I don't have any problem with alcohol or the nose beers, but I really like the premise of this. I think for me, what would be good to hear about is about the mental side of things, and how you can help yourself to be happy mentally. I think that is something that everyone can get on board with after spending half the year in lockdown.
Good luck with this, great idea. Nice to hear it unfiltered and not sugar coated with some hippy dippy new age cuntspeak.
My Dad dying probably saved me. When he died my mate took me to Amsterdam for a massive blowout and I came back and never touched it again. I knew I was on the edge and if I didn't stop completely, I wasn't going to be able to control it. Many years later also gave up alcohol. Just about every one of my mates from those days are a mess. mental health issues, can't hold down jobs or relationships. I've got a good life and a good family and I don't miss it for a second.
Have welcomed hearing some of your stories on the pod having had a, well "interesting" year or so with some of these topics myself, so interested to read more.
Top idea Nifty and great of you to put yourself forward like this
I’m a year and 3 days sober from booze and a bit of the other.
This is a great idea.
I’ve had a charmed life in some ways. A scouser at Oxford, a good legal career, but tonnes of fear and anxiety and never feeling like I fit in anywhere so used booze to calm me down and fit me in.
The hardest thing about all of this was admitting I had a problem. I pushed people away and those closest to me got to see all the bad shit. 99% of the time I was fine at work, although I didn’t really know what I was doing there half the time. There was just a major fear all the time. Fear of failing, being found out, being embarrassed whatever. I just kept drowning it out.
I fucked up one time too many and screwed up my second serious relationship but my ex got me into rehab as she was leaving me and a year on I’m doing ok.
AA helps, although I’m not bang into all the steps, maybe I should be more. Like other people on here, lockdown has helped (especially avoiding the commute and all the shit that goes with it), but it’s stopped me pursuing other interests as well.
If anyone is into non-religious spirituality, I can recommend Alan Watts. A fucking nutter from the 60’s who had a bit of wisdom about him. The main thing I’ve learned is not to spend ages thinking about the past or what might happen next week.
Anyway, I could go in for ages.
The hardest thing is asking for help, but it’s the most rewarding too.
Nice one, Sam. I personally find it helpful just hearing you talk about your experiences. It normalises the process and that makes it easier to get your head around it being possible to carry on. I also take inspiration from how you are able to talk about your addictions with humour. Being an addict is the most trouble I have gotten myself into but it helps me feel good about myself to hear you joke about it all. I say this as someone who is celebrating 15 months since knocking the gear on the head after pretty much being high or coming down for the previous 2 years. I am happy to say it’s way easier now that it was 15 days into sobriety but I still think about it regularly and if it wasn’t for getting rid of all the numbers I had I might have relapsed before now. It would be great to hear your thoughts and experiences on dealing with that period of your recovery. Very much being off the gear but going about your social life in a normal way. Covid and everything that it has brought has kinda saved me from testing my resolve properly as I’ve only been out with my mates once this year. It bothers me about being “that guy” who people are conscious of being there as they are in recovery. Do I have the will power to be the only one not getting involved. Am I better off avoiding those situations and arranging different, non gakked up activities with my mates because I know how dull and boring it will be to be the only one not off their tits. We are a similar age and it’s the case that despite my mates all being 40+ the gear is still prevalent when it comes to social gatherings.
Thanks Sam - I’ve had tragedy in my life which hangs over me every day - some days heavy, other days manageable - talking and listening to others always helps. I don’t drink anymore because I know it would become a coping mechanism and that it would lead to darkness and desperation. Instead I use music and comedy as my coping mechanisms- I like to write songs and I live good comedy. I have to say Top Flight Time Machine has been a godsend as it is brilliantly executed to bring gags, stories, characterisation and appropriate poignancy together in one neat package. As I work alone, it’s often the highlight of my day (bar trampoline football with my boys).
This a great idea: too much of the usual coverage of this sort of shite is in terms that i just can't relate to, but your chat about it on tftm is different. We've all got our demons. I'm 3 months off the drink and class As and while I still miss them, I wish I'd done it sooner tbh. Would love to hear more about what addiction is, perspectives on why you dont need it, and what life beyond it can hold. That Glorious Rock Bottom book, for example, sounds great. Thanks and all the best, Des
Due to childhood abuse, I was pissed from the ages of 13-31. I left behind a string of mad shit through my twenties because of my reliance on booze, iron filings and opiates to deal with crippling anxiety. As a stage performer I was able to get a lot of it out there but without any of that, I have had to learn in the last 6 months how to be clean and not escape behind my music. I've been sober for 169 days now and things are getting better. I'm still getting big surges of anxiety and waves of 'oh god!!!!' when I get a flashback from being pissed and being a dickhead in a pub.
