Today, I have the pleasure of speaking with Rachel Gordon. Rachel is an actor and a psychotherapist. Her practice is called Freedom Psychotherapy with a specialty in addiction, anxiety, substance dependence, relationships, grief and loss. Her mission is to walk beside her clients in a heart centered, trauma informed, holistic way while helping them to rediscover their authentic self, find purpose and have meaningful, fulfilling relationships.
Rachel and I discuss sobriety. Rachel has been sober for 25 years and she came into my life at a time when I was considering quitting drinking but I didn’t know how or if I even could honestly since drinking is so ingrained in my life between work and social activities. And when I spoke to Rachel about it, in a way only Australians can do so beautifully, she encouraged me to give it a go and if I don’t like being sober, then just drink again and it wouldn’t matter.
So I’m sober now 6 months later (which might be a surprise to those who know me). Maybe I’ll drink again, maybe I won’t, but there is a freedom in knowing that I don’t need alcohol in my life.
This conversation is for anyone interested in sobriety, whether there is problem drinking involved or not, or even if you know someone who has gone alcohol-free or is struggling with addiction. The episode may support a shift in perspective, which is what this podcast is all about.
Inside the episode:
3:30: Introduction
6:53:Can you share a bit about your story with alcohol
12:55: Does it feel like we are missing out by not drinking?
21:38: A question Rachel asks people to assess whether or not they have a problem with alcohol
28:04: The experience of terminal uniqueness
34:26: What is addiction from a psychological point of view
35:05: How sobriety really makes you radically honest
40:00: What if someone thinks going alcohol-free will impact their closest relationships?
Find Rachel here.
Sending you all the good juju.