Confessions of an Ex-Functioning Alcoholic - How 67 Year Old Quit After 48 Years
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- Опубликовано: 14 сен 2023
- Alcohol, booze, drink.... we're told from a young age in the UK that we absolutely need it to have a good time... but do we? Addiction is no laughing matter, especially thousands of miles from 'home' and particularly when your 'tipple' of choice is alcohol. Bangkok, Thailand can be a lonely place for some expats and many have been drawn to excess drinking or drug taking over the years, often with devastating results.
Today, we have an uncut and frank discussion with Paul Wallis about his 40 plus year addiction to alcohol, why he started and why he stopped.
Help to support the channel and feed my coffee addiction at www.buymeacoffee.com/jimmybyrne
Links to Paul's books: A Wanderer's Words: www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09YRT5F59
The Essential Expat's Guide To Living In Thailand: www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00T1VJKLY
#alcohol #alcoholfree #alcoholic #addiction
I’m so glad they got their lives back together.
I agree with you both. I would never have got married if I was sober.
100% - cost me a fortune.
Ouch, now that's a sobering thought Toby 😂🙏
@@JBWanders73😂
555
I never got married BECAUSE of alcohol
Well done giving it up. My mum was a chronic alcoholic and had her kids taken off her, we ended up in care and she still couldn't give the alcohol up to have us back
Stated drinking heavy 14. My family were drinkers. Loved the local pub scene.
But damn did it end up self destructive. Ended up a right mess on many occasions. Threat to life and liberty many times. Only just gave it up a year 55 now. Evil old muck.
Great that you gave it up bro - well done; it's difficult. Hope you have a wonderful New Year!
@@JBWanders73 Thank you all the best. Have a happy new year.
I’m 10 years younger from America and I grew up in a culture where I was exposed to alcohol on a regular basis from day one. Mostly moderate drinkers but everyone drank and sometimes got drunk. Most of my friends started drinking around 14-16 and a few of us became alcoholics-that I know of but it was kind of obvious at a young age who was going to have a real problem with it. AA helped me but I drank too much for most of my life and it’s the worst thing that ever happened to me. I wasn’t a daily drinker and never did the hair of the dog but alcohol changed my life-and definitely not for the better. I’m grateful to be in recovery and I don’t need substances to be social anymore. I have more fun as a sober person.
Thanks for sharing that mate! Alcohol has taken a grip of way too many of my friends and, honestly, it turns a bunch more into mean-spirited, 'gobby' a^^holes every time they drink.... 🙏
Enjoyed that, Paul’s car crash story was epic. I think something we both share is a wariness towards alcohol. I can really enjoy, even look forward to a few but after 4 or 5 I have the self awareness to realize it’s heading nowhere good and probably not worth the hangover the next day, and I don’t consider myself to be a bad drunk at all. We all know some people who the more they drink the happier they feel, I’ve never been that way
Cheers mate - yes, it's an epic tale indeed. I didn't know what stories he would tell; I just said to him let's sit down and talk about your relationship with alcohol. I used to absolutely love 'getting on it' but I would lose days. We're just lucky in that the booze doesn't call our name on a daily basis, because it has a sweet and melodious voice to many.
So over drinking !
Not going to lie have had some good times back in the day , also had some horrible and very regretful life events and experiences over time it’s a slippery slope .
At 46 I’m done I don’t even enjoy that feeling anymore. The anxiety it causes is just not worth it anymore
Me too Phillip 🙏
Not drinking is an art, but not drinking is an art.
✌🙏
Completely agree, the culture in the UK is soaked in booze. From binge drinking nightlife, people drinking a bottle of wine every night at home - but even a social event at your local church is going to feature alcohol! My old man was an alcoholic and it nearly killed him, he got sober and never drank again but our childhood was ruined by his drinking. I wasn't a huge drinker, but had plenty of benders like most people - i woke up one day and I don't really know why but just decided I'm not going to drink anymore and that was 10 years ago. Life immediately got better, now i see around me and I'm positive that at least about 10 people I know and am friends with if for some reason they could not have a drink - say they ended up on a desert island they would go into withdrawal probably full on DTs. They would not think they have a problem, they have jobs and a family but they drink every single day of the week and have done for years - 2 or 3 pints or a bottle of wine. But certainly in the UK its almost impossible to not be anywhere where there is not alcohol or somebody doesn't offer you a drink. I'm pretty sure the UK is full of functioning alcoholics but they just don't know it.
