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In this solo episode of Sober-ish Sparkle, I open up about my drinking story in the hope that it resonates with you and reminds you that you’re not alone. I take you through the different stages of my drinking - from my divorce and single parenting years, through dating again, marriage, postnatal depression, breast cancer, turning 50, and the COVID lockdowns.

For me, drinking began as a way to cope with loneliness, sadness, and stress. Over the years it became my constant companion: a bottle of wine most nights, sometimes more, justified by rules and rituals I created to keep it feeling “normal.” Whether it was dating nerves, celebrating milestones, or managing daily overwhelm, alcohol became the thread I thought held me together.

But underneath it all, I knew I was stuck in a cycle. Even when I convinced myself I was “functioning” or “not that bad,” the truth was I was drinking more than I wanted and it was dulling my spark. I share the moment when things shifted - waking up with shakes and vertigo one morning after Christmas - and how that became my turning point to seek help, work with a coach, and step into sober curiosity.

The key message I want to leave you with is this: berating yourself never works. I spent years calling myself hopeless, useless, a drunk. If shame and self-criticism could fix drinking, I would have been sober decades ago. What finally worked was learning to treat myself with kindness, compassion and nurture - even when I slipped up. That was the difference that helped me change for good.