What's Your Addiction?
We all have something to put down.
Think About It
“Live less out of habit and more out of intent.” - Amy Rubin Flett
Someone recently said to me, “everyone is addicted to something.” Initially I felt resistance to the comment, but then I realized, it’s true. We all have some “thing” that does or has controlled us in the past. We all have something we reach for when life feels too much. For some, it’s a drink or a pill. For others, it’s their phone, work, or another person’s approval. It can even be a way of thinking or an attitude.
As many of you know, I’ve been there. For years, I chased comfort in food and control by obsessing about my body. It was an addiction and one that felt like my life was at stake if I didn’t seek help. Sure, my situation was extreme. But I’d bet that most of us can stand to let go of an unhealthy behavior/thought/idea that’s taking up way too space in our lives.
That’s what this week’s episode with Laura Cathcart Robbins reminded me of. The focus of Laura’s memoir is a story of addiction, honesty, and the long walk back to herself is about what happens when we stop lying to ourselves about the things that quietly run our lives. Because addiction isn’t always obvious.
Anything we use to avoid our feelings can become an addiction. And real healing and recovery starts with radical honesty. It starts when we realize that the “thing” is doing more harm than good and decide to sit in the discomfort instead of running from it.
So today, I invite you to get curious and consider:
What do I reach for when I don’t want to feel?
What might I need to put down, not to punish myself, but to come home to myself?
And who could I become if I stopped hiding behind that habit? What could I do with my time/free mental space?
Of course, you don’t have to call it an addiction. Just start by calling it what it is, a way you’ve learned to protect yourself or to numb out. And then, when you’re ready, ask what might be possible if you didn’t need that protection anymore.
Healing always starts with honesty.
Take care,
p.s. I’m helping folks learn to take up space and be SEEN, by offering 45-minute coaching sessions at $97 for a limited time. Book your session HERE.
New Episode 🎙️
Addiction, Honesty, and the Stories That Set Us Free with Laura Cathcart Robbins is now live.
Laura Cathcart Robbins is the best-selling author of Stash: My Life in Hiding, a memoir about her journey through addiction to alcohol and Ambien, and the courage it took to tell the truth about it. She’s also the host of The Only One in the Room podcast, where she’s shared stories of other voices who’ve felt unseen or alone in their experiences.
In our conversation, Laura and I talk about how storytelling becomes a vehicle for recovery, what self-evolution actually looks like, and why truth-telling can be one of the most healing acts of all.
If you’ve ever felt like you had to keep it together or play a part just to be loved, this episode is for you. Laura’s story is a reminder that freedom begins where hiding ends, and that recovery, in all its forms, starts with radical self-honesty.
Dig into the episode here.
ICYMI
This week, I had the pleasure of writing for Open Secrets Magazine, sharing my story about being estranged from my mother and the complexities of mothering my daughter. You can read it here.
About Me
I’m Shanetta McDonald, a somatic life coach, writer, and veteran publicist who’s a guide for folks learning to live more fully in their truth. Over the past decade, I’ve helped shape the stories of changemakers, creatives, and mission-driven brands. Now, I help people—especially women—release perfection, reconnect with their bodies, and rewrite the narratives that no longer serve them.
Whether you’re a high-achiever learning to soften, a mother reclaiming herself, or a creative trying to find your voice again, you’re in the right place. My work is rooted in nervous system awareness, embodied storytelling, and the belief that your inner wisdom already knows the way.
Book your FREE introductory call today.
looking forward to listening to this episode Shanetta. I've started calling myself an addict, because when it comes down to it, that's what I am. I think here needs to be more conversations about the reality that *anything* can be an addiction. Society has led people to believe it's only certain things like in my instance, drinking, which allows people to easily dismiss other disruptive and harmful habits. thank you for this!
I'm in the process of making dancing and workout my addiction. Substances and medication don't work - I'm the one who gets off meds cold turkey with no issues and got bored of nice wine.