How to Find Internal Validation and Peace After Alcohol | Isabella's Naked Life | E820

This Naked Mind Podcast

Annie Grace

Mental Health, Education, Self-improvement, Health & Fitness

4.7 • 2.7K Ratings

🗓️ 19 July 2025

⏱️ 43 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

What if alcohol wasn’t the solution to feeling at peace with yourself? For Isabella, alcohol became a way to mask self-doubt and emotional turbulence, especially when balancing a demanding legal career and complex family dynamics. But through the process of exploring her emotions and connecting with her inner self, Isabella found that the path to finding internal validation and peace doesn’t require alcohol—it requires self-compassion and deep emotional healing. Join Annie as she talks with Isabella about her incredible journey to finding her internal strength and letting go of old coping mechanisms. In this episode, Annie and Isabella discuss: The early reliance on sugar for self-soothing and anxietyAlcohol as a "miracle cure" for self-doubt in adolescenceNavigating the "work hard, play hard" culture of law school and corporate lawThe unique stresses of being a stepmom and mother to four young childrenThe pivotal hospital experience and subsequent relief of seeking helpFinding internal validation and peace through challenging limiting beliefsOvercoming the shame and blame associated with seeking treatmentAdapting social life and recognizing comfortable social environmentsThe importance of internal strength and moving beyond external valueThe lasting impact of the This Naked Mind methodologyAnd other topics… Episode links: jointnmi.comisabellaferguson.com.au Related Episodes: Breaking Up with Sugar with Molly Carmel - Reader Questions - E269 - https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-269-breaking-up-with-sugar-with-molly-carmel/ Why is Alcohol In My Life - Meredith’s Naked Life - E29 - https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-29-naked-life-story-meredith/ Learning to Trust Yourself Again - Alcohol Freedom Coaching - E746 - https://thisnakedmind.com/learning-to-trust-yourself-again-alcohol-freedom-coaching-e746/ 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! BetterHelp: Get 10% off your first month at ⁠⁠http://BetterHelp.com/NAKEDMIND|BetterHelp.com/NAKEDMIND⁠⁠ Quince: For your next trip, treat yourself to the luxe upgrades you deserve from Quince. Go to ⁠⁠http://Quince.com/naked|Quince.com/naked⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns Hungryroot: Get 40% off your first box + a free item for life at ⁠⁠http://Hungryroot.com/mind|Hungryroot.com/mind⁠⁠ with code mind Shopify: Start your $1/month trial at ⁠⁠http://Shopify.com/mind|Shopify.com/mind⁠

Transcript

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0:00.0	You're listening to This Naked Mind with Annie Grace.
0:15.3	Hi, this is Annie Grace and this is This Naked Mind podcast.
0:19.0	And I'm here with Isabella. How are you?
0:21.2	I'm really well this morning, Annie, and really excited to be here.
0:25.4	Oh, I'm so glad you're here.
0:26.5	It's just great.
0:27.4	It's so nice to talk to you.
0:29.0	So why don't you take us back to the beginning in your relationship with alcohol?
0:32.9	Where did it all start for you?
0:34.6	Oh, I think it really started a step before alcohol.
0:40.2	And I would say that was probably in the form of sugar,
0:43.0	using sugar as a kid to self-sove.
0:45.7	I think I was always quite a jittery kid,
0:49.8	someone that was always filled with a bit of self-doubt
0:52.2	and needing something to soothe,
0:56.2	quite anxious, looking outwards for validation. So I think when I was about 10, 11, 12,
1:02.9	I can really remember dosing up on sugar, those massive packets of M&Ms, sugar and cinnamon on toast after school.
1:12.9	And I think they were, looking back, the hallmarks of just somebody that had quite an agitated nervous system looking to soothe.
1:21.6	I grew up in a really good family.
1:24.2	Mum and dad were just typical Australian mum and dads. We were neither rich,
1:31.1	we were neither poor, just middle of the road, and they were really working hard to do the
1:35.3	best for me and my sister. We moved around a lot and I wonder if that kind of then
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