Heroes Of The Addiction Crisis: How Kristen Bear Of Creative Sobriety Is Helping To Battle One of…

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Heroes Of The Addiction Crisis: How Kristen Bear Of Creative Sobriety Is Helping To Battle One of Our Most Serious Epidemics

…I think my idea would be for people to get really curious about what they accept into their lives. I see the younger generations already doing this — they’re demanding more wellness, more transparency, and they’re moving away from mass consumption and materialism. I think that’s what this modern sobriety movement is about. We’re taking a step back and asking, “Wait a minute. Why am I drinking this? Why am I doing this over and over? I want more depth in my life. I want intentionality. I want purpose.” What I hope my work inspires people to do is to get curious about why they do the things they do. Our time here is so precious, and I believe that everyone has innate gifts and talents they’re meant to share with the world. I want people to give themselves the space to develop those gifts and not be afraid to show up authentically. I want them to know they don’t need anything — whether it’s alcohol, drugs, or whatever they think they need — to feel “enough.” They were always whole without it. I want to see people show up as their true selves, and I believe the world wants to see that too. If me showing up authentically can help someone else feel they have permission to do the same, that would be the message I want to share…

I had the pleasure of talking with Kristen Bear. Kristen is the founder of Creative Sobriety, a community-centered platform and social media presence focused on promoting a modern, alcohol-free lifestyle. Through this initiative, Bear has contributed to the “sober curious” movement, a trend that has resonated with younger generations and gained substantial momentum across social media, particularly on platforms like TikTok. Creative Sobriety, which Bear began during her own journey to quit alcohol in 2020, now serves a rapidly growing community of over 58,000 followers. The platform provides resources, events, and open discussions that aim to reframe what it means to live sober or sober-curious in contemporary culture.

Bear’s personal story is a crucial aspect of her work with Creative Sobriety. Raised in a small town in East Tennessee, she spent her early life dreaming of larger horizons. Bear pursued a career in acting and modeling, eventually moving to New York City, where she worked as a model and appeared in commercials and small acting roles. Though her career allowed her to travel and connect with creative communities worldwide, she found herself struggling with personal fulfillment. A move to the West Coast for acting school left her feeling stagnant, and by 2019, Bear began questioning the role alcohol played in her life. Realizing that her drinking habits were contributing to her feelings of dissatisfaction, she decided to return to Tennessee to regroup.

In February 2020, Bear committed to sobriety, marking what she describes as a pivotal transformation. She found herself dissatisfied with the existing narratives around sobriety, which she felt did not align with the creative and intentional lifestyle she wanted to build. Bear envisioned a modern, more inclusive version of sobriety, one that extended beyond traditional support programs to encompass a more nuanced approach. Her sobriety journey inspired her to create an Instagram account, initially anonymous, as a way to connect with others who might be exploring similar paths. This page soon evolved into Creative Sobriety, where she began openly sharing her experiences, providing a voice for those seeking an alternative way of approaching sobriety.

Creative Sobriety offers a variety of programs and resources, including Bear’s podcast and Creative Sobriety Academy, an educational program that guides participants through the emotional and psychological facets of becoming alcohol-free. Through workshops, virtual meetings, and partnerships with non-alcoholic brands, Creative Sobriety has attracted a community of like-minded individuals, many of whom share Bear’s desire to challenge societal expectations around drinking. By hosting events like a “sober curious” supper club, Bear has actively encouraged her audience to explore alcohol-free social spaces, hoping to normalize and destigmatize sobriety among creatives and beyond.

Bear’s impact on the sober curious movement is partly rooted in her openness about the challenges and rewards of sobriety. In interviews, she has described the process of leaving alcohol behind as a series of small, gradual revelations rather than a single dramatic decision. She emphasizes that her journey required a strong commitment to personal honesty and clarity, as well as a willingness to change her environment and relationships to support her sobriety. For Bear, the act of “going all in” on her own potential required letting go of societal expectations and instead embracing a lifestyle aligned with her personal values and goals.

Her efforts have resonated with thousands of people, particularly women, who find themselves grappling with similar questions around drinking. Bear believes that Creative Sobriety has become a space where individuals can rethink their own relationships with alcohol without feeling pressured by stigma or preconceived notions. She has shared stories of followers who credit her platform with helping them achieve long-term sobriety, often reaching out to her with messages of gratitude for creating a community where they feel understood and supported.

As Creative Sobriety continues to expand, Bear is dedicated to furthering her mission. She sees her work as part of a broader “sober revolution,” where individuals are encouraged to critically examine the presence of alcohol in their lives and consider a lifestyle that prioritizes intentionality and self-awareness. Through social media, podcasts, and community events, she hopes to inspire more people to embrace sobriety as a positive, creative choice rather than a restriction.

