Today we’d like to introduce you to Adrienne van der Valk.
Hi Adrienne, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
When I got sober in 2018, I never imagined I would speak publically about my recovery, much less write a book about it. However, as I slowly became more comfortable talking about my sobriety, many people confided in me that they questioned their own relationship with alcohol. They weren’t yet willing to say it in a meeting or to anyone in their family, but they could say it to me.
I didn’t set out to be anyone’s role model, and I don’t consider myself one now. But I could not ignore the fact that speaking openly helped reduce my own shame and self-judgment, and hearing my story seemed to benefit the folks who reached out to me.
After I became certified as a meditation teacher, I started to feel the pull to offer something more formal. For two years, I partnered with a wonderful Pilates teacher and coach named Erin Ranta to offer a meditation- and movement-based recovery coaching program. We had a blast and supported many incredible students who continue to inspire us today.
Last year, I decided to shift my focus. I wanted to find a way to reach more people, and writing a book seemed like a great option. I hired a writing coach, and “Big Sober Energy” was born! The book also become the inspiration for my new membership program.
The book focuses on an actionable, four-part framework that teaches readers to harness and direct their energy toward creating a wonderful sober life they love. Sobriety can be a source of tremendous joy and freedom, but it is often portrayed as a sentence to be endured. I’m hoping this book, and the related resources, can play a role in changing the way we view recovery and people with substance use disorders.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
As I was writing Big Sober Energy, I periodically succumbed to bouts of self-doubt. Did I really want to share all these embarrassing stories? What would my friends and family think? Would critics trash me for not addressing addiction issues in the way they believed I should?
Ultimately, I kept returning to the chapter outline and how easy it had been to identify the practices I wish someone had taught me years earlier.
Techniques that allowed me to beat cravings when willpower wasn’t enough.
Tips that helped me remain engaged with my friends and find a new version of my social life.
Surprising ways my financial situation improved and changed my capacity to make and keep money.
Those things felt too important not to share.
I also struggled with how transparent to be about my spiritual life. As someone who taps into universal energy and collective consciousness instead of mainstream religion, it’s rare to see myself reflected in recovery stories.
Many people are unfamiliar with energy work, and I didn’t want readers to dismiss the book out of hand because they assumed it wasn’t evidence-based or well-researched. But I believe science and spirituality can, and should, go hand in hand. I hope Big Sober Energy helps expand this conversation in some small way.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about the Big Sober Energy community?
Big Sober Energy is a membership specifically for sober women and nonbinary people over 40 who are navigating the challenges of recovery and midlife at the same time. Members will have access to educational content, coaching from me and expert guests, and a community of folks who are all on a similar journey.
When I quit drinking at 43, I assumed I would lose weight and feel incredible. Instead, a year later, I got smacked in the face with the symptoms of perimenopause. It was a real test of my inner resources; I wanted to drink, but I knew alcohol could only help me manage my sleep issues, anxiety, and discomfort in the very short term. Beyond an hour or two of relief, drinking would have made everything far worse. But I was left asking: What would actually help?
The Big Sober Energy community is where I’ll share everything I’ve learned about how to answer that question, staying sober through a huge life transition, and making midlife the best year yet.
The community is just getting started, but I’m so excited to see where it goes. I haven’t seen these issues addressed in one place before–and it’s so needed! I love that publishing the book created the momentum for me to build an affordable opportunity to support readers as they put the practices into action.
What matters most to you?
What matters most to me is helping as many people as possible hear and believe the message that, with the right support, they can get and stay sober.
I may not be the right person to support everyone, but I believe everyone can be helped.
Pricing:
- You can download a sample chapter of Big Sober Energy for free on my website.
- My weekly column and public Facebook community are also free.
- My private membership has two tiers: $7/month and $47/month depending on the services you wish to access. Folks who ware interested can join the waitlist on my website.
- I also offer digital workbooks and courses starting from $7.
Contact Info:
- Website: bigsoberenergy.com
- Instagram: @bigsoberenergy
- Facebook: facebook.com/groups/bigsoberenergy
Image Credits
Russell Estes, Square Lightning Communications & Design
