What if the story you're telling about yourself isn't true?
In this deeply vulnerable episode of Becoming Secure, I sit down with Colleen to talk about shame, binge drinking, grief, suicide, sobriety, relationships, and the beliefs we carry about ourselves without even realizing they are running the show.
At 19, Colleen experienced something that left her believing she was unlovable. She told herself she would never get married, never have children, and never tell anyone what had happened.
For years, that shame stayed buried.
We also discuss:
• Shame and feeling unlovable
• Binge drinking and coping mechanisms
• Dating and living with an STI
• Losing a partner to suicide
• Grief and choosing to continue living
• Breaking deeply ingrained habits
• Asking for help
• Learning to sit with discomfort
• Sobriety and finding new sources of joy
• Turning tragedy into purpose
Colleen is the author of Life Beyond the Binge: A Commercial Fisherwoman's Journey Home.
⚠️ This episode includes conversations about suicide, alcohol misuse, grief, and sexual health.
If you or someone you know is experiencing a suicidal or mental health crisis in the United States, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, available 24/7. You can also visit 988lifeline.org.
Stay curious, get to know yourself better, and remember: awareness gives us the opportunity to choose differently. 🤍
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