My drinking started like it does for many people – weekend parties as a teenager, then onto after-work drinks in my 20s in the world of advertising. “Just the one” often turned into closing time, and that pattern followed me through my 30s and 40s.

Hangovers became normal, even though they were getting harder to cope with, and I never truly imagined life without alcohol. I thought it gave me confidence, helped me fit in and made me more fun, when in reality it was covering up how lost and lonely I felt.
 

After COVID, the nights out were replaced by wine on the sofa.  And when I did go out, I went straight back to old habits – one drink became several, and I often ended up sick.

 

I was in my 50s, successful on the outside but anxious, unmotivated and stuck on the inside. I knew something had to change, but I didn’t think alcohol was the problem.

​

After a couple of Dry Januaries and many failed attempts to cut down, I finally decided to stop drinking altogether. The impact was bigger than I could ever have imagined: clearer thinking, better sleep, no more anxiety, and for the first time in years, a real sense of contentment.

 

That shift is what brought me here. Now I help women like me break free from the cycle of drinking and discover how good life can feel alcohol-free.