It may be because I am getting older, and because we seem to have lost so many famous people so far this year (David Bowie, Alan Rickman, Victoria Wood, Muhammad Ali, Gene Wilder, Ronnie Corbett, Caroline Aherne, Terry Wogan…..I could go on and on), that I find myself looking back to my childhood. It’s usual to look back with rose-coloured glasses because everything was so simple then – no stressful job, family problems, money worries or aches and pains. In some ways it seems so long ago, like another era and a different person. But it also reminds me of just how fleeting life is – we are here one minute and gone the next, and we never know when the game is up.

With this in mind, it is such a shame to waste one’s life in a drunken or drug-fuelled stupor. How many people will wake up this morning hung over, feeling sick, remorseful, nervous, panicky…..all because of drink and drugs. Life is a gift and it shouldn’t be squandered. There are so many possibilities, so much to learn, so many places to visit and people to meet. Don’t throw it away. You may feel you need alcohol or drugs inside you to face life’s problems, but they will still be there when you sober up. And every time you give in to your substance of choice, old problems are not dealt with and pile up, and new problems come along and jump to the top of the pile! Add to this the feelings of depression because alcohol and drugs are depressants and make you depressed.

Talk to any ex-addict and they will tell you the same thing – that life is so much better without alcohol or drugs. You don’t need them to relax and have a good time – you will enjoy yourself so much more without them. Just imagine waking up, knowing exactly what you did and said yesterday, having no regrets because you didn’t do anything stupid, outrageous or downright dangerous. It is so good to have a clear head, to be able to concentrate, to face problems and deal with them head on rather than blocking them out with drink or drugs.

If any of this rings a bell with you, reach out and get help. You can break free from alcohol and drugs. It isn’t easy, but it has got to be easier than beating yourself up every day.