Thanks to Sam and TFTM in general (among other people in my life), I've had the strength to stay with it.
This is a great idea Sam. I've had a horrible few years mental health wise and unfortunately had to deal with an apathetic/ignorant family when it comes to mental health on top of that. The kind of "Just go for a walk you'll be fine! what the hell is anxiety?" parents!
I've found your pods especially helpful over lockdown as i've tried my best to get back into a routine after recovering from an addiction I didnt even realise I had until it was way too late.
You talking about your addictive personality made me realise its quite common and having you be so open about your struggles really helped. Having finally been diagnosed after many years of "no don't be silly, you're just a ditzy young lady!" with adhd and mild autism fairly late on for that kind of diagnosis, has really helped me though. Thanks for all you do! <3
Diagnosed with anxiety and depression in 2013 after my wife had brain tumour surgery and my dad passed away. I realised alcohol was bad for me as hangovers pretty much killed me.
Before being diagnosed, I had numerous doctors tell me I was fine but I knew I wasn’t. It was the physical symptoms of shaking and being cold, combined with dizziness and jelly legs that scared the shit out of me. When told it was anxiety caused by over stress I was relieved but yet weakened by the thought of being a lesser bloke.
I got better slowly and was able to go back to work and have fun with my wife, but sadly her tumour regrew more aggressively and in the summer of 2017 was given three months to live.
Having been through support before, I firmly believe it helped for this grief.
Then, serendipity... thanks to one of my best mates, I found TFTM. The banter and the anecdotes and the honesty all felt like a tonic. Still brightens my day each time I listen. Gawd bless ya, Sam
Perfect - always interested in hearing how you manage your demons in order to inform how I deal with my own too - cheers cunt.
Yes please. great idea Sam.
Yep. Subscribed. Belting idea
Read Bryony’s book!! My brother is a year and a half clean and reading that book made me realise what he went through to get to where he is now!
I don't have any problem with alcohol or the nose beers, but I really like the premise of this. I think for me, what would be good to hear about is about the mental side of things, and how you can help yourself to be happy mentally. I think that is something that everyone can get on board with after spending half the year in lockdown.
Good luck with this, great idea. Nice to hear it unfiltered and not sugar coated with some hippy dippy new age cuntspeak.
My Dad dying probably saved me. When he died my mate took me to Amsterdam for a massive blowout and I came back and never touched it again. I knew I was on the edge and if I didn't stop completely, I wasn't going to be able to control it. Many years later also gave up alcohol. Just about every one of my mates from those days are a mess. mental health issues, can't hold down jobs or relationships. I've got a good life and a good family and I don't miss it for a second.
Have welcomed hearing some of your stories on the pod having had a, well "interesting" year or so with some of these topics myself, so interested to read more.
Top idea Nifty and great of you to put yourself forward like this
Well done Sam, absolute stroke of genius. C(o)unt me in!!
I’m on it
Alright cunts.
I’m a year and 3 days sober from booze and a bit of the other.
This is a great idea.
I’ve had a charmed life in some ways. A scouser at Oxford, a good legal career, but tonnes of fear and anxiety and never feeling like I fit in anywhere so used booze to calm me down and fit me in.
The hardest thing about all of this was admitting I had a problem. I pushed people away and those closest to me got to see all the bad shit. 99% of the time I was fine at work, although I didn’t really know what I was doing there half the time. There was just a major fear all the time. Fear of failing, being found out, being embarrassed whatever. I just kept drowning it out.
I fucked up one time too many and screwed up my second serious relationship but my ex got me into rehab as she was leaving me and a year on I’m doing ok.
AA helps, although I’m not bang into all the steps, maybe I should be more. Like other people on here, lockdown has helped (especially avoiding the commute and all the shit that goes with it), but it’s stopped me pursuing other interests as well.
If anyone is into non-religious spirituality, I can recommend Alan Watts. A fucking nutter from the 60’s who had a bit of wisdom about him. The main thing I’ve learned is not to spend ages thinking about the past or what might happen next week.
Anyway, I could go in for ages.
