Finding Freedom: Karla Adkins on Parenting, Faith & Alcohol-Free Resilience

June 11, 2025

Listen to Episode 02 of The Zero Proof Life Podcast

If you’re juggling homework help, career goals, and a quiet voice that whispers “I need another way,” Karla has walked your road. This blog is breaking down how vulnerability is a super-power, tiny daily choices build ironclad resilience, and where to find a judgment-free squad that celebrates every alcohol-free win.

1. From Rock-Bottom to “Book About Hope”

Diagnosed with cirrhosis at 36, Karla faced a brutal truth: continuing to drink meant missing her daughter’s future. Instead of hiding, she documented the journey in And She Came Tumbling Down: Breaking the Bonds of Alcohol and Creating a Life of Freedom—a book readers now call “a lifeline in paperback.” amazon.com

“I wrote it so the scared, lonely woman at 3 a.m. knows she isn’t broken—she’s breaking through.” – Karla

2. Parenting Without the Pour

Kids don’t need perfect parents; they need present ones. Karla’s top tips:

Feel, don’t flee. When frustration spikes, she plants both feet, labels the emotion, and breathes 4-4-6 until her nervous system settles.
Name the win aloud. “Mommy’s using her calm-down breath right now.” Modeling regulation teaches kids they can, too.
Micro-boundaries. Alcohol stays out of the house so playdates feel simple and safe.

3. Faith Meets Neuroscience

Recovery isn’t one-size-fits-all. Karla’s toolkit combines:

Tool	How it Helps
Daily prayer & Scripture	Anchors identity beyond “former drinker.”
Somatic grounding	Signals safety to the body before the brain catches up.
Community check-ins	Busts isolation and shares fresh coping ideas.

The result? A brain rewired for hope, not hyper-vigilance.

4. Alternative Paths: Celebrate Every Sobriety Story

While AA works for millions, Karla reminds us it’s one road among many. Online groups, coach-led programs, therapy, medication-assisted treatment—all valid. The measure of success isn’t a chip; it’s a life expanding beyond the bottle.

5. Life on the Other Side of Comfort Zones

Since ditching alcohol, Karla has:

Learned to paddleboard the tidal creeks of Pawleys Island
Started mother-daughter sunrise walks (bonus: tween chats!)
Built a nationwide network of alcohol-free friends through Zero Proof Life

“I was a hot mess,” she laughs. “Now I’m a hope dealer.”

Three Take-Home Moves

30-Second Name & Breathe
Spot the feeling, name it, exhale longer than you inhale. Repeat twice.
Hope Audit
List three ways your life could expand (not shrink) without alcohol.
Find Your People
Whether it’s ZPL, therapy, or another sober group, connection multiplies resilience.