Running Toward Healing: Amy’s Sobriety Journey During Alcohol Awareness Month

For many people, the relationship between alcohol and mental health can feel complicated, quiet, or difficult to talk about openly. During Alcohol Awareness Month, we’re honored to share the story of Still I Run Ambassador Amy Arends, whose journey reflects courage, self-awareness, and the power of movement to support mental well-being.

Amy lives in the Des Moines metro with her husband and their two doodles. She works full-time as a medical biller and enjoys spending time outdoors, connecting with others through happy mail, and continuing to build her fitness routine. She first connected with Still I Run in 2023 after a friend encouraged her to apply to become an ambassador. Because Amy had already been openly sharing her mental health journey online, the mission immediately resonated.

“I was already talking about mental health and running,” she shared. “It just felt like the perfect fit.”

What followed was a deeper connection not only to running, but also to herself.

Understanding Mental Health Before Sobriety

Looking back, Amy realizes that anxiety had been part of her life long before she understood what she was experiencing.

Growing up, she worried constantly and assumed that was simply how everyone’s mind worked. It wasn’t until adulthood, when her husband gently pointed out her anxiety, that she began to recognize how much her mental health was affecting her daily life.

Running had already entered the picture years earlier, though she didn’t initially connect it to mental well-being. She began running in 2011, motivated largely by wanting to spend time with her boyfriend, who enjoyed running. Over time, the activity became something they shared regularly, often running alongside their energetic Australian Cattle Dogs.

They completed local 5Ks together and even finished a sprint triathlon in 2017. At the time, running was primarily about physical health, but it would later become something much more meaningful.

When Alcohol Became a Coping Tool

Amy describes herself as a rule follower growing up, someone who wanted to meet expectations and avoid disappointing others. When she entered college, alcohol became part of her social life, initially feeling normal and expected.

Over time, drinking became more consistent. From 2012 to 2019, she often drank heavily at least once a week while socializing with friends. As life became more stressful, alcohol gradually shifted from social activity to coping mechanism.

During the isolation and uncertainty of 2020, Amy began sharing more openly about her mental health and fitness journey online. Around the same time, she discovered craft beer communities on social media and felt a sense of belonging there. Drinking became more frequent, eventually becoming part of her daily routine.

As her husband faced ongoing health challenges, alcohol began to feel like a way to escape stress and anxiety.

By June 2025, Amy found herself drinking multiple high-alcohol craft beers each night, often followed by a cocktail. What once felt manageable had become something that was quietly controlling more of her daily life.

The Moment Everything Changed

Amy had attempted to take breaks from drinking before, experimenting with challenges like Dry January or setting limits for herself. Each time, she found herself returning to old patterns.

She began noticing how much her life revolved around alcohol. Social events felt uncomfortable if alcohol wasn’t available. She sometimes found herself creating reasons to go to the store simply because she didn’t want to go a night without drinking.

Eventually, she reached a turning point.

After a night out with friends, Amy made the decision to drive home, believing she was okay to do so. Shortly before arriving home, she saw flashing lights behind her.

Being pulled over, handcuffed, and taken to jail was a moment she never expected to experience. It was also the moment she stopped drinking.

“That was the last night I drank,” she said.

In the weeks that followed, Amy found herself in a very dark place. Without alcohol to numb her anxiety and depression, difficult emotions surfaced intensely. At the same time, her husband was still navigating health challenges, and she felt as though the coping mechanism she had relied on had suddenly been taken away.

Returning to therapy helped her begin processing what had happened and understand the role alcohol had been playing in her life.

“It was really eye opening to see how much drinking had been controlling my life once I was sober,” she shared.

Navigating Early Sobriety

One of the biggest challenges Amy faced early in sobriety was learning how to manage anxiety, depression, and PTSD without using alcohol to quiet her thoughts.

In a culture where alcohol is often normalized or even celebrated, acknowledging that drinking was no longer healthy for her felt difficult at first.

“I really wanted to be the girl who could go out with friends and just have one beer,” she said. “But I’ve realized that’s not something that works for me.”