Bear remains active on social media and offers various avenues for people to engage with her work, including the Creative Sobriety website, social media channels, and a Substack newsletter. She has framed her mission as a journey not only of personal empowerment but as a broader movement toward wellness and self-discovery. In her words, the goal of Creative Sobriety is to foster a sense of wholeness, allowing people to see sobriety as an opportunity to live more fully, free from societal pressures surrounding alcohol. Through her work, Bear continues to be a leading voice in the sober curious community, advocating for an alcohol-free lifestyle that celebrates creativity, connection, and purpose.

Yitzi: Kristen, it’s an honor to meet you. Before we dive in deep, I would love to learn about your personal origin story. Could you share with us a story of your childhood, and how you grew up?

Kristen: Sure, I love that question. Thank you. So, I grew up in a really small town in East Tennessee, in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains. From a very young age, I had this deep desire to get out and experience the world beyond what I knew and what was around me. I dreamed of living in big cities and doing something creative with my life. So, I pursued a career in acting and modeling. I moved to New York in my 20s, worked as a fashion model, and started doing commercials and small TV and movie roles. It was a really enlightening experience — I got to travel around the world, meet a lot of interesting people, and be part of all kinds of creative projects.

I ended up back in Tennessee right before the COVID pandemic, and I’m still based there now. That year and that move home really sparked a brand new trajectory in my life. It’s the year I got sober, and it’s the year I created Creative Sobriety. Now, I have a completely new outlook on what it means to experience the world and to step out of my own little corner of it. So, in a way, I ended up back where I started, and I think that’s a really beautiful story.

Yitzi: So, please tell us about the next chapter of that story. Tell us about this exciting initiative you’re working on.

Kristen: Yeah. So, what happened was, I feel like a lot of things in my life stopped working around 2019. I was actually living on the West Coast then, going to acting school, auditioning, and really feeling very stuck. I was in a place where nothing new was happening — I felt stagnant and like I lacked a real sense of purpose. I decided to move back to Tennessee to regroup and spend some time with my family.

While I was there, I had this epiphany that the drinking, the partying, the whole status quo I’d been living — it just wasn’t serving me anymore. I realized I was kind of just falling in line with my social crowd. I wasn’t doing anything particularly different from anyone else, but I had this moment of clarity. I realized I could keep living the way I had been, or I could actually go after my biggest dreams. There was no third option. I saw that I’d been limiting myself to only a small fraction of my potential.

One February morning, it hit me like a ton of bricks. Something switched in my brain, and I just knew something I hadn’t known before. I decided, “You know what? I’m going to go all in. I’m going to go all in on me — on Kristen. I’m going to see what I’m capable of.” I chose to put aside all the barriers, all the toxic habits, and the insecurities, and to show up fully and see what would happen.

That was really the birth of this creative modern sobriety journey. I realized there wasn’t anyone out there talking about sobriety in the way I wanted to experience it, in a way that felt authentic to me. That realization was the catalyst for me to start sharing my own voice, in hopes of connecting with others who might be able to offer advice or share their own experiences.

I did end up finding some like-minded people in what’s now known as “Sober Instagram.” I found great books and resources, and I realized there were a lot of other people — especially women — who felt the same way I did. They were disappointed and disillusioned with this idea that we needed alcohol to have fun, feel sexy, mature, or creative. For a while, it felt like I was just shouting into a void, but eventually people heard me. They started to join in, and we all began having these conversations together.

What’s come out of that is this beautiful community. We’re super open, super honest, and we’re all having a great time without alcohol. I think it’s inspiring a lot of people.

Yitzi: Unbelievable. Do you feel comfortable sharing the pivotal moment that led you to reevaluate your relationship with alcohol?

Kristen: Absolutely. Yeah, so I like to say it wasn’t just one thing. There were plenty of moments in my 20s and early 30s that could have been pivotal. We all have those really bad hangovers, or a night where we say something we regret, or do something we don’t remember, right? Any one of those times, I could have easily said, “That’s it. I don’t want to feel that way. I don’t want to behave that way,” and made a change. But it didn’t happen like that. It was more of a cumulative batch of evidence — like this ongoing message that said, “This isn’t working for you.” At the very least, it was holding me back.

