Ask the Therapist (With My Mom!)

It feels like talk about perimenopause is everywhere these days, but I have so many questions. What is perimenopause, actually? How does it differ from menopause? Is hormone replacement therapy safe and effective? How do we find a doctor who will actually help us with our perimenopausal symptoms and not just tell us it’s ‘normal’ to feel this way? Is there any way for us to feel well in midlife?! See, it’s a lot of questions! Monica Leonard of This Is My Midlife is here to help us understand it all. She’ll talk us through the symptoms of perimenopause, the treatments available, how to advocate for yourself in the medical system, and how lifestyle elements like alcohol are making perimenopause even more complicated. Learn more about Monica’s coaching and retreats at www.thisismymidlife.com, or follow her on Instagram @thisismymidlifePre-order your copy of The Sober Shift in paperback!Community makes all the difference. Join The Sober Mom Life Cafe for 6+ Peer Support meetings each week and a private Facebook group to connect with sober and sober-curious women. Sign up for our next ‘Fresh 30’ and ‘Beyond 30’ cohorts. Learn more here! Paperback release tour dates: 10/6 at 6pm MT - Denver, CO at The Tattered Cover Bookstore- Colfax RSVP here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/suzanne-warye-live-at-tattered-cover-colfax-tickets-1981918854646?aff=oddtdtcreator10/9 at 6:30pm CT - Nashville, TN at Killjoy EAST Non-Alcoholic Bottle Shop w/ Still Social Nashville. RSVP here button: https://luma.com/vzvka7xeWould you like a signed copy of The Sober Shift? Order yours here! Join me on my Substack, Sober for Good:  https://suzannewarye.substack.com/Follow on Instagram @thesobermomlifeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Early sobriety is like cleaning out your closet. It feels so great when you’re getting started, but once you find yourself surrounded by every little thing that was shoved in there? It can definitely begin to feel overwhelming. Keep going. I promise you will not always be surrounded by the unboxed emotions that alcohol was masking. You will move through them. And if you need support? Join our community of incredible sober women in The Sober Mom Life Cafe. We have Peer Support meetings 6 days a week and a private Facebook group to connect with sober and sober-curious women. The Sober Shift is coming in paperback! Pre-order your paperback copy here! The Sober Shift Paperback Release Tour dates: 10/6 at 6pm MT - Denver, CO at The Tattered Cover Bookstore- Colfax RSVP here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/suzanne-warye-live-at-tattered-cover-colfax-tickets-1981918854646?aff=oddtdtcreator10/9 at 6:30pm CT - Nashville, TN at Killjoy EAST Non-Alcoholic Bottle Shop w/ Still Social Nashville. RSVP here:https://luma.com/vzvka7xeWould you like a signed copy of The Sober Shift? Order yours here! Join me on my Substack, Sober for Good:  https://suzannewarye.substack.comSign up for our next ‘Fresh 30’ and ‘Beyond 30’ cohorts. Learn more here! Follow on Instagram @thesobermomlifeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

My mom is back! As many of you know, my mom, Susan, is a retired therapist. Today we’re taking questions from the community to get her take on topics that come up a lot as we’re learning how to really live within sobriety. You’ll hear about if people actually change in therapy, how to split the bill when you’re sober and your friends aren’t, the main drivers for why people drink, and how to navigate feelings of being left out when you’re sober. Pre-order your copy of The Sober Shift in paperback! Get your copy here. Upcoming paperback release tour dates: 9/16 at 12pm CT - Virtual - Backstage with the Sober CuratorRSVP here : https://thesobercurator.com/event/the-sober-shift-a-conversation-with-suzanne-warye-backstage-with-the-sober-curator/10/6 at 6pm MT - Denver, CO at The Tattered Cover Bookstore- Colfax RSVP here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/suzanne-warye-live-at-tattered-cover-colfax-tickets-1981918854646?aff=oddtdtcreator10/9 at 6:30pm CT - Nashville, TN at Killjoy EAST Non-Alcoholic Bottle Shop w/ Still Social Nashville. RSVP here button: https://luma.com/vzvka7xeWould you like a signed copy of The Sober Shift? Order yours here! Join me on my Substack, Sober for Good:  https://suzannewarye.substack.com/Community makes all the difference. Join The Sober Mom Life Cafe for 6+ Peer Support meetings each week and a private Facebook group to connect with sober and sober-curious women. Sign up for our next ‘Fresh 30’ and ‘Beyond 30’ cohorts. Learn more here! Follow on Instagram @thesobermomlifeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