The hardest thing is asking for help, but it’s the most rewarding too.
Steve C
IFS Platinum, BA Oxon.
Nice one, Sam. I personally find it helpful just hearing you talk about your experiences. It normalises the process and that makes it easier to get your head around it being possible to carry on. I also take inspiration from how you are able to talk about your addictions with humour. Being an addict is the most trouble I have gotten myself into but it helps me feel good about myself to hear you joke about it all. I say this as someone who is celebrating 15 months since knocking the gear on the head after pretty much being high or coming down for the previous 2 years. I am happy to say it’s way easier now that it was 15 days into sobriety but I still think about it regularly and if it wasn’t for getting rid of all the numbers I had I might have relapsed before now. It would be great to hear your thoughts and experiences on dealing with that period of your recovery. Very much being off the gear but going about your social life in a normal way. Covid and everything that it has brought has kinda saved me from testing my resolve properly as I’ve only been out with my mates once this year. It bothers me about being “that guy” who people are conscious of being there as they are in recovery. Do I have the will power to be the only one not getting involved. Am I better off avoiding those situations and arranging different, non gakked up activities with my mates because I know how dull and boring it will be to be the only one not off their tits. We are a similar age and it’s the case that despite my mates all being 40+ the gear is still prevalent when it comes to social gatherings.
Thanks Sam - I’ve had tragedy in my life which hangs over me every day - some days heavy, other days manageable - talking and listening to others always helps. I don’t drink anymore because I know it would become a coping mechanism and that it would lead to darkness and desperation. Instead I use music and comedy as my coping mechanisms- I like to write songs and I live good comedy. I have to say Top Flight Time Machine has been a godsend as it is brilliantly executed to bring gags, stories, characterisation and appropriate poignancy together in one neat package. As I work alone, it’s often the highlight of my day (bar trampoline football with my boys).
This a great idea: too much of the usual coverage of this sort of shite is in terms that i just can't relate to, but your chat about it on tftm is different. We've all got our demons. I'm 3 months off the drink and class As and while I still miss them, I wish I'd done it sooner tbh. Would love to hear more about what addiction is, perspectives on why you dont need it, and what life beyond it can hold. That Glorious Rock Bottom book, for example, sounds great. Thanks and all the best, Des
Due to childhood abuse, I was pissed from the ages of 13-31. I left behind a string of mad shit through my twenties because of my reliance on booze, iron filings and opiates to deal with crippling anxiety. As a stage performer I was able to get a lot of it out there but without any of that, I have had to learn in the last 6 months how to be clean and not escape behind my music. I've been sober for 169 days now and things are getting better. I'm still getting big surges of anxiety and waves of 'oh god!!!!' when I get a flashback from being pissed and being a dickhead in a pub.
Thanks to Sam and TFTM in general (among other people in my life), I've had the strength to stay with it.
This looks like a great resource for the future.
Cheers Sam,
Sam
This is a great idea Sam. I've had a horrible few years mental health wise and unfortunately had to deal with an apathetic/ignorant family when it comes to mental health on top of that. The kind of "Just go for a walk you'll be fine! what the hell is anxiety?" parents!
I've found your pods especially helpful over lockdown as i've tried my best to get back into a routine after recovering from an addiction I didnt even realise I had until it was way too late.
You talking about your addictive personality made me realise its quite common and having you be so open about your struggles really helped. Having finally been diagnosed after many years of "no don't be silly, you're just a ditzy young lady!" with adhd and mild autism fairly late on for that kind of diagnosis, has really helped me though. Thanks for all you do! <3
Diagnosed with anxiety and depression in 2013 after my wife had brain tumour surgery and my dad passed away. I realised alcohol was bad for me as hangovers pretty much killed me.
Before being diagnosed, I had numerous doctors tell me I was fine but I knew I wasn’t. It was the physical symptoms of shaking and being cold, combined with dizziness and jelly legs that scared the shit out of me. When told it was anxiety caused by over stress I was relieved but yet weakened by the thought of being a lesser bloke.
I got better slowly and was able to go back to work and have fun with my wife, but sadly her tumour regrew more aggressively and in the summer of 2017 was given three months to live.
Having been through support before, I firmly believe it helped for this grief.
Then, serendipity... thanks to one of my best mates, I found TFTM. The banter and the anecdotes and the honesty all felt like a tonic. Still brightens my day each time I listen. Gawd bless ya, Sam