Hope for Families - Real Talk with Amber Hollingsworth
Sober Edge
On this episode of The Sober Edge, I’m joined by Amber Hollingsworth, a family recovery expert who has spent nearly 20 years helping loved ones find a path through the chaos of addiction. Amber is known for her refreshingly direct and practical approach—what she jokingly calls being “a little bossy.” Instead of leaving families guessing at what to do or say, Amber offers clear, actionable guidance that can ease tension, reduce resentment, and create real change. We talk about how families can support their loved ones without losing themselves, why trying to “always say the right...
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Let Them - Own Your AF Life!
Sober Edge
In this episode of The Sober Edge, Teri explores Mel Robbins’ viral Let Them Theory—a simple yet powerful mindset shift that can transform the way you navigate relationships, boundaries, and joy in your alcohol-free life. Learn how letting go of control and other people’s opinions can bring more ease, excitement, and emotional freedom to your AF journey.
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Tapping Into Your Self with Sophia Graniela
Sober Edge
In this inspiring episode of The Sober Edge, I sit down with Sophia Graniela, founder of Her Journey Home, to explore two powerful pathways to self-reconnection: sober travel and EFT tapping. Sophia shares how her alcohol-free journey opened the door to deeper emotional healing and authentic exploration—both on the road and within. We discuss how travel becomes a mirror when done with intention, and how Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) helps regulate the nervous system, clear emotional blocks, and support us in returning to our true selves. Whether you're curious about tapping or dreaming...
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The Hidden Survival States That Drive Drinking
Sober Edge
In this episode of The Sober Edge, we dive into the nervous system's survival responses—Fight, Flight, Freeze, and Fawn—and explore how each one can unconsciously drive our alcohol use. Teri breaks down what each state looks and feels like in everyday life, and how recognizing our default response can be the first step toward healing and true emotional regulation without reaching for a drink. Tune in for the key to your own patterns, and, explore your healing journey.
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Feed Your Gut - Trust Your Gut
Sober Edge
What if trusting your gut started with feeding it better? In this episode of The Sober Edge, host Teri Patterson takes listeners on a journey from the microbiome to mindfulness. You'll discover how gut health directly impacts your ability to think clearly, regulate emotions, and even access intuition. Teri shares simple strategies for feeding your gut with food variety and fiber, and she connects the dots between physical nourishment and emotional insight—offering a whole-body perspective on self-trust and sobriety. This episode is both science-based and soul-filled, perfect for anyone...
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The Power of Flow: Reclaiming My Pace and My Peace
Sober Edge
In this special solo episode, I share a behind-the-scenes update from my own alcohol-free journey and entrepreneurial life. I reflect on my word of the year—flow—and how it continues to guide me through the messy middle of seeking balance, recalibrating priorities, and tuning in to what really matters. Join me for a heart-to-heart check-in on rest, resistance, and finding a new rhythm that supports soul care, not just self-care. Whether you're in a season of full steam ahead or slow integration, this episode is your gentle reminder: you’re not behind, you’re exactly where you need to...
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Rebuilding Trust from the Inside Out
Sober Edge
In this episode of The Sober Edge, host Teri Patterson explores the often-overlooked journey of rebuilding trust—starting with ourselves. With insights from Dr. Nicole LePera’s How To Meet Yourself, Teri explains how nervous system states influence our ability to feel safe and connected, and how learning to interpret bodily cues is the first step toward healing trust—both inward and outward. If you’ve ever struggled to know what’s “safe” in recovery, this episode is for you.
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Sober in the City: Connection, Community & Alcohol-Free Friendship
Sober Edge
In this episode, I’m sharing my experience attending Sober in the City, a vibrant alcohol-free weekend in Scottsdale, packed with friendship, fun, and deeply healing conversations. From nervous system regulation to trauma recovery, the event spotlighted powerful topics while offering the gift of true connection. Join me as I reflect on how these moments reinforce the joy and richness of living alcohol-free. My personal reflections from attending Sober in the City in Scottsdale The magic of meeting alcohol-free women in person Conversations on nervous system regulation, trauma, and...
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From Chaos to Calm: The Sober Truth
Sober Edge
In this episode of The Sober Edge, Teri explores a powerful truth about the alcohol-free journey: after the chaos and drama of drinking, peace can feel... flat. Many people in early sobriety wonder if they’ve lost their spark or if boredom is the new normal. But what if this stillness is actually the foundation for something deeper — clarity, calm, and true contentment? You’ll hear about: Why drinking creates a false sense of excitement How the nervous system reacts to calm after chronic overstimulation Why “boredom” might actually mean “discomfort with stillness” The mindset...
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Beyond Booze: The Bigger Questions
Sober Edge
What happens after you remove alcohol — but you're still left wondering, Now what? In this solo episode, Teri opens up about the unexpected truth of alcohol-free living: that quitting drinking doesn’t instantly solve everything... in fact, it often stirs up new (and better) questions. From navigating discomfort to stepping outside your old comfort zone, Teri explores what it means to live into the questions — and why that’s actually where transformation begins. If you’ve ever thought, “I don’t miss alcohol, but I’m still figuring me out,” this episode is for you. Tune in for...
info_outlineMy journey continues beyond learning how to become AF and yours will too.
I think the most striking difference between becoming AF and living AF is the shift in focus and time. I have experienced and witnessed what is possible when alcohol is out of the way.
Time feels different now that I am living alcohol-free. The time I used to spend drinking, thinking about drinking and recovering from drinking is now ‘new time’. And, with a new sense of time, I have been able to explore this next chapter of my life. When I was drinking, time passed with me numbing out and with opportunities missed. Now, time is lived vs. passed. I create experiences vs. avoiding them.
I shared in Part 1 my journey through my first Sober Anniversary. In those first 12 months, so many things shifted for me, but I was still focusing a lot on behavior and those raw emotions. I spent that first year doing a few things that set me up for the next stage - living alcohol-free.
I didn’t have a road map or a guide for my AF journey (boy, do I wish I had!). I think I pushed my way through those first few months with force - I even used some of my anger to fuel my resolve. But, as I moved past year 1, my emotions started to level, and I began to feel excited and peaceful as I settled into my ‘new normal’.
(Listen in on this episode to hear more of my lessons, or go to the Show Notes)
The lessons continue. Just like happiness is a direction, not a destination, living AF is an expansive state of being, not a place where we arrive. If I had stopped at just ‘becoming alcohol-free’, I would have stayed in that place of focusing on my behavior and my emotions. I would have missed the place where I am now, a place where the adventure of life continues to unfold in new and surprising ways.
Cheers to LIVING Alcohol-Free!
Full Show Notes Here
The SELF Experience - find out more about living AF!