I love Christmas. This will be my fifth sober one in a row. I love the buzz in the air and the way it brings people together. I love the food and the jampacked football schedule. But most of all, I love going for a run on Christmas morning. I think that particular run confirms … Continue reading Don’t bottle things up this Christmas →

So, we’re in another lockdown. That means more time and working at home. Last time, some people used lockdown to stop drinking, or to at least cut down. Which is amazing. But according to Alcohol Change UK, a lot of people's drinking increased. And a lot of people were drinking more regularly. It’s a stressful … Continue reading I would have loved a warning like this →

Recently, I’ve had a lot of people tell me they have developed an addiction. They’ve realised they have a problem and shared that problem with me. Those actions make those people incredibly brave. It takes enormous courage to accept you have a problem. And it takes even more to tell another person, which is effectively … Continue reading A Deadly Secret →

Today marks four whole years sober. Four years since I last let a drop of poison pass through my lips. Four years since I willingly indulged on my own kryptonite. Four years in which I’ve been able to rebuild my life. So today is a great day for me personally. However, I was rudely reminded … Continue reading 4 Years Sober Today – and my insides are still red raw →

Social media. Where to begin. Around a month ago, for the first time in my life, social media began to really get under my skin. At times, it was even controlling my mood. I think most people can admit that over the last few months social media has not been the nicest place in the … Continue reading Not so social media →

As most of you will know, we are just coming to the end of Mental Health Awareness Week. Now more than ever we need to be supporting one another. Covid-19 has had an extraordinary impact on all of our lives, both physically and mentally. If you are struggling with your mental health, whatever you do, … Continue reading Covid-19, mental health and the power of talking →

Alcohol sales are through the roof. Everyone's social calendars have gone out the window. And people are anxious, fed up and searching for answers. I can't help but wonder if the expression "oh what the hell, it's lock down" is echoing down streets all over the country.   Alcohol can disguise itself as your best friend in … Continue reading Lockdown – It doesn’t have to be the birth of a million alcoholics →

This is not a post I thought I would ever write. First of all, I hope anyone reading this is safe and well, and anyone who's ill - I wish you a speedy recovery. We are at war, but instead of soldiers putting their lives on the line, it's the amazing people who work for … Continue reading Addicts in Isolation →

Failure. It’s a scary word for anyone. No one wants to be associated with it or experience it. For an addict, it’s not only scary, but it’s also incredibly dangerous. It’s one massive excuse to reach for the bottle. And I have been SO guilty of doing exactly that, countless times in the past. It … Continue reading Failure or just a new chapter – Definitely the latter! →

Some people are scared of heights. Some people are scared of flying. Some people are even scared of the dark. An alcoholic like me can also be scared of any of these things. But none of them are even slightly comparable to the absolute fear I have of ever going through alcohol withdrawals again.  Most … Continue reading My precious nightmare →