Lucy Rocca: Grey Area Drinking, Wine Culture & Alcohol Dependence

Lucy Rocca joins Believe in People to share her candid story of alcohol misuse, trauma, and recovery, and the creation of Soberistas, one of the earliest online sobriety communities for women.Lucy takes us back to the 1990s, the rave scene, early drug use, and the beginnings of binge drinking that quickly became unsafe. She explains how alcohol escalated in adulthood, how motherhood and “outward stability” can hide the reality of harmful drinking, and why shame keeps so many people silent.A key part of this conversation is trauma. Lucy describes living with post-traumatic stress disorder for years without recognising it, and how therapy, including eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing, helped her process what happened and rebuild her life.We also talk about “grey area drinking”, the gap between “social drinking” and physical dependence, and why so many people feel they are “not bad enough” to seek support until crisis hits. Lucy explains how Soberistas became a confidential, judgement-free space for women who want to change their relationship with alcohol, and why real connection matters more than ever in a world that is increasingly digital.In this episode, we discussBinge drinking, alcohol culture, and having “no off switch”The rave era, early drug use, and how alcohol became normalisedMotherhood, emotional impact, and the hidden harms of drinkingCrisis, hospitalisation, and the moment denial endedTrauma, post-traumatic stress disorder, and why it can go unrecognisedTherapy, including eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing“Grey area drinking” and why people feel “not bad enough” for helpBuilding Soberistas and why community reduces shameHow sobriety changes relationships, identity, and self-respectThe importance of real human connection alongside online supportLinks and resourcesSoberistas: https://soberistas.com/ If you have enjoyed this episode of Believe in People, please share it with someone who might need it. Subscribe for more conversations that challenge stigma and centre real recovery stories.#believeinpeople #believeinpeoplepodcast #believeinpeopleextraClick here to text our host, Matt, directly!🎧  If this episode connected with you, please subscribe and review. It directly helps us reach more people affected by addiction, trauma and stigma. 🔗 Then share this episode with someone who needs to hear it!Browse the full archive at 👉 www.believeinpeoplepodcast.com Believe in People is a platform for lived experience, recovery insight and honest conversation. Whether you’re in recovery, supporting someone who is, or working on the frontline, this podcast exists to inform, challenge stigma and inspire change.If you or someone you know needs support with drugs, alcohol, housing, domestic abuse, or mental and physical wellbeing, free and confidential help is available via Change Grow Live:📩 Contact: [email protected]🎵 Music: “Jonathan Tortoise” - Christopher Tait (Belle Ghoul / Electric Six)Listen & Subscribe:Spotify | Apple Podcasts🎙️ Facilitator: Matthew Butler 🎛️ Producer: Robbie Lawson 🏢 Network: ReNew