Content warning: disordered eating
This week on Sober Stories, we had the opportunity to interview Amanda E. White of the popular @therapyforwomen Instagram account. (S01/E001) Amanda is a licensed therapist, the founder of Therapy for Women Center in Philadelphia, and the author of “Not Drinking Tonight, A Guide to Creating a Sober Life You Love.”
In our conversation with Amanda, we talked about everything from how seeking therapy for her eating disordered led her to sobriety, to what the mental health field is getting wrong about Alcohol Use Disorder, to how Amanda cares for herself and her sobriety while keep all of the plates spinning.
For our full conversation, head to the Sober Stories Podcast (Apple, Spotify) or view the episode on our Youtube Channel.
Amanda on her drinking, before she got sober:
“My drinking became a lot like Russian roulette where a lot of times I drank it was fine and nothing bad happened.
But when I did drink too much, I wasn’t willing to deal with just how severe the consequences were. I was a blackout drinker when I binge drank and I would do things that were against what I actually wanted to do.”
Amanda on socializing after she quit drinking:
When I stopped drinking I was terrified that I wouldn’t be fun. I wouldn’t have friends. And the exact opposite happened. I was actually like, I like myself. I can actually be funny without alcohol. Sometimes I can actually be outgoing without alcohol, like a good friend and show up.
I had a huge issue with being extremely flaky during my addiction, and I didn’t like that about myself. And I realized if I don’t drink, I can change this. I can actually just start showing up and doing.”
Amanda, on the interconnectedness of disordered eating and disordered drinking:
“Almost every woman that I know who has gotten sober has explored [disordered eating] in some capacity.
Whether they get sober and then they gain weight and they don’t like how their body looks, whether they get sober and they realize they’re eating more than they used to and feel like they’re a food addict, whether someone goes the opposite way and they start saying ‘well I’m getting my life together and alcohol is a poisonous substance so I’m going to cut out everything and start running and going to the gym and being perfect,’ it just affects everyone.”
Connect with Amanda:
Amanda’s website: https://amandaewhite.com/
Therapy for Women Center: https://therapyforwomencenter.com/
Amanda on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therapyforwomen/
Amanda’s book, Not Drinking Tonight: https://amandaewhite.com/book
Catch the whole conversation:
To catch the entire conversation, visit Sober Stories wherever you get your podcasts [Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher] or check out the video of our conversation on Youtube. While you’re listening, go ahead and SUBSCRIBE — we drop new episodes every Friday, right in time for some AF weekend inspiration.
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