How much were you drinking and what problems was it causing?

For many years I had been drinking about a bottle of wine each evening. Then in January 2020, I suddenly found I was finishing the bottle, then walking up to the shop to buy a second, and drinking most of that too. Not every night, but maybe two or three nights a week.

I was very scared that if the local shop was shut, I might get in the car and drive to the next one.

Then one night I went to a meeting in the village hall and bought a bottle of wine to drink afterwards. It was burning a hole in my bag. I left the meeting after half an hour because I just wanted to open the bottle.

That was my rock bottom moment. I knew I had to do something.

I had read This Naked Mind the previous autumn and not drunk for six weeks, so I knew this approach would be the way forward.

What motivated you to change? What had you tried before?

My motivation was simple: I knew I HAD to stop drinking or something bad would happen — drunk driving, falling downstairs and breaking my neck, something catastrophic. It was ruining my life.

I was always hungover, even if only mildly, which meant I was always grumpy, unhappy, and exhausted. Some days I did nothing other than try to convince myself it was a “duvet day”, when in reality I was too ill to function.

I had tried:

• Hypnotherapy, which worked for two months

• Willpower, which lasted about 10 minutes

• Stopping while travelling, which worked only because my usual triggers weren’t around

When I was travelling in the African bush, it was hard to get hold of wine — and I realised I didn’t miss it as long as I was occupied. That gave me hope. When I returned to the UK, I stopped for two years… then one evening, bored, I decided to drink again, and the whole cycle restarted.

Were you sceptical this method would work?

Extremely sceptical.

I signed up on 1 June 2020 and spent the first month telling Sandra that deep down I did not want to give up drinking and that it would not work.

I had zero faith that it would help.

But she kept saying, “Do the work, and it will come right.”

I stopped drinking in mid-August and have not looked back since.

It does not even occur to me now to turn to alcohol when I feel sad. I finally understand that alcohol makes everything worse, not better.

You can learn more about this inside the
Just The Tonic Programme and the
Upgraded Life community.

What amazing results did you get?

Amazing. Sandra genuinely saved my life, of that I am sure.

What has been the biggest benefit?

Being completely alcohol-free — and more importantly, not wanting to turn to alcohol whether I am happy or sad.

Now I can finally improve other areas of my life that were neglected for years.
I am a much happier, more content, more grounded person now.

What would you say to someone thinking of signing up?

Please do it. You will be amazed by the results.

One caveat:
You must do the work every day.
It does not take long, but you must do it.

If you do, your whole life can change.

Ready to Change Your Relationship With Alcohol?

If you see yourself in this story and want the same freedom, clarity, and emotional calm…

You can take the first step here:

Become Alcohol Free With Sober Coaching