Like many of us, Joanne Goldbaum was raised to stay quiet, not rock the boat, and not trust her emotions. And also, like many of us, she turned to alcohol to drown out the noise of a dismal job, an unhealthy home life, and a terrible marriage that affected not only her but her children as well.
“I started drinking at an early age. My childhood was not a happy one, and the moment I discovered alcohol, it became my solution for everything,” Joanne shares. “It made me feel comfortable in my own skin, which I never did growing up. I always felt like an outsider, like I was different, I was invisible, and I didn’t fit in anywhere. Alcohol gave me the courage to fit in, be confident, and belong — or so I thought.”
Divine Intervention
But after years of alcohol abuse, a divinely choreographed conversation between her children was the sign she needed that enough was enough.
“My daughter initiated an intervention where each member of my family, including my husband, read a letter that they had written to me. When my daughter read her letter, tears were in her eyes, and I felt the hurt and concern in every word she spoke. This tore my heart open to the core, and that is when I knew things had to change. I knew I was the only one who could change, and I wanted happiness back in my home.
Joanne investigated options for treatment centers and found treatment in Kirkland, Washington, just for women. After an orientation, she began the extensive outpatient treatment program.
“Going to extensive outpatient treatment took a lot of courage, time, and commitment. After work, I was either going to the treatment center for classes or AA meetings every night. This left very little time for my family, and even though we had not spoken much before, I missed the little time we had together, even if it was just dinner. That was one thing we still had,” she says.
Over time, Joanne’s hard work paid off. Through counseling, AA meetings, and building a strong support network of women, she rediscovered joy, strength, and self-love. Today, Joanne enjoys a stronger marriage and deeper bonds with her children, and she has found her true calling as a coach who helps other women. Her story is a powerful testament to the courage it takes to face addiction and the incredible transformation that comes when we choose to love ourselves fully.
Sharing Her Story
Joanne is involved in Karen Rae’s Fave Lifestyle community, a global sisterhood advocating for — one voice, one heart, one million strong — and celebrating the bravery that lives in us all. Joanne contributed a chapter to Rae’s book, Being Brave: #Celebrating1mWomen and Their Courage, a dynamic collective of stories by female entrepreneurs, mothers, grandmothers, and professionals. Rae says, “Being Brave is a reminder that, no matter how chaotic the world may get, every woman has a story worth celebrating. And by sharing these stories, we create a path for others to follow, lifting each other up along the way.”
In her chapter, Living and Loving Life after Addiction,” Joanne reveals the raw and transformative journey of self-discovery and healing. Stuck in a cycle of misery, unhealthy relationships, and alcohol dependence, she found herself at rock bottom, overwhelmed by fear and shame. Taking the first step toward recovery, Joanne embraced humility and sought treatment, admitting she couldn’t fight her battles alone.
The Wisdom from Her Life Lessons
- Everyone is worthy of love and acceptance.
- Addiction is a disease, and you don’t have to continue living in shame and guilt trying to control something that is out of your control.
- It is not a weakness if you ask for help or seek support when you need it.
- What you perceive about yourself will become your reality: If you believe you are not worthy of something, you will stay stuck; if you believe you are worthy, you will succeed. Your higher power does not want you to play small in this life, so go for those dreams and make them a reality.
For over twelve years, Joanne has been using her life experiences, her journey through overcoming addiction, and letting go of past beliefs to live an authentic, heartfelt life to help others. As a speaker, trainer, and certified DreamBuilder coach, Joanne’s workshops and coaching programs help people break through limitations and achieve greater results than they have ever known possible. She specializes in assisting women to reignite their passion within them, rediscover their dreams, accelerate their results, and create richer, more fulfilling lives. She is offering her updated 12-week Dreambuilder program, a three-month, intimate group coaching program designed to help individuals clarify their goals, embody their visions, and repattern limiting beliefs.
Find out more about Joanne Goldbaum here.