Do you find yourself giving alcohol various 'jobs' depending on what you're facing? 

While Joy counseled young people about the dangers of alcohol, she secretly beat herself up for drinking more than she wanted to. Feeling torn, she quit her job as a counselor. She had always given alcohol different jobs in her life. First, it helped her fit in with her peers. Then, she used it to manage her grief and, later, to relax after a long day. Throughout her journey, drinking felt like the thing to do because everyone around her was doing it. But when she discovered This Naked Mind, she started picking apart her deeply held beliefs about alcohol. In this episode, Joy shares her incredible journey to living a more wholesome life for herself and eventually finding her way back to the career she loves as a coach.

In this episode, Annie and Joy will discuss:

- Drinking to mask insecurities and fit in

- Blacking out after drinking at 14

- The influence of alcohol in her family history

- The health consequences of heavy drinking 

- Partying heavily even as an academic student

- How alcohol shaped her friendships and relationships

- Drinking to mask pain and manage grief

- Traveling to find herself 

- Counseling others while battling her own drinking

- Giving kids the tools to understand alcohol

- And other topics…

Related Episodes:

EP 262: Reader Question – How do I deal with death and grief without alcohol: https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-262-reader-question-grief-without-alcohol/ 

EP 439: Naked Life Story – Nat X: https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-439-naked-life-story-nat-x 

EP 547: Naked Life Story – Claire: https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-547-naked-life-story-claire/

Resources Mentioned:

Joy’s Website: https://www.afreelifecoaching.com 

Joy’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afreelife_/ 

Joy’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AFreeLifeCoach/ 

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!