# Hiding Wine Bottles to 47 and Sober: Alex Leigh Story

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/one-for-the-road-the-quit-drinking-podcast-3741204/hiding-wine-bottles-to-47-and-sober-alex-leigh-story
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/one-for-the-road-the-quit-drinking-podcast-3741204/hiding-wine-bottles-to-47-and-sober-alex-leigh-story.md
Podcast: [One for the Road: The Quit Drinking Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/one-for-the-road-the-quit-drinking-podcast-3741204)
Published: 2025-10-24T05:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://shows.acast.com/one-for-the-road-1/episodes/alex-leigh
Audio file: https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/64a1692cfc86ab00111f2ce6/e/68f930f258b21da8ffd395d8/media.mp3
Processing state: processed
JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/one-for-the-road-the-quit-drinking-podcast-3741204/episodes/hiding-wine-bottles-to-47-and-sober-alex-leigh-story
Duration seconds: 4219

## Resource

Alex Lee shares her journey from a high-flying international modeling career fueled by substance use to finding lasting sobriety in Athens. She details the transition from hiding wine bottles to reclaiming her energy and mental clarity.

## Highlights
- Main idea: True recovery involves addressing underlying childhood trauma rather than just managing symptoms
- Failure mode: Mistaking alcohol-induced depression for a natural part of aging or perimenopause
- Practical takeaway: Avoid the 'forever' mindset; focus on navigating life one hour or one day at a time
- Lesson: Self-compassion is essential when integrating your past struggles into your new, sober identity
- Insight: Sobriety is not about deprivation, but about gaining the energy and motivation to actually live

## Topics

Sobriety, Alcohol Addiction, Trauma Recovery, Mental Health, Personal Transformation, Modeling Industry, Grief, Lifestyle Change

## Chapters
- 1:00 — Introduction and Coaching: Host Sober Dave introduces the episode and shares details about his one-to-one coaching program for professionals.
- 6:30 — Early Childhood Trauma: Alex reflects on the loss of her father and how early grief shaped her coping mechanisms.
- 11:50 — The Rise of Substance Use: The transition from smoking to drinking as a rite of passage during her teenage years.
- 17:10 — The Peak of Success: Alex discusses her years as a successful international model and the hidden cost of the lifestyle.
- 22:20 — The Cycle of Self-Medication: How the loop of drugs and alcohol created a cycle of depression and physical exhaustion.
- 27:50 — Impact on Relationships: The social consequences of drinking and the persona of being the 'party clown' at the expense of real connection.
- 33:00 — The Breaking Point: Navigating the depths of depression and the realization that alcohol was the primary driver of her instability.

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## Transcript

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