Most of us know what addiction looks like when it's alcohol, drugs, gambling, or food.

But what if one of the most common addictions is so socially accepted that we don't even recognise it?

In this episode, we're talking about approval addiction—the tendency to base our self-worth on what other people think of us.

Do you feel great when someone praises you but crushed when they criticise you? Do you find yourself constantly seeking validation, reassurance, likes, compliments, or recognition? Does your mood rise and fall depending on how others respond to you?

If so, you're not alone.

Many people in recovery discover that while they have stopped drinking, they are still dependent on external validation to feel okay. The need for approval can become just as exhausting as any substance, leaving us vulnerable to disappointment, people-pleasing, and emotional ups and downs.

In this episode, we'll explore:

✅ Why approval can become addictive
✅ The difference between self-esteem and external validation
✅ Why good moods aren't the same as genuine confidence
✅ How to stop handing other people control of your emotional wellbeing
✅ Practical ways to build self-respect from the inside out

We'll also discuss why real self-esteem isn't something that can be given to you by a partner, employer, friend, or social media audience. It grows when your actions align with your values, when you keep promises to yourself, and when you learn to treat yourself with the same kindness you offer others.

If self-doubt, people-pleasing, overthinking, or fear of judgment are holding you back, I highly recommend Stop Doubting Yourself by Lewis David. This practical guide, available as an audiobook, eBook and in print, explores the hidden habits that undermine confidence and provides straightforward tools for building self-trust, setting healthy boundaries, making confident decisions, and developing genuine self-esteem from the inside out. It's particularly relevant for anyone in recovery who is learning to live without relying on external validation for their sense of worth.

Stop Doubting Yourself by Lewis David

If you've ever felt trapped on an emotional rollercoaster driven by other people's opinions, this episode will help you step off the ride and start building a more stable foundation for recovery.

Because your worth is not up for debate.

Your value isn't determined by applause.

And the most important approval you'll ever receive is your own.

Recovery can feel lonely.

Many people spend years believing they're the only person struggling with alcohol, the only person battling cravings, or the only person finding it difficult to change. Shame often convinces us that everyone else has their life together while we're quietly falling apart.

But the truth is that millions of people have walked this path before us—and millions are walking it right now.

In this special episode, we take a step back from our usual topics and talk about the purpose behind The Alcohol Recovery Show. Why did we create it? What can you expect from future episodes? And why do conversations about self-esteem, mindfulness, boundaries, emotional resilience, and personal growth matter just as much as conversations about alcohol itself?

We'll explore why recovery is about much more than simply stopping drinking. It's about learning how to cope with life without constantly needing to escape from it. It's about building confidence, managing emotions, developing healthier habits, and creating a life that feels worth staying present for.

We'll also talk about the role of community, the importance of hope, and why nobody should have to face recovery in isolation.

In this episode, you'll discover:

✅ Why recovery is often about much more than alcohol
✅ The hidden impact of shame and isolation
✅ Why emotional wellbeing matters in long-term sobriety
✅ How small daily changes create lasting transformation
✅ What this podcast is really here to offer

We also explain how this podcast fits alongside the recovery books and resources available through WinsPress. The podcast is completely free, with no subscriptions, sponsors, or advertisements. We support this work through the books we write, which are available in audiobook, ebook, and print formats for those who want to explore recovery topics in greater depth.

In this episode Antonia introduces the Winspress Sober Living Series. Books in the series include:

• Sober Winners
• The 10 Day Alcohol Detox Plan
• Alcohol and You
• Mindfulness for Alcohol Recovery
• The Alcohol-Free Woman

Most importantly, this episode is a reminder that you don't need to have all the answers today.

You don't need to be perfect.

You don't need to know exactly what the future looks like.

You simply need to take the next step.

Because recovery isn't built in giant leaps.

It's built one day at a time.

#AlcoholRecovery #Sobriety #RecoveryJourney #SoberLiving #RecoveryPodcast #Mindfulness #SelfEsteem #EmotionalSobriety #PersonalGrowth #HopeInRecovery

You quit drinking. You expect life to get easier. But then something unexpected happens...

The wine disappears, but suddenly you're reaching for chocolate, scrolling social media for hours, obsessing over a relationship, working around the clock, or finding yourself unable to stop eating.

Why?

In this episode, we explore one of the least discussed aspects of recovery: replacement addictions.

We'll look at why alcohol was often just one way of coping with stress, anxiety, loneliness, shame, and difficult emotions—and why other compulsive behaviours can emerge when alcohol is removed. We'll discuss emotional eating, binge eating, shopping, people-pleasing, social media, workaholism, and the search for relief that sits beneath many addictive behaviours.

You'll learn:

✅ Why substitute addictions are so common in recovery
✅ The difference between pleasure and emotional escape
✅ How to identify when a behaviour is becoming compulsive
✅ Why awareness is a sign of progress, not failure
✅ Healthier ways to meet your emotional needs without numbing them

If you've ever wondered why stopping drinking didn't magically solve everything, this episode is for you.