Support systems played an important role during this time. Therapy helped her explore underlying patterns and develop healthier coping strategies. Her husband’s sobriety provided encouragement and understanding. She also found motivation through the I Am Sober app, which allowed her to track her progress and maintain accountability.

Equally important were friendships that didn’t center around drinking. Finding activities that supported her mental health instead of triggering old habits became an important part of her healing process.

How Sobriety Changed Her Mental Health

In early sobriety, Amy found herself sitting with difficult emotions without the option to numb them. The first few months were especially challenging.

But over time, she began to notice meaningful changes.

After more than nine months without alcohol, she found she was waking up without anxiety about the night before. She felt more capable of using tools that genuinely supported her mental health instead of relying on temporary escape.

She also began prioritizing her well-being in new ways, building confidence and learning that she was capable of making difficult changes.

“Giving up alcohol in a world that is obsessed with it has shown me I can do anything,” she shared.

Sobriety also led to physical health changes. She began exercising more consistently, fueling her body with more nourishing foods, and using her weekends more intentionally.

Instead of waking up feeling regretful or hungover, she found herself feeling more productive, more present, and more connected to her goals.

Finding a Healthier Escape Through Running

Although Amy started running years earlier, it took on new meaning in sobriety.

She realized that running provided something she had previously been seeking through alcohol: relief from racing thoughts and a break from anxiety.

“Running gives me an escape,” she explained. “I’m normally so focused on breathing that my mind can’t stay stuck in a worry loop.”

Running also provides natural mood support through endorphins and serotonin, offering a healthier and more sustainable sense of calm and happiness.

Instead of using alcohol to temporarily quiet her mind, she now uses movement to support her mental well-being in a lasting way.

The Power of the Still I Run Community

Being part of Still I Run has helped Amy continue growing both as a runner and as a person.

The connections she has made through the community have become deeply meaningful friendships. Through her involvement, she has taken on challenges she once never imagined possible.

In 2023, she completed her first half marathon while fundraising for Still I Run, finding motivation in being part of something bigger than herself.

In 2024, she traveled across the country to participate in Hood to Coast with a team of runners she had only met online. For someone who experiences anxiety around new situations, traveling alone and meeting new people felt intimidating. But once she arrived, the group quickly felt like lifelong friends. Together, the team completed 198 miles in just 40 hours.

In 2025, Amy pushed herself even further by training for her first full marathon, once again stepping outside her comfort zone in order to connect with other members of the Still I Run community.

Connecting with others who run for their mental health has reminded her that she is not alone.

“Every single day I get up and continue fighting means I am winning at my life,” she said.

What Amy Wants Others to Know About Alcohol and Mental Health

Amy hopes more people understand that alcohol doesn’t actually resolve anxiety or stress. While it may feel calming in the moment, it often disrupts the nervous system and leads to increased anxiety afterward.

“It can keep you stuck in a cycle where the thing you’re using to cope is actually making things harder long-term,” she explained.

She also hopes to challenge the misconception that sobriety is only necessary for those who identify as alcoholics.

“You don’t need a reason to stop drinking if that is what you want for your life,” she said. “You can just say no.”

For those early in their sobriety journey, Amy encourages creating an environment that supports new goals. This may include unfollowing social media accounts that feel triggering, choosing activities that don’t revolve around alcohol, and seeking support from people who respect and encourage the decision.

Finding new routines can also help. For Amy, replacing brewery-centered runs with morning runs followed by coffee shop visits created a healthier and more enjoyable rhythm.

Encouragement for Anyone Starting Their Journey

For anyone questioning their relationship with alcohol, Amy encourages reflection and honesty.

Take time to consider what kind of life you want to create and what habits support that vision.

For those who feel intimidated to start running, her advice is simple: Just start.

“You don’t need to run fast or far,” she shared. “If you run, you are a runner.”

Running does not require a certain pace, body type, or level of experience. What matters most is showing up and taking the next step forward.

Amy’s journey is a reminder that healing is not always linear, but growth is always possible. Through sobriety, movement, and community, she continues to move forward — one step at a time.