GW Undrunk

I’ve been struggling to put anything down on paper of late as my moods haven’t been all that great to be honest. I was starting to believe the nonsense in my head that no one was interested in my journey and that there was no one else I could help. In your head is generally a dangerous place to be sometimes, I used to convince myself that everything going on in there was true and that was often when I would turn to drink. The harsh reality used to be that alcohol would solve everything, but no matter what it did for me in that moment, those feelings from before would only return ten times worse. I decided it was time to get my backside back in gear and start doing the things that make me happy again .

I know I am not in a great head space when the thought of a drink becomes exciting again which is exactly what happened a month ago and I’ll tell you what, it gave me one hell of a fright. I was asked to go along to a seminar and talk for 45 minutes on my alcohol days as well as my recovery days, it all came about from someone reading the blog actually. I went along and absolutely loved it, I came away from it feeling absolutely rejuvenated and buzzing to go again.

Being in a good place mentally for a long period of time now has been incredible, but for me I kind of know that it’s not going to last unless I keep fighting through and progressing in the way that I have been for the past three years. Recently, I’ve been finding it harder and harder to be upbeat and positive. I was getting myself into a bit of a mess trying to work out why I wasn’t feeling great and after about two months of this, I worked out that I was making myself ill with worrying that I wasn’t OK. I was quite literally worrying about why I was worried – how mad is that? I realised that I had become very impatient (Mrs W will confirm this) and very indecisive and for the first time in two years the thought of a drink entered my head. Those words had returned, “it wasn’t that bad” and “one drink will not harm anyone”. Now if you have read my blog you will realise that it was that bad and that I can’t just have one, I’ve never just had one drink in my life. When I get low, my head can very easily wander and come up with some very strange ideas. Thankfully, I’ve been reminded of two passions that have changed everything – writing and fitness.

The point in sharing these tips is to show that no matter how well you’re doing, or how well you think you’re doing, EVERYONE can be susceptible to a setback. I’ve started going out with a good friend for a walk every week for an hour or so and we just talk and generally fix all of the world’s problems in that time. Our football team generally gets a hammering as well. I wake up in the morning and I feel better, so again, the power of talking can never be under-estimated – even if it doesn’t always make sense.

A few people have been telling me how stressed they are and how they struggle to switch off, so I’ve been telling them of the benefits of meditation. I realised though I’d been telling people how good it was and yet hadn’t done it for months so back to meditating I went and surprise surprise, I’m already feeling the benefits.

I’ve also signed up with a Personal Trainer. Working and talking with him has really opened up my eyes up to another character flaw which has gotten slightly out of control – body dysmorphia. I’m constantly worried by the way I look and have been driving Mrs W round the bend with my constant “I look terrible” and “I really am fat.” I spoke with another good friend with regards to this and he felt exactly the same. I really think more men feel like this than I first realised but are just too afraid to admit because it’s just not a very manly thing to do. When I was drinking, I really hated myself because of the lies I told, the stealing I did and generally just acting like an idiot. I couldn’t look myself in the mirror at that time, but now I am looking in the mirror too much haha. I need to find that middle ground, look in the mirror, be proud of what you’ve achieved but STOP judging yourself. It’s all a work in progress.

I need to listen to myself more when I say “its OK, not to be OK” and to stop taking everything so seriously. Four years ago I was cutting my head with brand new Stanley blades and now I am beating myself up just because I am not feeling on top of the world. When I look at it like that, I realise I am doing just fine and this journey of addiction is never ever going to be an easy ride.

Everything is going in the right direction again and long may it continue, I guess sometimes you need to give yourself a little reminder of just how far you’ve come.

Onwards and upwards.

G