When you change your relationship with alcohol, nobody really prepares you for the question that comes next:
Who am I now?
In this episode of MAMA, Victoria explores one of the biggest and most unexpected parts of becoming alcohol-free, rediscovering your identity.
For years, alcohol was woven into birthdays, barbecues, girls’ nights, stressful parenting days and lonely evenings at home. It wasn’t just a drink, it became part of how many of us relax, socialise, celebrate and cope. So what happens when you take it away?
Victoria shares her own journey from binge-drinking party girl to sober mum, the therapy sessions that helped her understand her drinking, and the surprising process of finding herself underneath all the labels of wife, mother, daughter and caretaker.
She talks honestly about social anxiety and learning to set boundaries, surviving your first sober party, and why confidence eventually starts coming from within rather than from a glass.
You’ll also learn why alcohol can leave us feeling stuck, how the brain rebuilds natural reward pathways in sobriety, and why so many sober people suddenly become obsessed with things like boxing, pottery, gardening and air fryers.
This episode is for any mum who has ever wondered whether she’s lost herself somewhere along the way.
Because giving up alcohol isn’t just about removing something from your life.
Sometimes it’s about finding yourself again. ❤️
About MAMA
MAMA (Motherhood. Alcohol. Mental Health. Anxiety.) is a special podcast series from Sober Awkward, created to complement the Healthy Mum Healthy Bub program.
Developed in partnership with researchers from The University of Sydney and supported by funding from the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF), MAMA aims to help mums feel less alone, more informed and better supported as they navigate the challenges of early motherhood.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, struggling with anxiety, or questioning the role alcohol plays in your life, you’re in the right place.
Healthy Mum Healthy Bub
https://www.sydney.edu.au/matilda-centre
Sober Awkward
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Victoria’s Books
Mumming - A Year of Trying (and Failing) to be a Better Parent -
A Thousand Wasted Sundays -
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in Australia and overseas.
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