Finding Purpose in Sobriety with Nicole Klassen

My guest today is the lovely Nicole Klassen who did our very first 66 day Sober Challenge 5 years ago – not only has she been thriving in her alcohol free life ever since but she’s reconnected with her voice as a writer.. What a pleasure to hear Nicole's journey through sobriety, her rediscovery of writing and to learn about your current work which involves facilitating writing for mental health. Also to know that this whole journey was triggered by our 66 day challenge! If  you’re listening to this and you’re interested in what could be a life changing alcohol free challenge we start our 66 day challenges on 1st September and 20 March every year but if you want to get started right now then sign up as a Tribe Sober member and we’ll start you off n an alcohol free challenge today – just go to tribesober.com and hit on the membership tab. In this episode:- She began experimenting with alcohol at 12-13 years old - binge drinking through high school and early adulthood This shifted to self medication as she drank alone at home to quell her anxiety Nicole’s last year of drinking was chaotic and involved frequent binges She joined our Sober Spring Challenge back in 2018 for an initial 66 days This started a shift in her focus from alcohol to self-improvement Nicole describes the Sober Spring Challenge Experience as a transformative and beautiful period  Community and journalling were significant supports during the Challenge She experienced significant health improvements, including nervous system reset and healthier metabolism She was into her second year of sobriety before her weight began to change and she lost 20 kgs It does take a while for most of us to lose weight when we quit drinking so hang in there – I was 6 months sober when I lost some weight I believe we mess up our metabolism when we drink and it gradually gets back to normal when we stop Nicole also experienced Improved adrenal function and reduced cortisol spikes There were significant Mental Health Benefits for Nicole as well:- She experienced a Reconnection to Self and a sense of Purpose which included:-   - A Significant change in lifestyle and a sense of belonging   - An Enhanced connection to community    - A Rekindled passion for writing during sobriety as she   - Engaged in daily journaling and creative writing These days Nicole works as a facilitator with the Life Writing Collective In this role she focuses on writing as a tool for mental wellbeing Nicole’s website is – Naluthando.co.za  Nicoles advice for anyone struggling with their drinking   - Take the first step by joining a supportive group   - Recognize the importance of connection and community   - Utilize resources like workshops and challenges to stay committed More info Subscription membership for Tribe Sober join up HERE To access our website click HERE If you would like a free copy of our "Annual Tracker" or our e-book "66 Days to Sobriety" please email [email protected] If you would like to come to our Saturday afternoon Zoom Cafe as a guest and meet our community just email [email protected] Episode Sponsor           This episode is sponsored by the Tribe Sober Membership Program.             If you want to change your relationship with alcohol then  sign up today           Read more about our program and subscribe HERE Help us to spread the word! We made this podcast so that we can reach more people who need our help.  Please subscribe and share. If you enjoyed the podcast then please leave us a 5 star review on Apple podcasts, take a screenshot of your review and DM it to Tribe Sober’s Instagram page - see PS for instructions - we'll send you something special to say thank you! We release a podcast episode every Saturday morning. You can follow Tribe Sober on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram  You can join our private Facebook group HERE How to leave an rating/review in Apple Podcasts (on an iOS device) 1. Open the Podcasts app. EASY. 2. Choose "Search" from the bottom row of icons and enter the name of the show (i.e., "Recover Like A Mother") into the search field. 3. Select the show under Shows (not under Episodes). 4. Scroll down past the first few episodes until you see Ratings & Reviews. 5. Click "Write a Review" underneath the displayed reviews from other listeners. You'll then have the option to rate the show on a 5-star scale, and write a review (you can rate without writing, too but it's always good to read your experience).