The Mental Addiction: Why Stopping at Two Drinks Felt Impossible With Laura Kilbey From Sober Crew Social

Guest: Laura Kilbey - Chief Stewardess & Founder, Sober Crew SocialRelease Date: 23rd December 2025Drinking culture in yachting isn't just normalised, it's almost expected. Or is it? And what happens when you can't stop at two drinks? When the shame cycle becomes unbearable? When you realise alcohol is destroying the person you want to be?Laura Kilbey, Chief Stewardess and founder of Sober Crew Social, shares her raw, honest journey from problematic drinking to sobriety, while staying in the industry. We talk about the mental addiction that nobody discusses, the identity crisis of getting sober, why "rock bottom" is a myth, and how to survive the holidays when everyone else is drinking.This episode is for anyone who's ever wondered if their relationship with alcohol is normal, felt trapped by shame, or struggled to imagine a social life without drinking.Key Takeaways• Mental Addiction Comes First: You don't need to drink every morning or have physical withdrawals to have a problem. The mental obsession - constantly thinking about drinking, planning around it, unable to stop at two - is the real warning sign.• The Shame Cycle Is Self-Fulfilling: When you do things drunk that don't align with your values, the shame becomes familiar. Your brain seeks that comfort zone, so you sabotage feeling good because you don't know how to handle it.• Yachting Is a Decade Behind: The industry still normalises behaviour that would be unacceptable on land. Busted eyebrows, getting carried to bed, "Did you get pissed or did you get Laura?" - it's laughed off, but it's not normal.• You Don't Need Rock Bottom: Waiting for things to get "bad enough" is a dangerous game. If you're questioning your drinking, that's already your answer. You don't need a dramatic crisis to make a change.• Own Your Decision: If you decide not to drink, don't apologise for it. The more you hide it or make excuses, the harder it becomes. Own it. It's your choice, not a character flaw.• It's an Identity Shift, Not Just Quitting: Stopping drinking means confronting who you actually are versus who you thought you were. "I'm adventurous, I love travel" - but are you really? Or is that just the story you tell yourself?• The Holidays Are the Hardest: Christmas and New Year amplify the pressure to drink. Be honest with yourself about what alcohol is doing for you versus what it's doing to you. Fast-forward your current drinking pattern five years - what does that look like?Who's Laura?Laura is a Chief Stewardess with over 15 years in the yachting industry. After years of trying (and failing) to moderate her drinking, she got sober and started Sober Crew Social (@sober_crew_social_) to support yacht crew who are sober, sober curious, or struggling with problematic drinking.She's on a mission to break the silence around alcohol in yachting, create a connected community where crew don't feel alone, and prove that you can stay in the industry without drinking.Services & ResourcesLaura is launching a Dry January Guidebook and a membership community in early 2025 to provide ongoing support, resources, and connection for crew navigating sobriety.• Sober Crew Social Community: Support for sober and sober-curious yacht crew• Dry January Guidebook: Launching January 2025• Membership Programme: Ongoing support, resources, and connection (launching early 2025)• 1:1 Support: DM Laura on Instagram for personal guidanceHow to get in touch:Instagram: @sober_crew_social_Website: Launching January 2025Don't miss out!• Subscribe so you never miss an episode• Follow us: @thehealthywavepodcast, @thehealthycrewcoach, @wavewellness• Share this episode with crew who might be struggling with drinking or shame• Leave a review if this episode resonated with you• Book a free 30-minute health call with Josie: calendly.com/thehealthycrewcoach/30min• Connect with Laura at @sober_crew_social_ for support and communityLet's Stay Connected!