One Year Clean & Sober

One year ago today, I was desperate. At around 8am on the 29th of July I finished off my last bag and took my final sips of beer at the end of a ‘sesh’ which began on the 24th of July on my 32nd Birthday five days earlier!

I was suffering, not only physically where it is believed I possibly had a mini heart attack, but my mental health was shot to pieces. My life was falling apart. That day, I had what I believe is called a spiritual awakening.

The days that follow, I had consultations with psychiatrists and was isolated away at my Mums house to stop me from drinking and using, then in the days that followed, I was admitted to the Priory Woodbourne hospital in Birmingham for Rehabilitation and a detox.

I was in there six weeks where the specialists and staff there honestly helped save my life. I had tried getting clean, tried Cocaine Anonymous etc but this time it clicked. It’s far from completed and I have to take it one day at a time for the rest of my life.

In Rehab, I had to face up to the fact that I’d had a problem for many years after first trying stuff at 16. I am an alcoholic and an addict and I’m cool with that today.

It’s a progressive disease and it spiralled out of control, especially over the last 8 years or so. I had some great times. It started as fun, it became fun with problems, and then just problems. I had bits of clean time but everywhere I went the problem followed me. Only 1 in 5 people that struggle with alcohol get the help they need.

My conclusion is that drugs honestly ruin lives and I like many others can’t drink in a way that’s deemed normal by society.

Moving forward to today, I am happy, I have a loving family, my home life is rebuilt, my career is back on track, I’ve lost over 4 stone, and I am free from alcohol and drugs!

Thank you to everyone who has helped me on my journey over the last 12 months, my missus and kids, my family and my true friends. Also thank you for all the very kind messages throughout the year from people I have never met, they have helped more than you will ever know.

If you are struggling, reach out and talk to someone. There are people out there that truly care about you! 

Thank you for reading, stay safe and happy.

Love Patrick x