What if the very thing you believe is helping you cope… is actually keeping you stuck?

In this deeply honest and inspiring episode, I sit down with recovery advocate, certified sober coach, author, and podcaster Hannah Turner to explore her powerful journey from the chaos of addiction to the clarity of sobriety.

At just 21 years old, while studying abroad in Paris, Hannah had a life-changing realization: she was an alcoholic. One pivotal moment came when she discovered a video on her phone—recorded while she was drunk—of herself pleading with her future sober self to get help and stay sober. She didn’t remember filming it… but watching it changed everything.

Despite a deep desire to quit drinking, Hannah faced the internal battle so many experience—the simultaneous urge to stop and to continue. What helped her begin to break free? Writing.

Through poetry, Hannah found a way to process her emotions, confront her pain, and ultimately transform her life.

A New Understanding of Addiction
In this conversation, we challenge the common misconception that addiction is about weakness or lack of willpower.

Instead, Hannah shares a powerful truth:

Addiction is often an attempt to solve a deeper problem.

For her, alcohol became a way to numb feelings of inadequacy, silence self-doubt, and cope with past trauma. Struggles with a speech impediment, being labeled “too sensitive,” and experiences that left her feeling unsafe in her own body all contributed to her pain.

Alcohol felt like a “magic wand”—until she realized it was actually making things worse.

The Clarity of Chaos
Hannah’s healing journey gave rise to her poetry collection, The Clarity of Chaos.
Written during her time in Paris while completing her thesis on addiction, the poems were born from a period of vulnerability—when old urges resurfaced and imposter syndrome crept in.

What began as a personal outlet became something more.
As Hannah explains, her poems naturally fell into two themes:

• The chaos of addiction
• The clarity of sobriety

From that realization, her book—and later her podcast—was born.
Now two years sober and a graduate of the American University of Paris, Hannah has become a beacon of hope for others navigating similar struggles.

A Message of Hope
Hannah’s story is a powerful reminder that healing is possible—and that even in our darkest moments, there is a path forward.

Recovery isn’t about perfection. It’s about honesty, courage, and choosing—again and again—to move toward the light.

Connect with Hannah Turner
Learn more about Hannah, her book, and her work here:
🌐 https://www.hannahturner.net

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Free Resource for Healing
If you're ready to release stress, calm your mind, and begin healing from within, visit:

🌿 https://hopeforhealingfoundation.org
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