Who Is the True You Without Substances?
Have you ever said or thought, “I just feel more like myself when I’m drinking”?
Maybe you’ve felt more confident, open, relaxed, or expressive while under the influence—and started to wonder: Is that my real self?
If you’re navigating recovery or beginning to explore your relationship with substances, this is a powerful and important question. And in this post, I want to gently invite you into a more empowered and healing way of thinking about your “true self.”
What We Think Is the True Self… Often Isn’t
Many people in early recovery say they feel like substances help them be more themselves. It makes sense—substances like alcohol suppress inhibition and fear, which can temporarily free up confidence and social ease. But what’s actually happening is not that the substance creates your true self—it simply quiets the parts of your brain that hold back.
That version of you—the bold, funny, relaxed one—isn’t false.
But it’s also not a chemically required version of you.
It’s a glimpse of the deeper, freer self that already exists within you.
And that self can absolutely be accessed—without substances.
So… Who Is the True Self?
Your true self is the part of you that exists beneath fear, shame, and survival patterns. It’s the calm, clear, compassionate, creative core of who you are. In healing and recovery work, especially in modalities like parts work or inner child healing, we often call this the “Self with a capital S.”
It’s the version of you that doesn’t need to perform.
The one that knows your worth.
The one that’s always been there—before the pain, before the coping, before the conditioning.
Recovery Is a Return—Not a Reinvention
The work of recovery isn’t about becoming someone new. It’s about remembering who you are beneath everything life has put on top of you. It’s a process of gently peeling back the layers of pain, self-protection, and stories you’ve been told about who you’re supposed to be.
And yes, that takes time. But it also gets easier, softer, and more empowering the deeper you go.
Want Support Connecting with Your True Self?
To support you in exploring this topic more deeply, I created a free journaling worksheet that goes hand-in-hand with this article and my Breaking Free from Within podcast episode by the same name.
In this worksheet, you’ll reflect on:
What feels “true” when you’re under the influence
What’s hiding underneath that needs safety to emerge
How to start accessing your confidence, boldness, and authenticity—naturally and sober
Download your free worksheet here:
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Final Thoughts
You don’t need to be altered to be authentic.
Your true self is not boring, broken, or hiding forever.
She’s waiting for you—just beneath the noise.
Thank you for being here. Thank you for doing the brave work of coming home to yourself. You are already enough.
With love and alignment,
Prairie Francia
Recovery Coach, Wellness Guide & Founder of Alignment with Prairie Yana
LISTEN to the Accompanying Podcast Episode on: