As you already know, I've been open and transparent about my sobriety journey. Through sharing my story, I've received countless messages from many women wanting to start their sobriety journey as well.

This is why I'm so excited to have Amanda White on Her Life By Design today. Amanda is a licensed therapist and the founder of a therapy practice in Philadelphia called Therapy for Women's Center. She's also been featured in Forbes, Washington Post shape, Women's Health magazine, and she's also the author of the book "Not Drinking Tonight: A Guide to Creating a Sober Life You Love".

Amanda is here to offer us guidance on how shame and trauma can eventually lead to numbing behaviors. She also shares and discusses tools on how we can better sit in our feelings, regulate our anxiety and nervous system, and establish safety within ourselves. We dive into an honest conversation about sobriety starting with evaluating and renegotiating our relationship with alcohol to navigating social situations when sober. This is an honest conversation about mental health and how we can evaluate and soothe our numbing behaviors.

Timestamps:

• Shame and trauma and how they can lead to numbing behaviors (7:20)
• Tips for feeling your feelings and not running away from them (10:35)
• How toxic positivity can contribute to the inability to feel your feelings (13:20)
• Tips for regulating anxiety and your nervous system (17:07)
• Amanda's favorite ways of establishing safety within yourself (19:35)
• How to evaluate and renegotiate your relationship with alcohol (23:49)
• Navigating social situations when you're sober (26:20)
• Some signs to look out for if drinking has evolved into a problem (29:44)
• Addictive behavior patterns that Amanda sees in her clients (36:17)
• Mental health questions rapid-fire with Amanda (38:38)

Resources:

• Not Drinking Tonight: A Guide to Creating a Sober Life You Love

• Therapy for Women Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therapyforwomen/
• Amanda's website: https://amandaewhite.com/
• Therapy for Women Center's website: https://therapyforwomencenter.com/