About Heather

Growing up in Wisconsin, I was a party girl through high school and college. Enough was never enough, when it came to drinking. As a new mom, I fit right into our Mommy Juice/Wine Culture, with Coffee until Wine and Rosé all Day.  Drinking took the edge off my new mom anxiety. We live in a society that tells us drinking wine helps us be better Moms.

 SIGN ME UP.  

A decade went by before my drinking started to take an obvious downward spiral. I was moving up the ladder from job to job, and out of alignment, with myself and my career. In addition, I gave 3 eulogies for shocking, out of order deaths, without warning in 3 years. My grief was at an all time high and my drinking followed.

My drinking was no longer social and became a private medicine that I administered every night, on the couch alone. My tolerance increased and I continually broke promises to my family and myself, by drinking more than I had planned. I woke up every day in a panic.

In an effort to try to help myself, I talked to a therapist and was prescribed an anti anxiety medication. The meds combined with drinking, resulted in me becoming a walking blackout, on more than one embarrassing occasion. My drinking was getting out of control, and I couldn’t stop it.  

This would have been a good time to quit, but now my brain had started to depend on alcohol. I could not feel good without it. The drink became both the cure and the poison. The drink took over me. The drink did not make me feel good, but it did temporarily satisfy my craving. I was desperate for some relief from being myself. I was self medicating  to avoid my overwhelming feelings of sadness, grief, fear, and pain.

After the initial relief of a sip of wine, drinking left me feeling guilty, depressed, ashamed, and self loathing. Every. Single. Day. After a few sober experiments, I knew it was time for me to ditch the drink for good, but I was scared to death to live without it.

I was at my lowest of lows and desperate for a change.

A friend of mine was at the same point in her life and we started the process of getting sober together in February of 2018. Having a friend to go through recovery with was the golden ticket to our success. We didn't know at the time, that a sober life would be so amazing. We could not imagine two party girls like us, actually removing the desire to drink. But here we are, gladly choosing the dry life. 

I have been able to heal my relationships with my family and with myself. My anxiety is minimal and my depression is gone. I stopped hating myself and started loving myself. I get my buzz from nature, music, relationships, and waking up with a clear mind and full heart every day.

I quit the corporate sales jobs that were never right for me, and started Ditched the Drink. I offer an online Jumpstart! Discovery Class and Becoming! Certified Professional Coaching, to help guide other high achieving, care givers, like me, out of the alcohol trap. I am passionate about removing the stigma of getting help in recovery discovery.

I have a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work (BSW) and Professional Human Resources Certificate (PHR). I am a Certified Professional Recovery Coach (CPRC), a Certified Professional Life Coach (CPC). I have a Certificate of Wellbeing from Yale University, and Law of Attraction Life Coach Certificate. 

My coaching support is strengths based and solution focused. I use evidence based, leading edge brain research, and neuroscience combined with client directed motivational interviewing for change. I adhere to the highest standards and ethics of Professional Recovery Coaches. I believe in the power of connection, tuning in, and getting curious about yourself.  

I know how frightening it is when you start to depend on a drink. I know how scared you are to get help, or even admit drinking might be an issue. You are not alone and you do not have to go through this alone. There is a whole badass sober community out there for you. I can show you the way through the dark, and get your inner light shining again. I have developed everything you need to illuminate your path. Take my hand, and I will lead you to freedom from thinking about drinking. It won’t be easy, but it will be worth it. No one ever regretted getting sober. The time is now, don’t waste another second of your precious life.

 XO!

-Heather

 

p.s. Get to know more of my story by reading my blog or listening to my podcast interviews.

 

Recovery Happy Hour Podcast Interview

 

Stone Cold Moderation Podcast Interview

 

Redesigning Wellness Podcast Interview

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