EP 50: From Grief to Freedom: The Other Side of Alcohol for Sandra

In this episode of Sober Fit Life, I'm joined by one of my most dedicated coaching clients — Sandra Draper, joining me all the way from Western Australia. Sandra holds a senior leadership role in the Western Australian government, supporting innovative companies as they grow, and she is one of the most committed people I've had the privilege of coaching. Sandra shares how her relationship with alcohol shifted gradually — starting as a social habit in her late 20s, becoming a coping mechanism after her husband was diagnosed with a terminal illness, and eventually growing into something that was quietly working against everything she valued. She wasn't losing everything on the outside, but on the inside, she was out of alignment — spiritually, professionally, and personally. What I love about Sandra's story is how she approached change: not with shame, but with curiosity. She started by getting educated on the neuroscience of alcohol, and that shift in perspective — from a willpower problem to a brain science conversation — was the turning point for her. In this episode, we talk about: How alcohol became a crutch during grief and caregiving Why understanding the neuroscience of alcohol was more powerful than willpower alone The connection between alcohol and Sandra's faith — and the distance it was quietly creating Values-based coaching and what it means to feel out of alignment with your own integrity Training alcohol-free for the Camino de Santiago — and how alcohol was literally undermining her fitness goals Practical tools for navigating social situations without alcohol (including preparing what you'll drink and what you'll say) How lighting a candle became a symbol of her new life — and why she never could have done it while drinking Sandra's advice for anyone quietly questioning their relationship with alcohol: take a step back and honestly ask whether alcohol is giving you what you think it is — or taking more than it's giving. And then get curious about what the best version of you could look like. 💬 Want to learn more about the tools I offer? 👇 Am I Drinking Too Much Quiz   Six-Week Alcohol Reset Drink Less By Monday  Book a FREE Discovery Call Follow me on Instagram