In this episode, Colleen reframes one of the most misunderstood experiences in recovery: anxiety. Far from being just a diagnosis or a quirk of personality, anxiety is presented as a signal—an embodied alert system that points to the quality of your thoughts.

She breaks down the real reason alcohol feels impossible to control: not because you're broken, but because your brain, hijacked by stress, is obsessing over a problem it thinks it must fix. And when that problem is alcohol, you become trapped in a loop of overthinking, guilt, and trying harder—while your body begs for presence, stillness, and care.

She offers a radical shift: your anxiety isn’t something to be solved. It’s something to listen to. Not with your mind, but with your body. This isn’t a mindset hack—it’s nervous system healing. And it starts by learning how to stop listening to your brain’s recycled stories, and start thinking on purpose.

 

 

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• Anxiety is not a thinking problem—it’s a body signal about the quality of your thoughts.

• Overthinking is actually under-feeling. You’re not healing; you’re spinning.

• You can’t out-think a stress response—your nervous system needs present-moment care, not more promises.

• Diagnoses can be helpful, but identifying as your anxiety or drinking problem keeps you stuck.

• Feelings are the physical sensations of your thoughts. If it feels bad, question the thought—not the feeling.

• True power is learning to think on purpose, not just listen to old programming.

 

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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