It's Not About the Alcohol

In this episode, Colleen pulls on a thread most women don't question: that moment where you're a drink or two in and thinking, "I'm not even feeling this." And instead of solving for it… she slows it down. Colleen walks through how easy it is to miss the actual experience of drinking when you're in your head, distracted, or slightly disconnected from your body—and how quickly that turns into pouring another one without ever really checking in. Not as a mistake. Just as a pattern. And once you start to notice it, it's hard to unsee.   🔑 Key Takeaways ~Why "I'm not feeling it" might not mean what you think ~What happens when you miss the moment the drink actually lands ~How disconnection quietly turns into overdrinking ~The difference between experiencing something vs thinking about it ~Why paying attention changes what you want next   This episode isn't asking you to do anything differently. Just… notice. Because once you do, things tend to shift on their own.   Watch The Free 45 Minute Masterclass: The science behind take it or leave it–why some women can and how you can too.  If you'd like to learn more about our Emotional Sobriety Coaching programs, Click Here To Schedule A Free Discovery Call   Find me on: YouTube: @HangoverWhisperer TikTok: @hangoverwhisperer Instagram: @thehangoverwhisperer  X (Twitter) : @NotAboutTheAlc  

You made the promise this morning,"I'm not going to drink tonight." You meant it. Then the day happened. And by 6pm, the drink was in your hand like that was the plan all along. This isn't a willpower problem. It's a capacity problem. And once you understand what's actually happening in your nervous system between 6am and 6pm, this stops feeling like a weakness or a character flaw. In this episode, I'm breaking down why evening-you can't keep the promises morning-you makes, and giving you three practices, placed at specific times of day, that actually allow you to access the willpower (you already have) TONIGHT. You'll learn: Why willpower is a finite resource — and why you've already spent it by the time you need it most Why behavioral goals ("I'm only having two") consistently fail, and how to set an emotional goal you'll actually stick to Three nervous system practices — one for morning, one for lunch, one for the transition between day and evening — that work upstream of your alcohol cravings This episode is for the woman who is tired of blaming herself for needing to relieve her stress, and who's ready to learn how to live in a way she doesn't need to escape her own life.  Resources mentioned: Watch The Free 45 Minute Masterclass: The science behind take it or leave it–why some women can and how you can too.  If you'd like to learn more about our Emotional Sobriety Coaching programs, Click Here To Schedule A Free Discovery Call  

In this episode, Colleen names something most women have never been taught to do: have a relationship with themselves. Not self-improvement. Not fixing. Not managing behavior. Actual relationship. Because when you don't know who you are, what you want, or how to meet your own needs, alcohol steps in and fills that space. Colleen walks through why so many women reach midlife feeling disconnected, uncertain, and dependent on escape—and how that's not a personal failure, it's conditioning. You were taught how to be good. You were never taught how to know yourself. And emotional sobriety isn't just about removing the drink. It's about rebuilding that internal connection so you don't need it. 🔑 Key Takeaways Why drinking becomes the default when you don't know what you want How identity gets shaped by conditioning, not conscious choice The concept of becoming both the giver and receiver of your own attention Why most relationships feel unfulfilling (and what's actually missing) How disconnection from self creates loneliness—even when you're not alone The shift from seeking needs externally → sourcing them internally Practical ways to start building a relationship with yourself If you're tired of feeling trapped and tired of drinking just to feel relief, then Click Here To Book A Call With Us.   Find me on: YouTube: @HangoverWhisperer TikTok: @hangoverwhisperer Instagram: @thehangoverwhisperer  X (Twitter) : @NotAboutTheAlc  

What if the habit you're most proud of — your drive, your work ethic, your ability to get things done — is quietly running on the same fuel as the habit you're trying to change? In this episode, Colleen gets personal. She walks through the exact moment she diagnosed herself with workaholism — not because she objectively works too much, but because of WHY she's been working so much. And the reason turns out to be the same neurological shift she's spent years helping women recognize in their drinking. This one covers: The difference between positive and negative reinforcement — and why any behavior you use to avoid discomfort will eventually become compulsive Why workaholism and alcoholism are two versions of the same truth How to know if you're doing something because it genuinely adds pleasure to your life or if you're doing it to subtract or avoid pain The two-question self-diagnostic you can apply in real time to any pattern — drinking, working, scrolling, anything What it means to set an emotional goal instead of a behavioral one — and why that's the only strategy that can actually help you change Colleen also gets honest about how her drinking frequency has shifted alongside her work patterns — and what both behaviors are telling her about what she's been avoiding. This is not a story about work replacing alcohol. It's a story about what happens when two coping tools are running in tandem, and neither one is solving the problem underneath. Resources mentioned: Watch The FREE Masterclass: The science behind take it or leave it–why some women can and how you can too.  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 schedule a discovery call  

