Is drinking again after a break something you've experienced and felt ashamed about? 

Angela's story proves that the stop-start cycle isn't a failure—it's part of the journey. After losing her brother and struggling with childhood trauma from abusive parents, Angela spent decades using alcohol to numb her pain. She tried to quit many times, even achieving six months of sobriety before returning to drinking. But her final attempt four years ago led to a complete life transformation. In this episode, Angela returns to share how she built new habits one tiny step at a time, rediscovered joy and creativity, and created a marriage deeper than ever before, proving that lasting change isn't about perfection—it's about persistence.

In this episode, Hayley and Angela discuss:

What Angela learned from drinking again after a break

The truth about stop-and-start sobriety and why it’s normal

Why drinking felt like a “chameleon friend” and how it changed over time

How grief and career stress deepened her reliance on alcohol

Why she didn’t do any emotional healing during her first year sober

The difference between choosing numbness and choosing freedom

Quitting alcohol alongside her husband—and how it changed their relationship

Inner child work, Gabor Maté, and parenting the past self

Feeling guilty about missed moments with her kids—and how she’s healing

And other topics...

Episode Links:EP 147: Naked Life Story – Angela - https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-147-naked-life-story-angela/

Related Episodes:

E12:Reader Question – I’m Drinking Again – How Do I Stop? - https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-12-reader-question-im-drinking-again-how-do-i-stop/E741 - Overcoming the Fear of Drinking Again: Erin’s Naked Life - https://thisnakedmind.com/overcoming-the-fear-of-drinking-again-erins-naked-life-e741/

EP 570: Reader’s Questions – Why do I keep going back to drinking? - https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-570-readers-questions-why-do-i-keep-going-back-to-drinking/

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!

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