We were lucky to catch up with Dana Leigh Lyons recently and have shared our conversation below.

Dana, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

When I got sober in early 2020, I could have kept it quiet. For one, I wasn’t drinking any more than the average American or Canadian at the time. For another, I never hit a “rock bottom.” By outward appearances, I had my personal and professional life together.

But I knew that ANY amount of alcohol was not serving me. I knew that ANY amount of alcohol is toxic to body-mind-spirit. I also knew that many folks are profoundly addicted to alcohol (even if their drinking habits pass as “normal” in today’s wider collective).

So, I didn’t hide. I made sobriety and addiction recovery (from alcohol and other unhelpful substances and behaviours) front and centre in my writing and in my practice of Chinese Medicine. Now, I help clients recover using Chinese Medicine. I also have a Substack newsletter called Sober Soulful, where I share raw, unfiltered writing about sobriety and soulful living.

Rather than hurt my career, bringing forth my message around addiction and sobriety boosted it, causing my subscriber numbers to triple and connecting me to a fantastic, supportive community.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a Doctor of Chinese Medicine, which means I completed a 5-year, full-time training program encompassing both acupuncture and herbal medicine then passed licensing board exams in both the United States and Canada. I treat patients in person (currently in Nova Scotia) and also offer remote herbal and lifestyle consults for folks around the world. https://www.danaleighlyons.com/

Addiction recovery (including from alcohol but also other drugs, overeating, binge eating, sugar addiction, and other unhelpful behaviours) is central to my practice of the medicine. It’s also central to my life as a writer. My newsletter, Sober Soulful, serves as a support and guide for folks exploring a sober, soulful life. https://danaleighlyons.substack.com/

Have you ever had to pivot?

Prior to becoming a Doctor of Chinese Medicine and writer, I completed my master’s degree in a whole other field. I studied international relations, the Middle East, and Arabic as an undergrad and in graduate school. I also spent time living, travelling, and studying in the Middle East.

After graduate school, I worked as an assistant editor at the Journal of Palestine Studies. Thereafter, I worked remotely as an Arabic translator. The work was “fine,” and I truly love that part of the world. But after going through a health crisis in my late twenties, all I wanted to read and learn about was holistic health and healing. Chinese Medicine helped me; I wanted to learn it so that I could help others.

Going back to school for a 5-year medical program in my early thirties was not in the plans. It changed my trajectory and changed who I became–including how I can be of service to others.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I show up honestly and authentically. That way, folks who resonate with me as a person and my approach to medicine and writing will find me. Ones who do not will know to look elsewhere.

As a queer person who could be called “neurodivergent” (although I resist boxes and labels), I’m extremely forthright about my identity in my writing and on my professional website. I don’t hide, in other words. I show up fully and trust that doing so is enough AND creates space for others to do the same.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.danaleighlyons.com/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danaleighlyons/
• Other: https://danaleighlyons.substack.com/

Image Credits
Rachael Shrum