In this episode, Colleen revisits the biochemistry of change through the lens of dopamine — not as a science lesson, but as a practical explanation for why so many women stay stuck in cycles they genuinely want to change. She breaks down the difference between motivation and overwhelm, and why most attempts to change drinking fail before they ever really begin: the goal is too big, the thinking is too broad, and the brain never actually learns to enjoy the behaviors that would make change sustainable. Instead of focusing on the outcome — drinking less, losing weight, getting your life together — Colleen explains why real change happens when you focus on the inputs. The thoughts, behaviors, and tiny repeated actions that teach your brain, one moment at a time, that the new way actually feels good. This is where emotional sobriety gets very practical. Because if the only thing motivating you is shame, fear, or self-disgust, eventually you will burn out. But when you learn how to work with dopamine on purpose — when you learn how to romanticize, savor, and reinforce the behaviors that support the life you want — change stops feeling like punishment and starts feeling like momentum. 🔑 Key Takeaways Why dopamine drives motivation, not just pleasure How overwhelm shuts down behavior change before it can take root Why shame-based goals eventually backfire The difference between focusing on outcomes vs. inputs How to build intrinsic motivation around drinking less Why sustainable change depends on enjoying the process, not just wanting the result This episode is a reminder that the goal isn't to force yourself to become someone new. It's to teach your brain to enjoy being her. Things start to change when you stop telling yourself you have no choice. If you're tired of feeling trapped and tired of drinking just to feel relief, then Click Here To Book A Call With Us.   Find me on: YouTube: @HangoverWhisperer TikTok: @hangoverwhisperer Instagram: @thehangoverwhisperer  X (Twitter) : @NotAboutTheAlc

If you've ever reached for a glass of wine at the end of a hard day without really deciding to, this episode is going to explain exactly why that happens — and why it has nothing to do with willpower or self-control. Your brain isn't misbehaving. It's being efficient. Over hundreds of repetitions, it has learned that alcohol is the fastest available route to nervous system relief — and it has built a neural pathway so well-worn that the decision happens before you're even conscious of it. That's not a character flaw or a lack of willpower. That's neuroscience. In this conversation, I'm sitting back down with Victoria Star — breathwork facilitator, midlife guide, and one of the most grounded voices I know on nervous system healing — to talk about what microdosing psilocybin actually does in the brain, why so many high-achieving women are turning to plant medicine in midlife, and what any of this has to do with your relationship with alcohol. Here's what makes this conversation different: psilocybin and alcohol operate on the same neurological terrain. They're both affecting the ratio of automatic, subconscious thinking to conscious, present-moment choice. Understanding how one works gives you a clearer picture of why the other has such a grip — and what it actually takes to loosen it. In this episode: Why your brain classifies alcohol as medicine — and why that's a rational response, not a moral failing What microdosing psilocybin actually does neurologically (and why it's not what most people think) The difference between a sub-perceptual dose and a hero's journey — and why that distinction matters Find me on: YouTube: @HangoverWhisperer TikTok: @hangoverwhisperer Instagram: @thehangoverwhisperer  X (Twitter) : @NotAboutTheAlc Watch The FREE Masterclass: The science behind take it or leave it–why some women can and how you can too.  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 schedule a discovery call About My Guest, Victoria Lee Starr: Victoria is a Spiritual Outlaw and Midlife Midwife who guides women through the sacred season of reinvention using breathwork for transformation, guided microdosing plant medicine support, somatic ritual, and emotional excavation. Connect with Victoria: Instagram & Facebook: @victorialeestarr Website: https://www.victorialeestarr.com/

