“When You’re Not Out of Control—Just Tired of Surviving” 

In this episode of Faith Over Fear, Carol sits down with Christy Osborne, author of Love Life Sober, for an honest, compassionate conversation about exhaustion, emotional numbness, and the quiet ways many women cope just to get through the day.

This isn’t a conversation about hitting rock bottom or losing control. It’s about the woman who looks “fine” on the outside—but feels tired, flat, and disconnected from joy on the inside.

Christy shares her personal journey through an alcohol fast—not as a self-improvement project, but as a brave act of curiosity and care. (Download the free companion guide for this episode here.)

Together, Carol and Christy explore:
Why alcohol (or other numbing habits) often function as a solution, not the real problem
What surfaces emotionally and spiritually when numbing is removed
How grief, fatigue, and long-buried feelings often point to unmet needs—not personal failure
The lies that grow louder in silence—and how awareness and Scripture can interrupt them with grace
Where Jesus meets us most clearly when we feel exposed, weary, and emotionally honest
How joy can return—not as escape, but as presence, embodiment, and safety

If you’ve ever thought, “I’m not out of control—I’m just so tired,” this episode is for you.

Resource referenced: Love Life Sober: A 40-Day Alcohol Fast to Rediscover Your Joy, Improve Your Health, and Renew Your Mind

Listener Reflective Questions 
Where in my life have I been using something—even something socially acceptable—to soften, numb, or survive instead of truly rest?
If I’m honest, what emotions do I work hardest to avoid feeling—and why might those emotions feel unsafe to me?
Have I been interpreting my exhaustion as failure, when it may actually be information about my soul’s needs?
What lies get loud for me when life slows down or distractions are removed—and how do those lies shape my sense of identity?
How has my definition of joy been shaped by escape rather than presence—and what quieter forms of joy might God be inviting me to notice?
What would it look like to believe I can feel deeply and be safe with God—right here, not after I “fix” myself?

Connect with Christy Osborne:

On her website

On Instagram

On Facebook

Find her work on Amazon

Find Carol McCracken:

On her website 

On Facebook

On Instagram

&ldquo;When You&rsquo;re Not Out of Control&mdash;Just Tired of Surviving&rdquo;&nbsp;
In this episode of Faith Over Fear, Carol sits down with Christy Osborne, author of Love Life Sober, for an honest, compassionate conversation about exhaustion, emotional numbness, and the quiet ways many women cope just to get through the day.
This isn&rsquo;t a conversation about hitting rock bottom or losing control. It&rsquo;s about the woman who looks &ldquo;fine&rdquo; on the outside&mdash;but feels tired, flat, and disconnected from joy on the inside.
Christy shares her personal journey through an alcohol fast&mdash;not as a self-improvement project, but as a brave act of curiosity and care. (<a href="https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com/downloads/freedom-from-numbing-breaking-alcohols-grip/">Download the free companion guide for this episode here.</a>)
Together, Carol and Christy explore:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Why alcohol (or other numbing habits) often function as a solution, not the real problem</li>
<li aria-level="1">What surfaces emotionally and spiritually when numbing is removed</li>
<li aria-level="1">How grief, fatigue, and long-buried feelings often point to unmet needs&mdash;not personal failure</li>
<li aria-level="1">The lies that grow louder in silence&mdash;and how awareness and Scripture can interrupt them with grace</li>
<li aria-level="1">Where Jesus meets us most clearly when we feel exposed, weary, and emotionally honest</li>
<li aria-level="1">How joy can return&mdash;not as escape, but as presence, embodiment, and safety</li>
</ul>
If you&rsquo;ve ever thought, &ldquo;I&rsquo;m not out of control&mdash;I&rsquo;m just so tired,&rdquo; this episode is for you.
Resource referenced: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Love-Life-Sober-Alcohol-Rediscover-ebook/dp/B0CQJKGW86/">Love Life Sober: A 40-Day Alcohol Fast to Rediscover Your Joy, Improve Your Health, and Renew Your Mind</a>
Listener Reflective Questions&nbsp;
<ol>
<li aria-level="1">Where in my life have I been using something&mdash;even something socially acceptable&mdash;to soften, numb, or survive instead of truly rest?</li>
<li aria-level="1">If I&rsquo;m honest, what emotions do I work hardest to avoid feeling&mdash;and why might those emotions feel unsafe to me?</li>
<li aria-level="1">Have I been interpreting my exhaustion as failure, when it may actually be information about my soul&rsquo;s needs?</li>
<li aria-level="1">What lies get loud for me when life slows down or distractions are removed&mdash;and how do those lies shape my sense of identity?</li>
<li aria-level="1">How has my definition of joy been shaped by escape rather than presence&mdash;and what quieter forms of joy might God be inviting me to notice?</li>
<li aria-level="1">What would it look like to believe I can feel deeply and be safe with God&mdash;right here, not after I &ldquo;fix&rdquo; myself?</li>
</ol>
Connect with Christy Osborne:
<a href="https://lovelifesober.co.uk/">On her website</a>
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/lovelifesoberwithchristy/">On Instagram</a>
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/christy.osborne.18">On Facebook</a>
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Christy-Osborne/author/B0CV7TJKP8?ccs_id=5a7842a7-4782-4c07-860d-b91866a6cbb5">Find her work on Amazon</a>
Find Carol McCracken:
<a href="https://www.carolmccracken.com">On her website&nbsp;</a>
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/carol.o.mccracken">On Facebook</a>
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/carologlemccracken/">On Instagram</a>

Life is too short and God has too much for us to do for any of us to live enslaved. Jesus promised His followers would experience filled to overflowing life, a life characterized by joy, peace, and spiritual and emotional vitality. And yet, we daily make decisions based on fear, not faith. In Faith Over Fear, author and speaker Jennifer Slattery helps us see different areas of life where fear has a foothold, and how our identity as children of God can help us move from fear to faithful, bold living.

This podcast covers topics like:

⭐️ How to Overcome Fear
⭐️ Biblical Strategies for Overcoming Fear and Anxiety
⭐️ Powerful Steps to Fight Anxiety
⭐️ Finding God Faithful in Hard Seasons
⭐️ Courage to Wait on God

Jesus has more planned for us than we could imagine and He’s fully committed to perfecting that which concerns us. Fear holds us back, but His perfect love has the power to cast out all fear!

Life is too short and God has too much for us to do for any of us to live enslaved. Jesus promised His followers would experience filled to overflowing life, a life characterized by joy, peace, and spiritual and emotional vitality. And yet, we daily make decisions based on fear, not faith. In Faith Over Fear, author and speaker Jennifer Slattery helps us see different areas of life where fear has a foothold, and how our identity as children of God can help us move from fear to faithful, bold living.
This podcast covers topics like:
⭐️ How to Overcome Fear ⭐️ Biblical Strategies for Overcoming Fear and Anxiety ⭐️ Powerful Steps to Fight Anxiety ⭐️ Finding God Faithful in Hard Seasons ⭐️ Courage to Wait on God
Jesus has more planned for us than we could imagine and He’s fully committed to perfecting that which concerns us. Fear holds us back, but His perfect love has the power to cast out all fear!

Life is too short and God has too much for us to do for any of us to live enslaved. Jesus promised His followers would experience filled to overflowing life, a life characterized by joy, peace, and spiritual and emotional vitality. And yet, we daily...

Faith Over Fear

When Wine Becomes a Crutch: Freedom from Alcohol's Grip

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/3dc11c8b-ab32-4438-9edd-b3d8001b25b4/transcript