What if the only way to truly live was to accept the things you fear most? In this raw and deeply personal episode, we unpack how radical acceptance can transform the pain of anxiety, addiction, and shame into peace, purpose, and power.

In this conversation with licensed therapist Rachael DeKoning, we explore the hidden connection between anxiety, addiction, and the fear of losing control. Rachael shares how her battle with alcoholism and crippling anxiety became the catalyst for her healing and why the willingness to feel everything is the real path to freedom.

We dive deep into the emotional cost of denial, the danger of living a “safe” but joyless life, and how radical acceptance helps you reclaim your life even if that means accepting heartbreaking realities like losing someone you love.

You’ll also hear an honest, unscripted “mini therapy session” as I open up about my own struggles with social anxiety and identity, revealing how growth often means outgrowing old versions of yourself.

If you’ve ever felt trapped by fear, shame, or anxiety, this conversation will remind you that healing begins with acceptance. Watch this episode to rediscover what it means to have a life worth living.

Key Moments:

0:00 What Makes Life Worth Living

3:51 Radical Acceptance Changes Everything

5:23 Inside the Vicious Cycle of Anxiety

10:47 How Alcohol Rewires the Brain

13:10 The Shame That Finally Broke Me

16:37 Why Familiar Pain Feels Safe

22:58 How to Befriend Your Anxiety

25:30 When Anxiety Is Just Information

28:24 Why Connection Gets Harder With Age

31:18 Learning to Sit With Discomfort

35:02 Why Nice Guys Burn Out

37:53 Why I Crave Deep Connections

40:00 How Sobriety Forced Me to Start Over

44:15 What If You’re Not Anxious, You’re Just Done?

48:10 The “Parts” Within You

51:00 Finding the Self You Lost

54:55 The Power of Being Misunderstood

56:10 Rachael’s Message to Anyone Losing Hope

Guest Info:

IG: @‌rach2978 (https://www.instagram.com/rach2978/reels/?hl=en)

TikTok: @‌therapistinrecovery (https://www.tiktok.com/@therapistinrecovery)