In this minisode, Colleen explores one of the most powerful lies we tell ourselves when we feel overwhelmed or stuck: "I don't have a choice." It sounds practical, even responsible. But the moment you believe it, your nervous system shifts into survival mode. You feel trapped, resentful, and powerless, and that's often when the drink starts looking like relief. Through a breakthrough coaching session, Colleen shares the story of a woman whose boundary-crossing mother lives next door and constantly invades her privacy. The stress was making her physically sick. She came looking for strategies to deal with her mom. But the real breakthrough came when she realized the truth: she wasn't trapped… she was making a choice. And the moment that truth landed, her nervous system settled and the solution became obvious. Colleen also shares her own experience staying in a marriage years longer than she wanted to, and how radical honesty with herself ultimately gave her the power to change her life. 🔑 Key Takeaways Why the belief "I don't have a choice" dysregulates your nervous system The difference between being trapped and making a difficult choice How feelings of powerlessness fuel the urge to drink Why radical honesty is often the first step toward real freedom Things start to change when you stop telling yourself you have no choice. If you're tired of feeling trapped and tired of drinking just to feel relief, then Click Here To Book A Call With Us.   Find me on: YouTube: @HangoverWhisperer TikTok: @hangoverwhisperer Instagram: @thehangoverwhisperer  X (Twitter) : @NotAboutTheAlc

You've been told your drinking is the problem. That if you could just control the behavior — stay sober long enough, count your days, follow the rules — the shame would go away. But what if it's the other way around? In this episode, Colleen gets personal about her three years of sobriety and what she discovered underneath all that "perfect behavior" — a lifetime of shame that started long before she ever picked up a bottle of wine. She breaks down why shameful behaviors come FROM shame (not the other way around), why sobriety can become just another form of performing your way around the real problem, and what actually works to break the cycle. In this episode, you'll learn: The critical difference between guilt and shame — and why most women are living in shame and calling it guilt Why the shame driving your drinking didn't start with your drinking — it started in childhood How perfectionism, people-pleasing, over-functioning, and control are all shame management strategies that require more coping mechanisms like drinking Why sobriety motivated by shame is built on a fault line — and what happens when it cracks Colleen's personal story of trading one escape hatch (alcohol) for another (perfectionism and productivity addiction) — and what finally broke the pattern Key takeaway: Your drinking isn't driving the shame cycle. Shame is driving the drinking cycle. And until you address the shame underneath, no amount of willpower, sobriety challenges, or rule-following will create lasting change. Watch The FREE Masterclass: The science behind take it or leave it–why some women can and how you can too.  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 schedule a discovery call  

In this episode, Colleen shares a coaching moment that started with a simple scheduling mistake and turned into a powerful lesson about belief systems. When a client didn't get her breakthrough session as planned, she chose to see the delay differently: not as something happening to her, but something happening for her. That mindset opened the door to a deeper coaching conversation about leadership, standards, and the discomfort that comes with owning your power. Colleen uses that moment to explore something bigger... The beliefs we carry shape how we interpret everything that happens in our lives. Instead of assuming that delays, setbacks, or mistakes mean something has gone wrong, what if they're actually creating the exact conditions you need for the next step? She shares three Colleen-isms that have fundamentally changed the way she moves through life: I am always exactly where I'm supposed to be. This is happening for me, not to me. If I didn't get what I wanted, I got what I needed. These beliefs don't eliminate pain or difficulty. But they do transform how you experience them — shifting you out of victimhood and back into agency. 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   Find me on: YouTube: @HangoverWhisperer TikTok: @hangoverwhisperer Instagram: @thehangoverwhisperer  X (Twitter) : @NotAboutTheAlc

What do your drinking and your bank account have in common? More than you think. In this episode, I sit down with mindset coach and Mystic Millionaire Danielle Amos to explore the hidden connection between your money beliefs, your scarcity mindset, and why you reach for the wine at the end of the day. Danielle went from $100K in credit card debt to a million-dollar business — without a website — using the same identity and nervous system work that transforms your relationship with alcohol. If you've ever felt stuck financially and also stuck in a drinking pattern you can't seem to break, this episode connects the dots. In this episode, you'll learn: Why the beliefs about money that were programmed into you before age seven are running your drinking today How shame blocks both financial abundance and your ability to take or leave alcohol The difference between spending money and investing money — and how that reframe changes everything Why the law of opposites means setbacks are actually confirmation you're on the right track What happens when you stop telling yourself "I don't have enough" and start appreciating what you do have How identity work and nervous system regulation are the common denominator between financial freedom and freedom from alcohol Connect with Danielle Amos: Instagram: @thedanielleamos Podcast: The Mystic Millionaire 🎥 Watch The FREE Masterclass— The Science Behind Take It or Leave It: Why Some Women Can and How You Can Too Where To Find Me: BOOK A DISCOVERY CALL. YouTube: @HangoverWhisperer TikTok: @hangoverwhisperer Instagram: @thehangoverwhisperer X (Twitter) : @NotAboutTheAlc

