INTROUCING BEN
Hi, I am Ben, I am 42 years old, and I never dreamt that I would become sober. Alcohol was culturally part of my life. it was what I used to celebrate the happy times and forget the sad.
No lowest point made me get sober, but many low points within a 20-year relationship with alcohol, eventually made me realise something had to change.
I’ve suffered from anxiety for as long as I can remember, but it was not until I stopped drinking that I realised how entwined my mental wellbeing was with my addiction.
I had tried previously to give up drinking but had never succeeded, often convincing myself after a few weeks that things were not that bad, I would always end up having a relapse, and be back where I started.
Then one day I decided to give myself a 4-week break from alcohol, so something changed, I never drank again….
BEN’S STORY – OVERCOMING ALCOHOL DEPENDENCY
What had changed was my thinking. Rather than focus on what I was missing out on, I started to focus on the positive things that sobriety brings. This shift was enough for my journey to begin.
Shortly after getting sober, the country went into a national lockdown, due to the coronavirus pandemic. This gave me the time that I needed to concentrate on myself, I watched online as many others were reporting that their drinking was increasing, and I had finally taken control over mine.
Sobriety has brought me many positives, but one of the challenges was the change to my friendship group and feeling isolated.
For this reason I set up the community It’s That Sober Guy. A chance for people to come together online, to post about all things sobriety, mental health, and wellbeing.
I have done so much more sober than I ever would have drunk, I have been to my first rock gig, taken public transport to London to meet new sober buddies, and even been on a sober holiday!
I finally found out that the alcohol that I thought made life fun was the very thing that was sucking the fun out it.
While my mental health and anxiety are not perfect, there is a noticeable improvement now compared to when I was drinking.
Three and a half years into sobriety, I have come to realise that this journey has just started, I love talking to both men and women about their addiction, sobriety or moderation of drinking.
I believe with all my heart that we all have the power to help others. and through communication and changing the way that we think, we can achieve anything.
CONNECT WITH BEN