What if your sugar cravings, chronic fatigue, or lack of clarity weren’t just random symptoms—but signs of deeper imbalances that could be blocking your recovery? On this episode of Sisters in Sobriety, Sonia is joined by strategist, speaker, and sober advocate Christie Dames. With over 38 years of sobriety and a career helping high-performers unlock their potential, Christie shares how her lived experience and research intersect to shed light on the brain-body connection.
Today, they talk about why what you eat—and what surrounds you—matters deeply when it comes to emotional clarity, energy, and healing. How does what we eat impact our emotional sobriety? What’s the role of metabolic health in our ability to regulate mood and access clarity? And how do toxins—whether in food, electronics, or water—quietly sabotage our healing efforts?
Listeners will learn about the connection between mitochondrial health and long-term sobriety, how refined sugars and processed foods derail emotional regulation, and the invisible toll environmental toxins like PFAS and EMFs take on our well-being. Christie also shares practical tools for lowering your toxic load—think organic swaps, safer tech habits, and why red light bulbs might become your new best friend.
And yes, as always, we go there—into the personal stories. Christie opens up about her own path to sobriety, including her recovery from misdiagnosis, withdrawal from neuroleptic medication, and the chronic pain that shaped her understanding of emotional vs. physical hunger. From healing trauma to navigating relapse triggers, she helps us see our cravings not as flaws but as clues.
This is Sisters in Sobriety, the support community that helps women change their relationship with alcohol. Check out our Substack for extra tips, tricks and resources.
Episode Highlights:
00:01:00 — Christie introduces the idea that sugar cravings can block emotional sobriety
00:02:30 — The physical trauma that set the stage for addiction
00:03:45 — Why alcohol felt like an elixir for Christie’s fractured sense of self
00:04:55 — Mold exposure and neurological misdiagnosis compound her health issues
00:06:45 — The impact of neuroleptic drugs and a 10-year brownout
00:07:50 — Getting sober—despite still being medicated
00:08:30 — Sugar as her first addiction, and how it worked on her undernourished brain
00:10:15 — Giving up sugar: was it harder than alcohol?
00:12:45 — Why metabolic health is the key to “next-level” sobriety
00:14:20 — Understanding insulin resistance and fasting insulin
00:16:00 — What to eat: whole foods, organic, and the truth about strawberries
00:18:45 — Toxins in baby cord blood and how they impact future health
00:21:15 — Dairy and gluten: are they just food, or emotional disrupters?
00:23:00 — Why A2 dairy and goat’s milk might be different
00:25:30 — How trauma and toxicity contribute to neuroinflammation
00:27:10 — The four-day delayed reaction to food and what to watch for
00:29:00 — Emotional vs. physical hunger: how to tell the difference
00:32:50 — Learning to pause before reacting or reaching for food
00:35:00 — How shame spirals can begin with food choices
00:37:20 — Working with high performers: unlocking their hidden blocks
00:40:00 — Using intuition, presence, and somatic tools with clients
00:42:00 — PFAS: the “forever chemicals” and why they’re a major health threat
00:44:30 — EMFs and why cell phones and WiFi matter more than you think
00:46:00 — Sobriety makes you more sensitive—embrace it
00:48:10 — Creating a low-tox lifestyle that supports brain health and longevity
00:50:00 — Hacks: red lights, blue blockers, and neuro-restorative sleep habits
00:51:30 — Christie’s favorite ways to lower your toxic burden
00:52:00 — Where to connect with Christie (christiedames@protonmail.com)
Links
Sisters In Sobriety Links
💌 Sisters In Sobriety Substack – where the magic (and the mocktail recipes) happen
📸 Sisters In Sobriety Instagram
🌐 Kathleen’s Website Kathleen does not endorse any products mentioned in this podcast
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