For two years, "reduce your drinking by 80%" was my signature phrase. It's on my website, my ads, my podcast — everywhere. In this episode, I tell you why I retired it, what I replaced it with, and what this shift means for you — whether you're in my program or hearing my voice for the first time. This is a behind-the-scenes episode pulled from Coffee with Colleen, my daily internal podcast for clients inside The Next Chapter. You'll hear me talk about how my own messaging accidentally did the thing I teach women not to do — and how catching that blind spot led to a complete rebrand, a new masterclass, and a brand new way into this work. In this episode: Why "drink less" is a negative goal — and what your brain actually does with it The real reason it gets harder to stay on track once you feel better What "take it or leave it" means and why those four words change everything The counterintuitive first step that sets my approach apart from every other program New ways to work with me at every level  Links mentioned in this episode: 📞 BOOK A DISCOVERY CALL — $2,000 tuition discount on The Next Chapter expires Feb 28. As long as you book the call before the 28th, we'll honor the discount. [LINK] 🎥 Watch The FREE Masterclass— The Science Behind Take It or Leave It: Why Some Women Can and How You Can Too  [LINK] 🎧 Get the Starter Bundle ($444) — RISE + Skills for Mindful Drinking. The complete Take It or Leave It methodology. Nothing held back. [LINK] Know someone who needs to hear this? Send her this episode. You don't have to say anything — just send the link.

Most women measure alcohol consumption by how much and how often they drink. But the research says the most important predictor of whether your drinking becomes a real problem isn't about the amount you drink — it's why you drink. In this episode, I tell the story of the exact day I became a daily drinker — and why I didn't even know it happened. I break down the neuroscience of why drinking to reduce stress is the fast pass to addiction, even if you're not drinking more than anyone else. In this episode, you'll learn: Why your reason for drinking matters more than how much you drink The neurological shift that turns a social drinker into a dependent one — and why it's invisible from the outside How your brain works like an algorithm that quietly narrows your options one drink at a time The science of why alcohol actually creates stress instead of relieving it (and the cortisol cycle that explains your 3am wake-up) Why "tolerance" isn't a flex — it's a symptom of something you need to understand The litmus test that reveals whether you can actually take it or leave it What the largest study of its kind (43,000+ people) says about how fast stress drinkers develop dependence If this episode resonated with you: Watch The FREE Masterclass → The science of take it or leave it–why some women can and how you can too. Book A FREE Discovery Call→ It's not a sales pitch. It's a coaching conversation to help you figure out where you are, where you want to be, and how to get there. Right now through February 28th, I'm offering $2,000 off of my year-long program, The Next Chapter. I've never done a discount like this and I won't be doing one again.   Connect with me: Watch The FREE Masterclass BOOK A DISCOVERY CALL. YouTube: @HangoverWhisperer TikTok: @hangoverwhisperer Instagram: @thehangoverwhisperer X (Twitter) : @NotAboutTheAlc

✦ February Bonus ✦ Join The Next Chapter by February 28, 2026 and receive $2,000 off.  In this episode, Colleen reframes one of the biggest misunderstandings about drinking: it's not one behavior — it's a collection of hundreds of habits shaped by context, environment, relationships, and emotional states. Many women believe their drinking defines who they are because they identify with their worst moments. But emotional sobriety requires a more nuanced understanding. The way you drink when you're alone may be completely different from how you drink socially, with family, or during high-stimulation environments — and each context activates different neural pathways, roles, and protective patterns. Colleen shares a personal example from a recent holiday gathering where old habits resurfaced despite years of progress. Instead of interpreting it as failure, she approached it as data — an opportunity to reconnect with a younger protective part of herself and practice intentional, mindful drinking strategies.   🔑 Key Takeaways Why drinking is not one habit, but hundreds of context-driven behaviors How identifying with your worst drinking moments keeps you stuck Why old neural pathways don't disappear — they reactivate in familiar environments The difference between mindful drinking and autopilot drinking How roles and code-switching influence alcohol use around specific people Why positive goals ("drink mindfully") work better than avoidance goals ("don't overdo it")   Click here to Book A Discovery Call. Enroll before February 28, 2026 and receive $2,000 off! Calls book up fast. Don't miss your chance!    Find me on: YouTube: @HangoverWhisperer TikTok: @hangoverwhisperer Instagram: @thehangoverwhisperer  X (Twitter) : @NotAboutTheAlc  