Further Resources

If food has become your new coping mechanism in sobriety, these resources may help:

📖 Mindfulness for Binge Eating – A practical guide to developing a calmer, more peaceful relationship with food through mindfulness techniques and guided exercises.

Mindfulness for Binge Eating (WinsPress)

📖 The 10-Day Binge Eating Detox Plan – A step-by-step programme designed to help people break free from binge eating, emotional eating, and chronic overeating without relying on restrictive dieting.

The 10-Day Binge Eating Detox Plan (WinsPress)

Remember: recovery isn't simply about removing alcohol. It's about learning how to live without needing to escape yourself.

#AlcoholRecovery #Sobriety #RecoveryJourney #BingeEating #EmotionalEating #Mindfulness #AddictionRecovery #SoberLiving #RecoveryPodcast #WinsPress

Sober Support or Digital Hiding Place?

AI is becoming part of everyday life — but what happens when people begin turning to chatbots for alcohol recovery support, emotional reassurance, or advice instead of reaching out to real people?

In this episode of The Alcohol Recovery Show, Antonia explores the benefits and dangers of using AI in recovery. AI can be a helpful tool for planning, finding resources, or drafting that first brave message asking for help. But it can also become a digital hiding place — a private space where we take our cravings, shame, fear, and pain without ever letting another human being truly know what is going on.

This episode looks at why connection is one of the great antidotes to addiction, why isolation can keep us stuck, and why recovery often requires gentle challenge from people who know us, care about us, and are not afraid to say what we may not want to hear.

Warm and honest, this conversation asks an important question:

Is AI helping you connect — or helping you hide?

Ancient Wisdom for Modern Recovery

In this episode, we explore how the ancient philosophy of Stoicism can offer practical support in alcohol recovery. Far from being cold or emotionless, Stoicism teaches us how to pause, focus on what we can control, respond wisely to cravings, and make choices that support the sober life we are building.

We’ll look at simple, actionable ways to apply Stoic ideas to everyday recovery moments — from handling difficult emotions and social pressure to preparing for triggers and learning how to choose peace over impulse.

For more support, visit winspress.com, where you’ll find a range of free alcohol recovery resources, along with books and tools designed to help you on your journey.

Please remember that this podcast is for information and encouragement only and is not medical advice. If you are physically dependent on alcohol, alcohol withdrawal can be dangerous, so please speak to a doctor or qualified healthcare professional before stopping or significantly reducing your drinking. If you are struggling, reach out for appropriate medical, therapeutic, or recovery support.

What if recovery isn't just about changing your thoughts—but also about learning to work with your body?

In this episode of The Alcohol Recovery Show, we explore somatic practices and how they can support long-term recovery from alcohol dependence. You'll discover what the term "somatic" means, why the nervous system plays such an important role in addiction and healing, and how simple body-based techniques can help you manage cravings, stress, anxiety, and difficult emotions without reaching for a drink.

We'll discuss:

✓ What somatic healing is and why it matters in recovery
✓ The connection between alcohol, trauma, stress, and the nervous system
✓ Why cravings often begin as physical sensations
✓ Grounding techniques to calm the body and mind
✓ Simple breathing exercises and body-awareness practices
✓ Practical tools you can start using today

Whether you're newly sober, sober curious, or have years of recovery behind you, this episode offers gentle, practical ways to reconnect with yourself and build emotional resilience.

If you'd like to explore some of these techniques mentioned in this episode in more depth, check out:

📖 Mindfulness for Alcohol Recovery by Lewis David and Antonia Ryan

📖 Mindfulness for Stress and Anxiety by Antonia Ryan

Both books are available from Winspress and offer practical exercises, reflections, and mindfulness techniques to support emotional wellbeing and recovery.

Join Our Community

Recovery can feel lonely, but you don't have to do it alone. We'd love for you to join the conversation in the comments and connect with others on a similar journey. Whether you're on day one or year ten, you'll find support, encouragement, and understanding.

If you enjoyed this episode, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who might benefit.

#AlcoholRecovery #Sobriety #RecoveryJourney #Mindfulness #SomaticHealing #SoberLife #AddictionRecovery #MentalHealth #NervousSystemHealing #AlcoholFree

Learn about an emotion that alcohol obliterated and more improatnatly learn about how to reconnect with this feeling that is a key element of recovery.

This podcast is ad free and subscription free. There are additional free resources on our website Winspress.com where you will also find a range of books to help you on your journey to gaining freedom from any form of alcohol dependency.

Many of us used alcohol as a shortcut to confidence — to feel braver, calmer, more social, or less afraid. But real confidence isn’t found in a drink. It’s built through self-trust, courage, and learning to face life as you truly are.

In this episode of The Alcohol Recovery Show, we explore how self-doubt, fear, and overthinking can keep people stuck in the drinking cycle — and how recovery gives us the chance to build lasting confidence from the inside out.

We also discuss the excellent book Stop Doubting Yourself by Lewis David, a practical guide to overcoming fear, making decisions, trusting yourself, and building resilience.

Available here:

📘 Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/
🎧 Audible Audiobook: https://www.audible.com/

If you’re tired of second-guessing yourself and ready to grow stronger in sobriety, this episode is for you.