Some stories stay with you long after you've heard them........This is one of them.

In this deeply honest conversation on One For The Road, Peter shares the extraordinary journey that led him from a childhood surrounded by alcoholism, addiction and chaos to finding lasting freedom through sobriety. Growing up in West London, Peter experienced neglect, trauma, poverty and instability from an early age. As the years passed, he built what appeared to be a successful life, great career, nice cars, marriage and family;But beneath the surface, unresolved childhood pain quietly shaped every decision he made.

Alcohol eventually became more than a drink. It became an escape.

Peter opens up about how drinking masked decades of emotional wounds, the collapse of two marriages, living behind carefully constructed "masks", and the moment he realised that stopping drinking wasn't the end of the journey, it was the beginning of healing.

This episode is a powerful reminder that recovery isn't simply about putting down the bottle. It's about rebuilding your identity, understanding your past and learning to live with honesty, connection and purpose.

• Growing up in a home affected by alcoholism and addiction
• The hidden impact of childhood trauma
• How neglect shapes self-worth and identity
• Living behind masks and becoming the person you think others want
• Why success, money and material possessions couldn't fix the pain
• Alcohol as a coping mechanism rather than the real problem
• The collapse of relationships through addiction
• The difficult first year of sobriety
• Why unresolved trauma often resurfaces after quitting alcohol
• Finding healing through connection, journaling and honest conversations
• Becoming the father he always wanted to be
• Why life genuinely gets better without alcohol

• Childhood experiences can influence our adult behaviours far more than we realise.
• Alcohol often becomes a solution to emotional pain rather than the root problem.
• Sobriety is about much more than quitting drinking—it's about learning who you really are.
• Healing from trauma takes time, patience and honest self-reflection.
• It's never too late to change your life or repair relationships.
• Recovery isn't about becoming perfect—it's about becoming authentic.

• What Happened to You? by Oprah Winfrey & Dr Bruce Perry
• Journaling as a recovery tool
• Peer support and sober communities
• Trauma-informed recovery

If you enjoyed this episode please consider following the podcast, leaving a review and sharing this episode with someone who may need to hear it.

Recovery is possible, and every conversation helps break the stigma around alcohol, trauma and mental health.

If you want to connect with me via Instagram, you can find me on the instahandle @Soberdave https://www.instagram.com/soberdave/

or via my website https://davidwilsoncoaching.com/

Provided below are links for services offering additional help and advice.

www.drinkaware.co.uk/advice/alcohol-support-services

https://nacoa.org.uk/

Thank you for listening to One For The Road.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when you realise alcohol has become more than just a social habit?

In this episode of One for the Road, Harriet shares her powerful journey to six months sober, reflecting on the experiences that shaped her relationship with alcohol and the decision to embrace an alcohol-free life. From a childhood marked by family illness and divorce to becoming a mother while navigating postpartum depression, Harriet speaks openly about the emotional challenges that led her to use alcohol as a coping mechanism. Receiving an ADHD diagnosis later in life helped her understand years of masking, overwhelm and drinking to fit in.

Together, Dave and Harriet explore how motherhood, mental health, and the normalisation of mummy wine culture can make it difficult to recognise when drinking has become a problem. They also discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic reinforced unhealthy drinking habits and why building a supportive recovery community has been essential to Harriet's sobriety.

Whether you're sober curious, thinking about giving up alcohol, supporting someone in recovery, or simply interested in honest conversations about addiction and mental health, this episode offers hope, encouragement and practical insight.

In This Episode

Harriet's journey to six months of sobriety

Growing up with childhood adversity

Living with undiagnosed ADHD

Alcohol as a coping mechanism

Motherhood, postpartum depression and isolation

The reality of mummy drinking culture

How COVID-19 changed drinking habits

Why stopping drinking transformed Harriet's life

Building confidence without alcohol

Finding purpose through recovery

What You'll Learn

This conversation explores:

Why alcohol problems often develop gradually rather than overnight.

The connection between ADHD and alcohol use.

How social expectations can influence drinking behaviour.

The impact of postpartum mental health on substance use.

The importance of self-awareness in recovery.

Why community support plays a vital role in long-term sobriety.

How life can improve after choosing an alcohol-free lifestyle

This episode is for anyone interested in:

Sobriety and alcohol recovery

Women's recovery journeys

Mental health and wellbeing

ADHD in adults

Motherhood and alcohol

Sober curiosity

Addiction recovery stories

Personal development and resilience

Harriet reminds us that recovery isn't about perfection—it's about understanding yourself and making choices that support your wellbeing.

One for the Road is a podcast exploring sobriety, alcohol recovery, mental health and the real stories behind giving up drinking. Through honest conversations with guests from all walks of life, the podcast challenges drinking culture while sharing practical advice, lived experiences and inspiration for anyone seeking a healthier relationship with alcohol.

If you want to connect with me via Instagram, you can find me on the instahandle @Soberdave https://www.instagram.com/soberdave/

or via my website https://davidwilsoncoaching.com/

Provided below are links for services offering additional help and advice.

www.drinkaware.co.uk/advice/alcohol-support-services

https://nacoa.org.uk/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.