One of the quietest, yet most powerful shifts in our alcohol-free journey is the moment we begin to trust ourselves again.
In this week’s episode of The Sober Edge, I’m diving into the layered topic of trust—how we lose it, how we can gently rebuild it, and why the body is a vital guide in the process.
When we’ve been using alcohol to soothe, escape, or cope, we often begin to doubt our own instincts, desires, and emotions. That’s why trust doesn’t always start with other people—it starts with us. And it starts in the body.
Drawing from Dr. Nicole LePera’s transformative book How To Meet Yourself, I explore the difference between sympathetic (fight-or-flight) and parasympathetic (rest-and-digest) nervous system responses, and how recognizing these states in ourselves is the key to developing self-trust. When we begin to notice: I feel tight in my chest, I’m bracing my jaw, I’m calm and grounded, we’re not just observing—we’re building a relationship with our internal cues.
In the episode, I share practical examples of what these nervous system states can look like and offer gentle tools to begin reconnecting to your body’s wisdom. You’ll also hear how creating a sense of safety within opens the door to trusting others again.
Episode Highlights:
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Why rebuilding trust with ourselves is essential in alcohol-free living
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How the nervous system—especially sympathetic and parasympathetic states—plays a role in trust and safety
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Insights from Dr. Nicole LePera’s book How To Meet Yourself
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Common signs of dysregulation and what they might be trying to tell us
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How body awareness helps us create safety and self-trust
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Small, powerful ways to reconnect with your inner wisdom
This conversation is especially meaningful for those early in their alcohol-free journey or for anyone navigating big emotional shifts. If you’ve ever wondered, Can I really trust myself?, this episode is for you.
