Are you struggling with learning how to cope as a special needs parent when alcohol has been your go-to for years? Amy once felt the same way—thinking wine was the only way to take the edge off. But during a 30-day alcohol experiment, she uncovered something surprising: her drinking had less to do with parenting challenges and more to do with old coping patterns she’d carried for years. In this Where Are They Now chat with Coach Hayley, Amy opens up about how going alcohol-free has helped her show up differently as a mom, let go of micromanaging, and even lean back into supporting the very community she once wanted to escape.

In this episode, Amy and Hayley catch up on:

How Amy's "sneaky" relationship with alcohol masked deeper coping patterns

Why The Alcohol Experiment was just the beginning of her real transformation

How to cope as a special needs parent by addressing root causes, not just symptoms

Why her drinking habits had nothing to do with special needs parenting challenges

Learning to feel emotions instead of shoving them down with alcohol and other substances

Shifting from anxiety-driven micromanagement to mindful, empowered parenting

Applying the same "why" questions to break patterns with sugar, caffeine, and social media

Professionally reinvesting in supporting individuals with diagnoses after her transformation

And more…

Episode links:

Start Your Alcohol Experiment - www.alcoholexperiment.com

Related Episodes:

Special Needs and Drinking - Amy’s Naked Life -E313 - https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-313-naked-life-story-amy-m/

From Isolation to Connection: Finding Your Way Alcohol-Free - Alcohol Freedom Coaching - E825 - https://thisnakedmind.com/feeling-lost-after-quitting-drinking-e825/

Sharing Your Personal Journey with Alcohol: A Guide to Honest Conversations and Healing Connections - Reader’s Question - E620 - https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-618-readers-question-annie-graces-tips-for-dealing-with-family-members-who-continue-to-drink-2/

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!

Quince

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