Episode 16: When sobriety means you lose loved ones but find your purpose with Sonia Kahlon

In this episode of the Stacking Days podcast, host Ray Donovan welcomes Sonia Kahlon, the founder of EverBlume recovery support service, to share her personal journey of recovery. Sonia has been sober for 6 years. The conversation focuses on the usual themes of inclusivity, representation, and finding healing as a person of color, as well as Sonia’s experience as someone of Punjabi descent growing up in Toronto and dealing with the breakdown of her marriage while sober. 

Alcohol as a temporary coping mechanism 

Sonia opens up about her experience of anxiety as a child and how alcohol helped to alleviate these feelings. She studied to be a dentist and reveals that her long academic journey and the demands of running a business afterwards were the only things that stopped her alcohol consumption from being problematic. 

However, she acknowledges that these were temporary coping mechanisms and that the real challenge was finding a sustainable solution to her anxiety.

Once she sold her business she knew she had to find this fulfillment elsewhere and not fall into a lifestyle of excessive drinking. 

Discovering sustainable coping mechanisms

Throughout the episode, Sonia emphasizes the significance of finding healthy coping mechanisms. Sonia kept herself busy after the sale of her business by taking up hobbies and doing volunteer work. This gave her a sense of fulfillment and purpose which helped her feel more settled in her life. 

Dealing with big life events sober

Five years into Sonia’s sobriety her husband said he wanted to separate. This took Sonia completely by shock. In times like these Sonia would usually have turned to alcohol. But she didn’t and embraced what she was feeling. She experienced an incredibly hard time in her life but learned to deal with it rather than using alcohol as a crutch.  

The value of self-care and holistic well-being

Sonia and Ray delve into the importance of self-care and holistic well-being in the recovery process. They discuss the positive impact of exercise, maintaining a healthy diet, and engaging in activities that bring joy and fulfillment. They recognize that these practices contribute to combating anxiety and creating a more balanced and fulfilling life.

Cultural perspectives and evaluating relationships with alcohol

Sonia shares insights from her cultural background, emphasizing that the concept of alcohol addiction or mental health issues are not recognised in her Punjabi culture. Contrastingly she experienced a lot of men drinking very heavily in her culture growing up. 

She challenges traditional norms and encourages individuals to honestly evaluate their relationship with alcohol, regardless of cultural influences.

The Importance of support and evaluation

Sonia highlights the value of having a designated space, like EverBlume, where individuals can honestly evaluate their relationship with alcohol. She emphasizes the significance of seeking support and guidance throughout the recovery process.

Sonia’s details 

If you’d like to learn more about Sonia’s organization EverBlume see the details below:

Website: https://www.joineverblume.com/

Instagram, TikTok: @joineverblume

Twitter: @EverBlume

Facebook: EverBlume