Show Notes
There comes a point when you’ve read the articles, made the promises, created the rules and sworn that this time things will be different.
You already know alcohol is making you anxious. You already know you’ll regret drinking too much. You already know the cycle isn’t working. So what happens when you’ve tried everything and you’re still stuck? Is it time to tell someone?
In this episode of MAMA, Victoria Vanstone shares the moment she stopped trying to fix her drinking on her own and finally admitted she needed help.
From becoming a mother of two and struggling with anxiety, exhaustion and broken promises, to sitting in her lounge room wondering why she couldn’t seem to change, Vic explores the turning point that eventually led her towards sobriety.
She talks honestly about shame, secrecy and the fear of telling other people the truth. The fear of being judged. The fear of being seen as a bad mother. The fear that life would somehow fall apart if she stopped drinking.
But she also shares what happened when she finally opened up to someone she trusted.
This episode explores why asking for help feels so difficult, why shame thrives in silence, and why human beings are wired for connection rather than isolation. Vic explains how support can come in many forms, whether that’s a partner, a friend, a therapist, a doctor, an online community or simply one safe person who is willing to listen.
If you’ve ever felt exhausted from carrying a secret, wondered whether your drinking is becoming a problem, or felt frightened by the idea of asking for help, this episode is for you.
No judgement. No labels. Just an honest conversation about the courage it takes to tell the truth, and how one simple conversation can become the first step towards getting your life back.
Sometimes the biggest breakthrough isn’t quitting drinking. It’s finally admitting you don’t have to do it alone.
Resources & Links 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 healthymumhealthybub.org.au https://www.sydney.edu.au/matilda-centre
Sober Awkward Podcast, books, courses, community, events and support soberawkward.com
Victoria’s Books Mumming - A Year of Trying (and Failing) to be a Better Parent - https://amzn.asia/d/08E0CLyS A Thousand Wasted Sundays - https://amzn.asia/d/0eK3l8Bd
Sober Awkward Retreats Join Victoria and the Sober Awkward community for alcohol-free retreats, workshops and unforgettable adventures in Australia and overseas. Find out more at: soberawkward.com
MAMA: Motherhood. Alcohol. Mental Health. Anxiety.
Hosted by Victoria Vanstone, author, speaker and co-host of the award-winning podcast Sober Awkward, MAMA is an honest, funny and reassuring podcast about the realities of modern motherhood.
From anxiety and overwhelm to wine o’clock culture, identity, relationships and mental health, Victoria explores the conversations many mums are thinking about but rarely say out loud.
Created in association with Healthy Mum Healthy Bub, researchers from The University of Sydney, and funded by the Medical Research Future Fund, MAMA combines lived experience, expert knowledge and practical tools to support mums through the challenges of parenting, mental health and alcohol use.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
More from MAMA - Motherhood. Alcohol. Mental Health. Anxiety
As we reach the final episode of MAMA, Victoria reflects on one of the most important lessons she has learned through motherhood, anxiety and eight years of sobriety:
When you change your relationship with alcohol, nobody really prepares you for the question that comes next:
Every Friday night, Victoria Vanstone made the same promise to herself. Just one or two drinks. Home early. No hangover. No anxiety. No regrets. This time would be different.
Motherhood is hard. Not the cute Instagram version with matching outfits and homemade baby purées. The real version. The sleep deprivation, the self-doubt, the endless responsibility and the overwhelming feeling that everyone else somehow knows what they’re doing except you.
When Victoria Vanstone became a mum, she thought she was prepared. She imagined she’d simply add a baby to her already lovely life, pop them in a sling and carry on being herself.