040: "Bottled" Dana Bowman, the Author of Bottled: A Woman's Guide to Early Recovery shares with us her Battle with Alcoholism and Journey into Recovery.040: "Bottled" Dana Bowman, the Author of Bottled: A Woman's Guide to Early Recovery shares with us her Battle with Alcoholism and Journey into Recovery.
The SHAIR Recovery Podcast
Author and mum Dana Bowman shares a candid, humorous account of her slide into alcoholism and her early recovery journey. The conversation highlights motherhood, mental health, spiritual growth and the surprising return of real laughter in sobriety.
53:24•17 Nov 2015
Laughing Again: Dana Bowman on Motherhood, Alcoholism and Early Recovery
Episode Overview
- High-functioning, sophisticated drinking can still mask a serious alcohol problem, especially for mothers under pressure to appear perfect.
- Early recovery often involves strong fear and ego, but simply going to meetings and not drinking in between can build a foundation.
- A personal, consistent connection with a higher power—through reading, prayer, and honest conversation—helps sustain long-term sobriety.
- Honesty about hidden drinking, mental health struggles, and family dynamics is essential for meaningful recovery.
- Sobriety does not mean a dull life; over time, genuine laughter and joy return in ways that feel deeper than drinking ever provided.
“You will laugh again. It's not going to be this horrible, deadly, boring, dull existence without booze.”
What are the common struggles and victories in addiction recovery? This conversation with author and mum Dana Bowman offers a funny, painfully honest look at early sobriety that many women, especially mothers, may recognise straight away. Hosted by recovery coach Omar Pinto on The SHAIR Recovery Podcast, the episode focuses on Dana’s story behind her book *Bottled: A Mom’s Guide to Early Recovery*.
You’ll hear how a seemingly “together” suburban life, complete with a career, marriage and two young children, slowly twisted into hidden bottles in boots and the laundry room, boxed wine “holy grails”, and carefully timed drinking around breastfeeding. Dana talks openly about postpartum depression, anxiety, codependent relationships and the pressure to look perfect.
She admits she tried every self-imposed rule—only weekends, only fancy wine, only one glass—before reaching that terrifying point of realising, “I can’t quit drinking, but I can’t keep living like this.” Her description of crawling on the kitchen floor and robotically driving to her first 12‑step meeting is anything but glamorous, yet she still manages to make it darkly funny.
A big part of the episode is her relationship with a higher power: moving from a rigid religious upbringing to a real, personal connection in recovery, complete with talking to God in the car and a tiny prayer space at home her kids know not to disturb. She also shares how recovery deepened her bond with her father, himself over 50 years sober. The tone stays light and chatty while never minimising the seriousness of alcoholism.
Dana’s message to newcomers is simple and comforting: sobriety isn’t a sentence to a grey, joyless life. As she puts it, you will laugh again – properly, from the gut. If you’ve ever wondered whether life without alcohol can still feel bright, messy, and full of humour, this episode might be the reassurance you need.
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