Most of us see anxiety as a personal flaw—something to fix, medicate, or avoid. But what if anxiety isn’t the problem at all? What if it’s the invitation?

In today’s episode, Colleen breaks down the two types of anxiety as explained by Dr. Russell Kennedy—foreground alarm and background alarm—and shares a personal story of how unresolved fears and childhood programming were quietly driving Colleen into burnout... even though her mindset looked great on the surface.

This isn’t just about alcohol. It’s about understanding the real source of your stress, shifting from self-bullying to self-trust, and learning how to work with your nervous system instead of against it.

Whether you’re drinking to deal with anxiety or simply tired of pushing through life at full speed, this episode will help you stop fighting the wrong battle—and start healing what’s actually underneath.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• Foreground anxiety is triggered by perceived threats—usually created by your thoughts.

• Background anxiety is rooted in unresolved emotional trauma, often from childhood.

• Even when your mindset is strong, your body can still hold onto old fear patterns.

• The real solution isn’t doing more—it’s slowing down to listen and release.

• Emotional sobriety is the power to choose your response, not just manage your reaction.
  
  

Give yourself permission to rest, slow down, and check in with your body instead of overriding it with more effort.

If you are ready to get support from a community of women who are co-creating this change with intention and clarity— Click here to BOOK A DISCOVERY CALL.

Do you want help from Colleen with a situation you’re struggling with? Click here to submit your question for Colleen’s NEW Q& A episodes. Your name will not be mentioned on air!

Find me on

TikTok: @hangoverwhisperer

Instagram: @thehangoverwhisperer

X: @NotAboutTheAlc

Transcript

In today’s episode, Colleen dismantles one of the most common mindset traps she see's in her clients: the belief that anxiety is something to get rid of. If you’ve ever said, “I’m just an anxious person,” or used alcohol to calm your nerves before a flight, presentation, or party—you’re not alone. But what if anxiety itself isn’t the problem?

She'll walk you through a real client breakthrough where they shifted the focus away from “less anxiety” and toward something far more powerful: a regulated nervous system. You’ll learn why trying to “not drink” or “not be anxious” backfires neurologically, and what to focus on instead.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• Anxiety is normal; our problem is thinking it’s a problem.

• Focusing on what you don’t want wires your brain for more of it.

• The brain can’t solve a negative—it needs a clear, affirmative goal.

• Regulating your nervous system is the secret to lasting change.

• You don’t need to “not drink.” You need to do something else on purpose.
  
  

🛠️ Practice This:

Next time you feel anxious, ask yourself:
What do I want to feel instead—and what would support that feeling right now?

Make a plan for how you want to feel before the plane takes off, the event begins, or the trigger hits.

Then Reflect.

If you are ready to get support from a community of women who are co-creating this change with intention and clarity— Click here to BOOK A DISCOVERY CALL.

Do you want help from Colleen with a situation you’re struggling with? Click here to submit your question for Colleen’s NEW Q& A episodes. Your name will not be mentioned on air!

Find me on

TikTok: @hangoverwhisperer

Instagram: @thehangoverwhisperer

X: @NotAboutTheAlc

Transcript

After 10 months of consistent progress, one of my clients recently found herself drinking every day for two weeks. In this episode, I walk you through the private coaching conversation we had—what really caused the setback, how she responded, and why it had nothing to do with alcohol. If you’ve ever told yourself “I should be farther along by now,” or felt the crushing weight of shame after slipping into old patterns, this episode is a must-listen. You’ll learn how to recognize when you're caught in a thinking problem—not a drinking problem—and how to respond in a way that propels you forward instead of holding you back.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why over-drinking isn’t a sign of failure—but an invitation to go deeper

• The biological reason why stress makes you revert to old coping habits

• How thoughts like “I don’t have enough time” silently sabotage your behavior

• Why the perception of failure activates the “kill-switch” for your motivation

• The power of slowing down, asking for help, and telling yourself the truth

Key Insight:
You can’t change your drinking without changing your thinking. And you can’t change your thinking if your body is in a stress response. Emotional sobriety means learning to create enough internal safety that you can question your own thoughts—without collapsing into shame.

—Want daily updates from me? Find me on TikTok @hangoverwhisperer and IG @thehangoverwhisperer and YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@hangoverwhisperer

—Click here to BOOK A DISCOVERY CALL if you’re ready to fully commit to your personal growth and do the work to get emotionally sober. Side effects include an 80 percent reduction in drinking.

—Do you want coaching from Colleen on a situation you’re struggling with? Click here to submit your question. Your name will not be mentioned on air!