I’ve heard stories from so many moms about the surprising drinking culture that has grown around youth sports (especially travel sports), and I feel like as parents we need to have a challenging conversation about it. So that’s what I’m diving into on today’s Friday mini-episode. This conversation isn’t about judgment at all, but about examining what really deserves the spotlight when it comes to kid’s experiences at their sporting events. Plus, get the full scoop on my upcoming book tour (hello Denver and Nashville) to celebrate the paperback release of The Sober Shift! Don’t forget to pre-order your paperback copy here! Tour dates: 9/16 at 12pm CT - Virtual - Backstage with the Sober CuratorRSVP here : https://thesobercurator.com/event/the-sober-shift-a-conversation-with-suzanne-warye-backstage-with-the-sober-curator/10/6 at 6pm MT - Denver, CO at The Tattered Cover Bookstore- Colfax RSVP here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/suzanne-warye-live-at-tattered-cover-colfax-tickets-1981918854646?aff=oddtdtcreator10/9 at 6:30pm CT - Nashville, TN at Killjoy EAST Non-Alcoholic Bottle Shop w/ Still Social Nashville. RSVP here: https://luma.com/vzvka7xeWould you like a signed copy of The Sober Shift? Order yours here! Join me on my Substack, Sober for Good:  https://suzannewarye.substack.com/Community makes all the difference. Join The Sober Mom Life Cafe for 6+ Peer Support meetings each week and a private Facebook group to connect with sober and sober-curious women. Sign up for our next ‘Fresh 30’ and ‘Beyond 30’ cohorts. Learn more here! Follow on Instagram @thesobermomlifeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Lindsay Brooke was delivered into the porn industry at just 15 years old, and nineteen when she signed the first contract herself. Narcotics quickly became Lindsay’s most trusted escape mechanism to help her handle the realities of the job. And when those stopped being enough? Alcohol found its way into the mix. As a mother of three, Lindsay tried to leave the adult entertainment industry each time she had a child. Yet, the realities of the industry and the taboo of her work history made it incredibly difficult to leave. In 2024, she found herself as a single mother of three on the eve of signing a new contract, but no matter how high or drunk she got, she could not physically bring herself to sign it. Lindsay felt like she had no way out, so she took more pills than she believed her body could handle. And miraculously… She woke up. Something changed in Lindsay after that day. It became clear to her that no matter what happened, she was going to leave the industry, and she was going to stay sober. Now almost two years sober, Lindsay is dedicated to sharing her own story and helping other women tell theirs. Read her Substack for more at Unlimited Storyworks. Join me on my Substack, Sober for Good: https://suzannewarye.substack.com/Community makes all the difference. Join The Sober Mom Life Cafe for 6+ Peer Support meetings each week and a private Facebook group to connect with sober and sober-curious women. Pre-order your paperback copy of The Sober Shift! Would you like a signed copy? Order yours here! Sign up for our next ‘Fresh 30’ and ‘Beyond 30’ cohorts. Learn more here! Follow on Instagram @thesobermomlifeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This statement made the internet try to eat me alive last week! Today I’ll share why this joke (yes, it was a joke!) comes with a kernel of honest truth about the importance of perspective shifts in sobriety. Because when you stop seeing sobriety as a punishment and start seeing it as freedom from the substance that has stolen so much from you, a joyful new reality can flourish. Join me on my Substack, Sober for Good:  https://suzannewarye.substack.com/Community makes all the difference. Join The Sober Mom Life Cafe for 6+ Peer Support meetings each week and a private Facebook group to connect with sober and sober-curious women. Pre-order your paperback copy of The Sober Shift! Would you like a signed copy? Order yours here! Sign up for our next ‘Fresh 30’ and ‘Beyond 30’ cohorts. Learn more here! Follow on Instagram @thesobermomlifeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this replay of one of the most downloaded episodes of The Sober Mom Life, you’ll meet Real Sober Mom Lauren.Texas born Lauren knew how to operate without alcohol. Though she was a heavy drinker in high school, she learned early on through her mother’s cancer journey that sometimes sobriety was necessary in order to attend to life’s challenges. It wasn’t until she was a mom of two that alcohol became a crutch that she consistently leaned on. Lauren chose to leave her career when she had her second child, and the resulting identity crisis she experienced was jarring. She turned to alcohol because it was one of the few things that helped her feel like herself. When Covid hit, alcohol became even more central to her life, but she continued to feel worse and worse. She had a turning point when she listened to the classic Huberman Lab podcast about alcohol’s effects. For the first time she wondered: what if alcohol was the problem? Twenty-six days of sobriety seemed to show her the truth. She felt so much better sober, in every way. A girl’s trip at the end of her sober stretch resulted in major FOMO, though, and alcohol slipped back into her life. This began a years long teeter totter of sober curiosity until she found Fresh 30 within the Sober Mom Life Cafe. The small group experience gave her the support she needed to feel seen and understood. Lauren has stayed sober since last summer, and has been a regular in the Cafe, Fresh 30, and on the retreat. She is so grateful for the support she’s received in this community! Community makes all the difference. Join The Sober Mom Life Cafe for 6+ Peer Support meetings each week and a private Facebook group to connect with sober and sober-curious women. Sign up for our next ‘Fresh 30’ and ‘Beyond 30’ cohorts. Learn more here! Join me over on my Substack, Sober for Good:  https://suzannewarye.substack.com/The paperback version of The Sober Shift with a beautiful redesigned cover comes out on September 29th. Preorder it now! Would you like a signed copy? Order yours here!Follow on Instagram @thesobermomlifeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

