S1 E22 The Real Sober Stories with Emily: From Vineyards and Boardrooms to Thriving Alcohol Free

In this conversation, Jane Ballard interviews Emily Jacobsen, an alcohol-free coach, about her journey to sobriety and her decision to help others in their own alcohol-free journeys. Emily shares that her interest in coaching was inspired by her own 10-year process of working on her relationship with alcohol. She discusses how her need for certainty and perfectionism influenced her drinking patterns, and how alcohol became an escape from the pressures of being a mom and climbing the corporate ladder. Emily also talks about the social aspect of drinking and how it was woven into various aspects of her life. Eventually, she realized that her drinking was counterproductive and had to courage to seek help. Emily Jacobsen shares her journey of overcoming alcohol use, navigating divorce, and managing mental health challenges. She describes how she used alcohol as a coping mechanism for her sadness and grief, but eventually realized that it was exacerbating her emotional pain. Through therapy, EMDR, and addressing nutrient deficiencies, Emily was able to regain control of her mental health and find peace. She emphasizes the importance of addressing both physical and mental well-being and shares her story to inspire others.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

04:25 Becoming an Alcohol-Free Coach

08:27 Using Alcohol as an Escape

13:12 The Quick Decision to Get Married

17:05 Alcohol as a Part of Social Culture

27:17 Unhappiness in Marriage and Evaluation of Relationship

30:05 The Wake-Up Call: Embracing the Preciousness of Life

30:34 The Detrimental Years: Coping with Sadness and Escalating Drinking

36:33 Seeking Help: Therapy and Acknowledging the Problem

44:19 Sobriety and Transformation: Finding Clarity and Peace

You can find Emily here:

https://www.emilyjacobsencoaching.com/

https://www.instagram.com/emilyjacobsencoaching/