You think your cravings are a willpower problem. They're not. You think if you could just think differently, you'd drink differently. And that's exactly why nothing has worked. In this episode, I'm breaking down why the urge to drink starts in your body — not your brain — and giving you three red flags that your drinking is actually a symptom of something most high-achieving women refuse to look at. In this episode, you'll learn: The litmus test that reveals whether you can actually "take it or leave it" (be honest with yourself on this one) Why saying you're "not an emotional person" is the most dangerous thing you can believe about yourself Three everyday behaviors that are quietly dysregulating your nervous system — and setting you up to overdrink by evening The science of why you can't stop at two (it's called the biphasic line, and once you understand it, everything clicks) Why you wake up at 3am full of self-loathing — and why that voice isn't really you What's actually happening in your body between 6am and 6pm that makes evening-you a completely different person than morning-you Why "trying harder" is aimed at the wrong part of your brain   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.    Find me on: YouTube: @HangoverWhisperer TikTok: @hangoverwhisperer Instagram: @thehangoverwhisperer  X (Twitter) : @NotAboutTheAlc

In this episode, Colleen continues sharing takeaways from her retreat with Dr. Amanda Hanson (midlifemuse) — and she names something that sits underneath so much of women's drinking, overgiving, perfectionism, and burnout: conditioning. Not just childhood conditioning — cultural conditioning. Colleen explains how patriarchy functions like an invisible rulebook: the expectations women follow without ever agreeing to them. Be good. Be pleasant. Be grateful. Don't be angry. Don't be too much. Don't embarrass anyone. Don't need too much. Don't take up space. Don't make people uncomfortable. And over time, those rules don't just shape behavior — they create trauma. They train women to silence their truth, distrust their instincts, and prioritize everyone else's emotional experience over their own. And when a woman is disconnected from her needs, her voice, and her power, escapism becomes inevitable. That's why Colleen connects this conversation directly to emotional sobriety: freedom isn't just about alcohol. It's about ending self-abandonment, taking radical ownership of your emotional life, and becoming the kind of woman who can handle discomfort without shrinking, pleasing, or numbing. 🔑 Key Takeaways How culture trains women to abandon themselves to stay safe Why patriarchy is a trauma system, not a debate topic How women unconsciously enforce the rules by judging other women Why "going along to get along" is survival, not character How escapism becomes the nervous system's only outlet Why emotional sobriety requires self-trust more than self-control The reframe: not "tear it down," but rise into power This is a reminder that you're not here to become a "better woman." You're here to become a Free woman. You don't need to be "ready." You just need to be honest with yourself about where you are. Start With A Discovery Call ~ CLICK HERE.    Find me on: YouTube: @HangoverWhisperer TikTok: @hangoverwhisperer Instagram: @thehangoverwhisperer  X (Twitter) : @NotAboutTheAlc

You told yourself this morning you weren't going to drink tonight. But now that it's time to make that decision, it feels impossible to say no. That moment is exactly what Colleen breaks down in this episode — because the path forward requires you to understand that this is not a lack of discipline and it's not a willpower problem. The relief you feel when you take that first sip has nothing to do with alcohol. It's about what's been happening inside your body all day long — the dumpster fire of stress and anxiety that has chronically become your state of normal. In this episode, Colleen teaches you the foundational skill that changes the way you move through your entire day, so that by evening, instead of telling yourself no, you're telling yourself yes — and there are a lot more options on the menu than just drinking. In This Episode: The two versions of you: regulated vs. dysregulated, and why you're a completely different decision-maker in each state Why your body isn't craving alcohol — it's craving relief The difference between skills and strategies, and why strategies fail without this foundational skill Practical strategies that work when you're regulated: Delay Don't Deny, mental rehearsal, talking to your tomorrow self, and extracting the lesson instead of spiraling in shame The RISE framework: Recognize, Integrate, Strategize, Embody What it takes to become the version of you who can take or leave alcohol   You don't need to be "ready." You just need to be honest with yourself about where you are. Start with a Discovery Call. CLICK HERE. Uncover just how supportive a community of women can be when we are all co-creating positive change with intention and clarity.   Find me on: YouTube: @HangoverWhisperer TikTok: @hangoverwhisperer Instagram: @thehangoverwhisperer  X (Twitter) : @NotAboutTheAlc

Do you want to know what's different about the women who can genuinely take or leave alcohol? And why it feels impossible for you to be "more like them?" In this episode, I'm giving you a sneak peak of my new masterclass: The science behind take it or leave it--why some women can and how you can too. The masterclass isn't even on my website yet--you'll watch it right on YouTube.  Click Here to WATCH The Masterclass Also, I'm running a Love Yourself campaign in honor of Valentine's Day. If you book a call and decide to join The Next Chapter, you'll get $2,000 off ! Click Here to BOOK A DISCOVERY CALL The call is how you lock in the discount — and it's a real conversation, not a sales pitch. Even if you just have questions, book it. That's what it's for.  

