, one honest moment at a time The goal isn't flawless behavior — it's emotional freedom. If you are ready to get support from a community of women who are co-creating this change with intention and clarity— Click here to BOOK A DISCOVERY CALL. Do you want help from Colleen with a situation you're struggling with? Click here to submit your question for Colleen's NEW Q&A episodes. Your name will not be mentioned on air! Find me on: YouTube: @HangoverWhisperer TikTok: @hangoverwhisperer Instagram: @thehangoverwhisperer X (Twitter) : @NotAboutTheAlc Transcript
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EP288 Understanding "Reentry Syndrome:" Why excessive drinking is a trauma response (and how to stop)
You know that feeling when you're thinking about drinking later and your stomach drops because you're already worried about overdoing it? Or when you come home from vacation and you're genuinely afraid you won't be able to stop with the daily drinking? That's reentry syndrome. And it's not what you think it is. Most people think if they could just be stronger, more disciplined, or finally "get it together," they wouldn't feel this way. But what if I told you that reentry syndrome is a straight up trauma response? The reason you feel out of control is because you're overwhelmed? In this episode, you'll discover: 🔥 The hidden reason you think about drinking even when you're not drinking (hint: it's not because you're obsessed with alcohol) 🔥 What your nervous system is really trying to tell you when anxiety about your drinking shows up on a random Thursday afternoon 🔥 The exact thought pattern that keeps you stuck in the "I can't stop" loop—and how to interrupt it 🔥 A powerful 5-minute exercise to rewrite the toxic beliefs that are running your life (you'll want to grab a pen for this one) 🔥 Why taking a break from drinking doesn't cure reentry syndrome (and what does) 🔥 Specific somatic practices you can use the moment anxiety hits to calm your nervous system and get out of the spiral Here's the truth: Your drinking habits aren't the problem. They're the symptom. And once you understand what's really driving your behavior, you'll have the power to change it. If you're tired of living in fear of yourself, this episode will show you a completely different way forward. If you are ready to get support from a community of women who are co-creating this change with intention and clarity— Click here to BOOK A DISCOVERY CALL. Do you want help from Colleen with a situation you're struggling with? Click here to submit your question for Colleen's NEW Q&A episodes. Your name will not be mentioned on air! Find me on: YouTube: @HangoverWhisperer TikTok: @hangoverwhisperer Instagram: @thehangoverwhisperer X (Twitter) : @NotAboutTheAlc
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EP287 Minisode: Are you available to Be. Here. Now?
In this reflective episode, Colleen shares how a single morning meditation changed the trajectory of her entire day — and became a living practice for emotional sobriety. Waking early with her mind already spinning, she found herself caught in the familiar loop of pressure, striving, and self-imposed urgency. Instead of chasing a better plan, she chose presence. The phrase "I'm available to be here now" became a reset — a nervous-system gear shift that moved her from fight-and-fix into calm and clarity. From treadmill runs to team decisions, Colleen explores how availability opens the door to peace, creativity, and intuition. When we stop trying to escape discomfort and allow ourselves to be with it, we reclaim our power to respond differently — to build a business, a body, and a life that feels aligned instead of forced. 🔑 Key Takeaways You can't think your way out of feelings — you have to feel your way back to thinking clearly. When you let go of the grind, you make room for grace. The goal isn't to rush to "better." It's to be available for what's real, right now. This is emotional sobriety in practice — the art of pausing, feeling, and choosing again. If you are ready to get support from a community of women who are co-creating this change with intention and clarity— Click here to BOOK A DISCOVERY CALL. Do you want help from Colleen with a situation you're struggling with? Click here to submit your question for Colleen's NEW Q&A episodes. Your name will not be mentioned on air! Find me on: YouTube: @HangoverWhisperer TikTok: @hangoverwhisperer Instagram: @thehangoverwhisperer X (Twitter) : @NotAboutTheAlc Transcript
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EP286 Minisode: You Can't Have The Money, Honey.
In this reflective episode, Colleen shares a deeply personal moment—learning she couldn't qualify to assume the mortgage on her own home—and how that realization became a masterclass in emotional sobriety, choice, and self-trust. What begins as a financial obstacle unfolds into a powerful teaching on energetic alignment and cognitive reframing. When life tells you "you can't," your mind begins to collapse into fear, scarcity, and victimhood. But when you pause to challenge that narrative, you remember: you always have a choice. She walks through the process of shifting from agitation to awareness—examining her story line by line, regulating her emotions, and reclaiming her sense of agency. Through this lens, even discomfort becomes data, showing where your thinking needs to evolve. She shares how: Victim and survivor often face the same reality—the difference is in the response. Feeling "stuck" is always a story, not a sentence. Manifestation isn't magic; it's energetic coherence between thought, feeling, and choice. Power begins when you care more about how you feel now than what you think should happen next. Ultimately, this episode invites listeners to practice self-leadership—to stop, drop, and feel what's true before reacting, and then rewrite the story from a place of grounded power. 🔑 Key Takeaways The absence of fear isn't confidence—it's clarity. Emotional sobriety means managing your energy before managing your circumstances. You can't be a victim and a creator at the same time. Awareness and reframing are how you reclaim choice. The story you tell yourself becomes the life you live. If you are ready to get support from a community of women who are co-creating this change with intention and clarity— Click here to BOOK A DISCOVERY CALL. Do you want help from Colleen with a situation you're struggling with? Click here to submit your question for Colleen's NEW Q&A episodes. Your name will not be mentioned on air! Find me on: YouTube: @HangoverWhisperer TikTok: @hangoverwhisperer Instagram: @thehangoverwhisperer X (Twitter) : @NotAboutTheAlc Transcript
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EP285 How to co-parent with someone who makes you want to scream with Amy Armstrong
What if the biggest problem in your high-conflict relationship isn't your ex—it's that you keep handing them your power? In this conversation, Amy Armstrong breaks down why conflict is a skill deficit, not a character flaw, and how focusing on what you're willing to do (instead of what the other person is doing wrong) changes everything. In this episode, we cover: → The critical difference between boundaries and requests (and why most people are just begging for change) → Why it only takes ONE person to end a conflict—and how to be that person without becoming a doormat → The uncomfortable truth about drama addiction and stress hormones (are you actually attached to the chaos?) → How to stop reading those texts that ruin your entire day (and why you keep opening them anyway) → The "of course" method for instant self-compassion when you're triggered → Why saying "no" keeps you stuck in resentment—and what to focus on instead This episode is for you if: You're co-parenting with someone who pushes every button you have You feel like you're constantly defending yourself and still losing You're exhausted from trying to change someone who refuses to change You want your power back but don't know where to start You're ready to stop being a victim to someone else's bad behavior Amy's approach: Practical, no-BS skills for handling high-conflict relationships without losing yourself in the process. Want to Learn More About Coaching in The "High Octane Moments" Click Here for A Free Guide that includes 3 Self-Mastery Tools to help you show up fully, care deeply and stay grounded when working with clients, even in the most explosive situations and toughest rooms. If you are ready to get support from a community of women who are co-creating this change with intention and clarity— Click here to BOOK A DISCOVERY CALL. Do you want help from Colleen with a situation you're struggling with? Click here to submit your question for Colleen's NEW Q&A episodes. Your name will not be mentioned on air! Find me on: YouTube: @HangoverWhisperer TikTok: @hangoverwhisperer Instagram: @thehangoverwhisperer X (Twitter) : @NotAboutTheAlc
Would you like to reduce your alcohol consumption by 80 percent so 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.
I'm an intuitive 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.
Brasil