Paul’s story begins in Castleford, West Yorkshire, where he spent his early years trying to escape the shadow of addiction.
Growing up with an alcoholic mother, he promised himself he’d never be like her.
But despite his best intentions, he found himself following a path eerily similar to hers.
Paul started drinking around age 12, his teenage years marked by what he thought was typical mischief, drinking with friends and getting into trouble.
Yet, even as his life took a darker turn, he couldn’t see the similarities between his struggles and those of his mother.
In his teens, Paul started working in Yorkshire’s steel industry. The job offered him a steady income, but it came with a heavy-drinking culture that only reinforced his habits.
Through the ‘90s, Paul threw himself into England’s bustling club scene, experimenting with drugs while continuing to drink more heavily.
Unlike the drugs, which he managed to keep in check, alcohol quickly took hold of him.
By his 20s, he was drinking heavily almost every day, spending nights in police cells and disappearing for days at a time.
Two drunk-driving offenses nearly landed him in prison, yet it wasn’t enough to make him stop.
The real downward spiral began in his 30s.
As he climbed the ranks in the steel industry, the pressures of work and the drinking culture around him only escalated.
Drinking at lunch and sealing deals over pints became routine, and soon Paul found himself needing alcohol just to function.
“It was part of the industry,” he recalls, “just another part of the job.”
But it wasn’t long before a drink in the morning became a necessity to manage the shakes and steady his nerves.
Between ages 35 and 39, Paul’s dependence grew more intense. Drinking was no longer a social activity but a daily survival tool.
He drank to ease his sickness, to summon an appetite, and to quiet his mind.
Vodka became a morning ritual, a crutch he leaned on every day for years.
At his lowest, he even resorted to drinking aftershave just to stave off the withdrawal symptoms until he could get to a shop for more alcohol.
Friends, family, and colleagues voiced their concerns, but Paul wouldn’t listen.
In his mind, he was just doing what he had to do to cope.
Eventually, the toll on his life became undeniable. He lost his job after turning up to work intoxicated, and his health took a drastic turn for the worse.
Finally, a doctor’s stark warning—“You’ll die soon if you don’t stop”—pierced through the fog of denial.
This time, something clicked, and with the unwavering support of his wife, he mustered the strength to take action.
At age 39, Paul entered rehab, his last drink a can of Fosters he finished on his way there.
He kept that can, signing it as a memento, a powerful reminder of his turning point.
Rehab was grueling, the withdrawal symptoms severe, but he endured. Over time, he embraced the necessary treatments to help him detox and manage his cravings.
And though his body began to recover, the journey was far from over.
Paul found that the mental battle in early sobriety was just as challenging as the physical.
In those early days, Paul found strength in reflection and the courage to confront his past. Instead of attending Alcoholics Anonymous, he chose a different path—talking openly about his journey and seeking counseling.
This approach, along with revisiting places where he once drank, became a powerful form of therapy for him.
“Going back to those places reminds me of where I’ve been and where I never want to go again,” he says.
Though he acknowledges that revisiting those places isn’t the right path for everyone, it’s what works for him. “Do what works for you, and do more of it.”
Sobriety gave Paul a new beginning, and in 2016, he started his own transport business.
It’s a testament to how far he’s come that he now drives for a living, even making deliveries to whiskey distilleries.
The irony isn’t lost on him, but he feels immense gratitude for the life he’s been able to rebuild.
Today, Paul says his favorite part of sobriety is waking up ready to take on the day, instead of dreading it.
The morning shakes, anxiety, and feelings of hopelessness are behind him, replaced by a clear-headed determination.
“Life isn’t without challenges,” he admits, especially after the loss of his mother in 2019 and his brother’s tragic death by suicide—both due to alcohol.
These losses have tested his resolve, but he’s remained sober, driven by the knowledge of how much worse he’d feel if he picked up a drink.
Paul’s journey has now become a mission. He mentors others struggling with addiction, using his story to show that change is possible.
His life is proof that recovery isn’t just about surviving; it’s about reclaiming who you are and becoming the person you were meant to be.
Through all the ups and downs, Paul holds onto one simple truth: sobriety has given him the life he always wanted.
And he’s committed to helping others find that path too, reminding them that there is a way out—no matter how far gone things may seem.
You can check out Paul on Instagram here.