I was one of the most therapized people you've ever met. I knew my triggers. I'd unpacked my daddy issues, my relationship with my mom, my insecurity, my eating disorders, problems in my marriage. I cognitively understood what triggered me and why I wanted to drink so much. And that did fuck-all to reduce my cravings. Which is how I know that awareness isn't enough. Understanding the pattern doesn't break the pattern. And talk therapy—as valuable as it is—didn't change how I felt in my body.  Today's guest is Dr. Amanda Hanson, a clinical psychologist who spent the first half of her 27-year career practicing traditional therapy—until she realized all that talking wasn't actually helping women change. What she discovered instead will completely transformed how you think about emotions, nervous system regulation, and why so many of us numb instead of feel. We go deep in this conversation. We talk about why women are taught to source their safety outside of themselves—and what happens when you stop. We talk about the rage release practice that cracked me open at her retreat. We talk about aging, beauty, and the cultural scam that keeps women distracted from their real power. And we talk about what it actually takes to stop abandoning yourself. If you've done the therapy, read the books, understand your patterns—and you're still stuck—this episode is going to show you what's missing. In this episode, we cover: → Why traditional talk therapy often isn't enough to change behavior  → The difference between being emotionally dysregulated and being fully alive → How self-abandonment leads to numbing (wine, food, scrolling) → What a rage release and grief release practices look like  → How to give yourself the things you've been waiting for someone else to give you → Aging, beauty, and refusing to be complicit in a system designed to keep women small   Dr. Amanda Hanson is a clinical psychologist with 27 years of experience who now works with women in ways radically different from her traditional training. She is the host of the podcast Things Your Mother Never Told You and creator of the Magnetic retreat experience. Find her on Instagram @midlife.muse or at AmandaHanson.com   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

In this episode, Colleen shares a raw, surprising takeaway from a recent retreat — one that had nothing to do with learning new concepts and everything to do with experiencing her body in a new way. What began as deep discomfort around words like sensuality and sexual energy opened into a realization many women quietly live with: when you've been taught to fear, suppress, or perform your body for others, you often shut down far more than sexuality — you shut down joy, creativity, pleasure, and aliveness. And when that energy stays blocked, the body looks for relief wherever it can find it. Colleen explores how drinking, numbing, and emotional shutdown aren't moral failures or cravings for "bad behavior," but attempts to regulate trapped energy in a body that hasn't felt safe to move, express, or feel. She explains the difference between processing trauma cognitively and liberating energy physically — and why movement, music, and instinctive expression can unlock more healing than insight alone.   🔑 Key Takeaways Why blocked sensual and creative energy often shows up as numbness or drinking How purity culture and performative sexuality disconnect women from their bodies The difference between sexual energy and sexual behavior Why movement is a powerful form of emotional regulation How suppressing instinctive expression drains energy and joy Why healing doesn't always come from "working through it" — sometimes it comes from moving through it How reconnecting with your body creates relief without numbing   This episode is about reclaiming your body as your own — not for a partner, not for performance, not for approval — but as a source of power, pleasure, and presence. It's a reminder that the body doesn't want to be fixed — it wants to be seen and felt.   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

I woke up a little hungover this morning. I had a third glass of wine I didn't need. And instead of spiraling into shame, I did what I always do now—I grabbed my journal and got curious. In this episode, I'm walking you through exactly what I do the morning after I drink too much. The four mindset tools that set me up to learn instead of spiral into shame. The journaling framework I use to extract the lesson. And what I discovered about why my mind and body were out of sync. But I'm also being honest: this process only works if you're in a certain place in your journey. If shame and frustration are still running the show, this episode might feel overwhelming. If that's you, I'll explain what to do instead. What I cover: → Why another drink feels like a good idea when your nervous system is stressed → The four mindset tools you need to expand your perspective so you can extract a valuable lesson → How to tell the difference between your conscious intentions and subconscious habits → Why willpower doesn't work when you're dysregulated → What to do if this process feels impossible (you've got to clear the shame first) → The four phases of this journey and how to know where you are This episode is for you if: You tend to overdrink and you're tired of the shame spiral You want to actually learn from your mistakes so you can stop repeating them You're curious about what it looks like to change your drinking without white-knuckling You want to understand why some approaches work for some people and not others You're ready to figure out where you are in your journey and what you actually need 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