Neva Coleman shares her raw and deeply honest journey through high-functioning alcoholism, trauma, perfectionism, and getting sober at a young age — long before her life “looked” like it was falling apart.
In this episode of Rise Above with Kevin Lanning, Neva opens up about growing up in New Jersey, losing her father in the 9/11 attacks, excelling academically and socially, and how alcohol slowly became her coping mechanism. What started as “normal college drinking” at Tulane University escalated into blackouts, extreme anxiety, suicidal thoughts, and a terrifying 3-day Mardi Gras bender that led her to call the suicide hotline.
Despite near-death moments, being roofied, severe withdrawals, and repeated attempts to moderate, Neva continued drinking — a reality many people in active addiction know all too well. This conversation dives into the truth about alcohol use disorder, why “high-functioning” doesn’t mean healthy, and how denial can keep someone stuck for years.
Neva also talks candidly about:
Getting sober in her early 20s
Why she didn’t identify as an alcoholic at first
Trying moderation and why it failed
Anxiety, perfectionism, and people-pleasing
The loneliness of early sobriety
Finding community through AA and therapy
Healing her relationship with her mother
Using social media to break stigma and help others
This episode is for anyone who:
Thinks their drinking isn’t “bad enough”
Is successful on the outside but struggling inside
Is afraid sobriety means life will be boring
Is sober-curious, newly sober, or struggling in silence
If this conversation resonates with you, you are not alone — and help is available.
Neva's Tiktok & IG: soberpartygirlll
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