Anxiety, Alcohol, and the Creativity Lie We've Been Convinced to Believe: Model Kristen Bear on Finding Freedom (Episode 11)

“There is another side. You might not see it yet—but it’s there, and it’s better than you think.”

What a line from this week's “Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic” podcast guest, Kristen Bear. Because that’s what this conversation is really about: building something new from the ruins on the other side of what was. Kristen is a model, actress, and creative coach who chased success in LA and NYC while numbing herself with alcohol. She believed drinking gave her an edge, helped her cope with trauma, and kept her fun. But all it did was bury the girl God created her to be.

In this raw and redemptive episode, Kristen shares her story of addiction, identity, and coming home to herself. We talk about the lie that alcohol makes you more creative, the trap of performing your way through pain, and how facing her past instead of numbing it changed everything. She also shares the four pillars of her Creative Sobriety Academy, how the non-alcoholic beverage world has exploded, and why we get to rewrite our story—again and again.

This episode is for anyone who’s convinced that alcohol is the only thing keeping them sane—or creative—or lovable. Kristen’s story proves that the opposite is true. Sobriety doesn’t strip you of your power. It sets it free.

We explore:
—Kristen’s early dreams, creative career, and hidden trauma
—How alcohol became her way of escaping shame and insecurity
—The illusion of being “high-functioning” while privately unraveling
—Why she believed alcohol made her more creative—and how sobriety proved her wrong
—The truth about mental health meds and alcohol
—Her “illumination moment” and how she knew she was done
—The power of writing to process pain and break shame
—Returning to New York City sober and rewriting that part of her story
—How holidays, nostalgia, and identity change in sobriety
—The four pillars of her Creative Sobriety Academy
—Why the non-alcoholic beverage space is booming—and her favorite picks

Kristen's blog: Creative Sobriety

Kristen's website: creativesobriety.co

Follow Kristen: Instagram

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Order the new book, Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic: www.christianalcoholic.com.

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