I’ve been glued to The Lindsay Clancy Trial for weeks, and for me it feels personal. As a new mom, I was diagnosed with postpartum anxiety/OCD. As I listen to the testimonies of this trial all I can think is - thank god my help worked. The Lindsay Clancy Trial is laying bare how much our system downplays the challenges of postpartum women. In today’s episode, I’ll share a bit of my own story, give my thoughts on the expert testimony in the case, and address all of the ways that alcohol is being left out of the conversation. New moms, if you are struggling please know: You are not alone, and there is help. I know, I was there, and I’m so grateful the help I found worked for me. Get more of my thoughts on The Lindsay Clancy Trial over on my Substack, Sober for Good:  https://suzannewarye.substack.com/Community makes all the difference. Join The Sober Mom Life Cafe for 6+ Peer Support meetings each week and a private Facebook group to connect with sober and sober-curious women. Pre-order your paperback copy of The Sober Shift! Would you like a signed copy? Order yours here! Sign up for our next ‘Fresh 30’ and ‘Beyond 30’ cohorts. Learn more here! Follow on Instagram @thesobermomlifeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

One of the biggest worries that newly sober women have is how it will affect their friendships. We’re often told that the friendships that ‘matter’ will withstand our shift to an alcohol-free lifestyle. And the drinking buddies? Yes, they might fade away.  But honestly? It’s not that simple. Friendships are tricky, and sobriety can bring a lot of friendship challenges to the surface. Today my therapist mom joins me to share her own story of a deep friendship that did not survive her choice to be sober. We’ll talk about what’s really needed from both friends in order to make the shift when sobriety becomes a part of your life, and we’ll lay out what to expect as you navigate this life change within friendships so that you feel as prepared as you can be. Are you ready to make amazing new sober friends? Join The Sober Mom Life Cafe for 6+ Peer Support meetings each week and a private Facebook group to connect with sober and sober-curious women. Sign up for our next ‘Fresh 30’ and ‘Beyond 30’ cohorts. Learn more here! Join me over on my Substack, Sober for Good:  https://suzannewarye.substack.com/The paperback version of The Sober Shift with a beautiful redesigned cover comes out on September 29th. Preorder it now! Follow on Instagram @thesobermomlifeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If this is your first sober summer I just want to say - I am so proud of you! Summer delivers so many sober firsts, and it can be very overwhelming. You’ve done an amazing job! No matter where you are on your sober journey, the end of summer is a great time to check in with yourself. So get out a journal, because today I’ll be asking you seven questions that will help you reflect on what you’ve learned through this summer. Go deeper with these questions, and send me your thoughts, over on my Substack, Sober for Good:  https://suzannewarye.substack.com/Community makes all the difference. Join The Sober Mom Life Cafe for 6+ Peer Support meetings each week and a private Facebook group to connect with sober and sober-curious women. Sign up for our next ‘Fresh 30’ and ‘Beyond 30’ cohorts. Learn more here! There’s one spot left for this October’s Sober Mom Life retreat in Arizona! Claim your spot here. Get Your Copy of my book! The Sober Shift Follow on Instagram @thesobermomlifeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.