It was actually pretty subtle. I think, like I mentioned, I’d gone through a lot of difficult things the year before. In 2019, I ended a long-term relationship, there were some family issues, and my mental health was at an all-time low. I think that was the main catalyst — realizing I’d lost so much of my positive outlook on life. I was living in a really low place, where I couldn’t see the joy, the hope, or the possibilities anymore. I was starting to feel very cynical and disillusioned with the world. I didn’t believe in myself the way I used to, and I was starting to give up on the idea that I was worthy of the dreams I’d always had. And that scared me.

My whole life, I’ve been a dreamer, a positive person, and a spiritual person, but I didn’t see that part of myself anymore. She felt dull, gray, and sad. I was having dark thoughts, and I started noticing my mind trying to trick me in ways that really shook me. That was the pivotal moment when I thought, “Wow, this is not you, and this is not who you want to be. Maybe there’s still a chance to turn this around.”

I always say it was like a little spark inside me was still there. As low as I felt, some part of me still wanted a life that was big, juicy, and joyful. So, I chose that. It’s kind of hard to explain because it was really just a moment of clarity — a moment when it all hit me at once. I knew it was a choice I had to make, and I had to make it right then. It was a “now or never” kind of moment.

Yitzi: So, can you tell us about the first steps you took to create Creative Sobriety? Starting an organization isn’t easy. How did you start, and how did it develop?

Kristen: Yeah. So, it really started as just a small Instagram page. I created the account anonymously because I hadn’t really told anyone in my life that I’d quit drinking and was trying out this sober lifestyle. I wasn’t sure how to let people know, you know? For a long time, there’s been a stigma around the word “sober.” The first thing people ask is, “Oh, what happened? How bad did it get?” as if there has to be some dramatic story behind it.

At that point, I didn’t have a lot of confidence to say, “Yes, I’m sober, and I’m proud of it.” So, I started the account anonymously as a way to connect with others who might be in a similar situation, to find inspiration, and to post my thoughts and experiences in those early days. It was very small at first. I knew I wanted to bring creativity into it, so I named it Creative Sobriety — honestly, because the other name I wanted was taken! I experimented with some colors and fonts, and for months I never posted my face or anything that could identify me.

But people started resonating with what I was writing, and that really encouraged me to keep going. I’d get messages like, “Wow, I never thought of it like that,” or “I’m so glad you said that — I’ve been thinking it but was afraid to say it.” Those messages gave me the confidence to keep going, to get more brutally honest, and to share more raw emotion. The account slowly grew, and then about five or six months in, I had a bold moment. I thought, “This is who I am. I’m actually proud of this.” I wanted people to know it was me behind the account.

So, I posted my picture and introduced myself: “Hi, I’m Kristen, and this is what we’re doing here.” That was a huge turning point for me. Now, this has become my biggest passion — to help people and to hopefully be the voice I needed five years ago for someone else. That’s the motivation that keeps me showing up every day.

Yitzi: Unbelievable. Can you share with us a story of a person who’s been positively impacted by Creative Sobriety?

Kristen: Oh, man. Yeah. Every time I get a message from someone, I get emotional because taking something that was such a big struggle in my life and turning it into something that positively impacts someone else — that’s probably the most meaningful goal I could have.

Just a couple of days ago, I got a message from someone who said, “I started following you six months ago. You posted something about not drinking just because it’s what you’re used to, and instead, making a different choice.” She said that message hit her at the right time, and she hasn’t had a drink since. She told me, “I’m six months sober today, and I wouldn’t be here without you.” I get messages like that all the time, and it just shows the power of speaking about these things openly. It’s not that I said anything profoundly unique, but sometimes people just need to see themselves in someone else and think, “If she can go through that, if she can make this choice, then I can too.”

That’s what I was missing years ago. I didn’t see myself in anyone who was talking about sobriety, and if I had, it might’ve been easier to make a change. Now, I get messages from people saying, “I’m two years sober,” or “I drank a few weeks ago, but I’m determined to stick with it this time, and you’ve been such a help.” It’s humbling because I never imagined I’d be that person for anyone. I was so lost for so long.

Yitzi: Unbelievable. For someone who wants to take the first step but is anxious or nervous because of the stigma, what would you recommend?

Kristen: I think the first thing I’d recommend to anyone is to really understand why you’re doing what you’re doing. Get brutally honest with yourself. I developed a program called Creative Sobriety Academy, which walks you through my process — from the moment I decided something needed to change, to living a sober lifestyle day in and day out.

The first step is what we call “The Illumination” because you can’t heal what you can’t see. You have to do the hard work of pulling everything out of the closet that you’ve been hiding, sometimes for years. What is the thing that’s haunting you, that you don’t want to look at? That’s often a big clue as to why you’re drinking, even if it’s not fully conscious. We all have fears and insecurities we’re trying to avoid.

The moment you take that fear off the table and say, “This is okay. It’s just me and me, and I can get really honest here,” it can be a game-changer. Ask yourself, “What am I so afraid of? What am I drowning out with booze or whatever else, just to avoid facing it?” It sounds simple, but it’s incredibly liberating. There’s so much shame often associated with the reasons we drink, and allowing ourselves the grace to just look at it can make a huge difference.

Whether it’s writing it down, saying it out loud to yourself, or finding some other way to confront it, the key is to physically remove the shame and lift the veil over what you’ve been avoiding. That’s the first step I’d recommend.

Yitzi: So, this is our signature question that we’ll be asking all the interviewees around this subject. Can you share five things needed to achieve and sustain sobriety, basically?

Kristen: Oh, I love that. So, I think number one is honesty, which we’ve already covered. That’s honesty with others and, most importantly, with yourself.

Number two is belief — we call it the “buy-in.” You have to believe that you’re investing in a new version of yourself that will bring you more happiness, joy, and success. If you don’t believe in that vision, why would you do the hard work? Why would you reject this socially acceptable, encouraged habit unless you truly believed there was something amazing on the other side?

The third thing is a willingness to remove the people, places, and things that contributed to keeping you stuck in that cycle. It requires a kind of ruthless protection of your peace. You have to be willing to say, “I’m not hanging out with that person. I’m not going to that place. I’m not putting myself in that situation.” You have to be willing to prune the toxic elements from your life.

Fourth, you need a routine — or, as I prefer to call it, a process. This is a daily structure that helps keep you grounded and positive. It’s different for everyone, so you have to find what works for you and stay flexible, because what worked last week might not work this week. For me, physical exercise is non-negotiable — it clears out the cobwebs and keeps my mind steady. I do hot yoga, but I tell people, “Just sweat. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy; you could spin around in circles in your living room until you sweat, and that’s enough.” Physical movement is good for your mental health too.

And finally, number five is community. We’re lucky that there are so many ways to find community now. If you live in a big city, you might have a non-alcoholic bottle shop or a café that serves non-alcoholic cocktails — great places to meet like-minded people. But there’s also this wonderful thing called the internet, which sometimes gets a bad rap. You can go on Instagram and find people like me. You can search hashtags like #sober, #sobercommunity, #sobergirl, #soberman, or whatever resonates with you, and find your people. Sober folks are some of the most open and supportive people you’ll ever meet. I read every single message I get, and so does everyone in my community. We’re always willing to sit down, chat, or just go back and forth in messages. So, yeah, community is essential, and there are so many ways to find it.

Yitzi: This is our final aspirational question. So, Kristen, because of your amazing work and the platform you’ve built, you’re a person of enormous influence. If you could spread an idea or inspire a movement that would bring the most good to the most people, what would that be?

Kristen: Hm. I think my idea would be for people to get really curious about what they accept into their lives. I see the younger generations already doing this — they’re demanding more wellness, more transparency, and they’re moving away from mass consumption and materialism. I think that’s what this modern sobriety movement is about. We’re taking a step back and asking, “Wait a minute. Why am I drinking this? Why am I doing this over and over? I want more depth in my life. I want intentionality. I want purpose.”

What I hope my work inspires people to do is to get curious about why they do the things they do. Our time here is so precious, and I believe that everyone has innate gifts and talents they’re meant to share with the world. I want people to give themselves the space to develop those gifts and not be afraid to show up authentically. I want them to know they don’t need anything — whether it’s alcohol, drugs, or whatever they think they need — to feel “enough.” They were always whole without it.

I want to see people show up as their true selves, and I believe the world wants to see that too. If me showing up authentically can help someone else feel they have permission to do the same, that would be the message I want to share.

Yitzi: How can our readers continue to follow your work? How can they join your program or support you in any way?

Kristen: I’d love to connect and hear people’s stories. You can find me on Instagram at Creative Sobriety, and on my website, creativesobriety.co. That’s where you can find information on joining my private community and The Academy. We do weekly Zoom meetups, workshops, and we’re building a whole new way of connecting there. I also have a podcast called Creative Sobriety on Spotify, and I write on Substack under the name Creative Sobriety. So, we’re out there everywhere, growing, and it’s truly an honor to connect with everyone on this journey.

Yitzi: Kristen, I wish you continued success and blessings in your work, and I hope we can do this again next year.

Kristen: Thank you so much, Yitzi. This has been such a pleasure.


Heroes Of The Addiction Crisis: How Kristen Bear Of Creative Sobriety Is Helping To Battle One of… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.