Re Kratom - yes i have heard about people getting off opiates via Kratom, and it does have benefits, but be careful with it and respect it. But speaking from experience it is addictive and the withdrawals are on a par with opiate withdrawals. We had a weird little scene about 5 years ago when it was legal in the UK, started buying it online as powder - and i liked it, before long using everyday throughout the day, spending more and more money. When it came to stopping it was hard, going through about 14 days of withdrawals - so be careful.
Alcohol, booze, drink.... we're told from a young age in the UK that we absolutely need it to have a good time... but do we? Addiction is no laughing matter, especially thousands of miles from 'home' and particularly when your 'tipple' of choice is alcohol. Bangkok, Thailand can be a lonely place for some expats and many have been drawn to excess drinking or drug taking over the years, often with devastating results.
Today, we have an uncut and frank discussion with Paul Wallis about his 40 plus year addiction to alcohol, why he started and why he stopped.
Please help to support the channel, and I will head of for some more adventures soon: www.buymeacoffee.com/jimmybyrne
Paul's books:
The Essential Guide To Living In Thailand: amzn.to/3kpmkCQ
A Wanderer's Words: amzn.to/3vrQTy7
Paul's media:
facebook.com/paul.wallis....
twitter.com/paulinbkkxx
When boredom sets in alcohol kicks in, it's the most toxic drug worldwide that's accepted, IMO - it's all down to $$ - throughout the world governments, alcohol here in Indonesia was looked down upon due to religion they banned it's sale in all stores, or taxed it heavy within restos/bars, but it's ok to buy it now within supermarkets and certain regions i.e. North Jakarta, is a great example......and now it's all 'ok" again hmmm...
But what do I know as a functioning British ex-alcoholic. Great honest discussion.
Agree with you 100% mate; it's all down to money. I went to a Thai Muslim wedding yesterday and everyone was having a jolly old time on sugar and coffee haha. I must admit that some of the lads were smoking hash and weed at the bottom of the garden (I may have joined them briefly haha)..... but there were no arguments or rows all day. It was a pretty enlightening experience.
Actually, as an ex functioning alcoholic, you know better than most people! Have a lovely day - where abouts are you in Indo?
Usa too
These stories are helpful to keep on track. Alcohol is widely accepted but kills and injures so many.
Agreed mate... Thanks
Such a real honest talk love it no booze people
Thanks mate
Paul made an interesting comment, without alcohol , you can't have fun. Alcoholism has never led anything positive in his life. That is truly a sad time to live thru. Alcoholism, it's a terrible addiction. Eating hash and 5 days of withdrawal, what a crazy story.😭. Bless you both for sharing such an interesting subject on drugs and alcohol. Kratom, would be interesting to watch you both after having a drink of it. I hope there are not adverse effects of Kratom , which he says is liver damage
Yes, that's the myth in the West mate, particularly the UK - you neeeeeeeed alcohol to have fun but it is so destructive (I watched my friend drink himself to death). Whenever you see Paul with a non-branded cup, he is drinking his special tea; it seems to work very well for him and is better for him and less destructive than the alcohol. I probably have a glass every month or three - it's quite nice but not really my thing (makes me sleepy). I had my first glass of it in a month or two right before this chat (and Paul was drinking it before and after) - I'm not a method actor but a method interviewer 😂✌
Thanks for your continued support - I really, really appreciate it mate! ✌
Seeing a friend drink himself to death is a tough one. Weird that tea does not work on you like it does to Paul. Maybe that is a good thing for you Jimmy. Good old coffee is all you need. You are definitely a great method interviewer👏@@JBWanders73
👍@@JBWanders73
Thanks mate, you have just brightened up my morning considerably. Do you think I should try and do more interviews with people? I know some people (some famous) here that I think would be really interesting but I will wait until I have a bigger video so that they are more likely to say yes (when they see 2-300 views, I am sure they won't be motivated hehe).....
Enjoyed this a lot. It’s always interesting to hear people’s attitudes and experiences round alcohol. I like drinking, personally: I love the taste of beer, wine and whiskey especially. I also love the ‘2 pints in’ fee, but not so much the being drunk. Hangovers, however, suck big time, so I’m careful to avoid them. Booze has destroyed some friends of mine’s health and relationships and our attitude to it in the UK and Ireland can be utterly bonkers. I’d rather have 1 or 2 nice drinks than 10 average ones any day!
Cheers Gareth. I agree about the 2 vs 10. I'd rather have 2 or 3 pints of a really tasty beer (maybe a German wheat beer or a good English Ale) than 10 local lagers. I have nothing against booze per ser, it just gets a free ride as it's a money maker. For example, it's acceptable to finish a video with sunset beers but a sunset spliff may well go down like a dog sh*t sandwich lol
Alcohol just takes credit for fun times when actually it's the company you are with, children have the most fun when together without a drop of alcohol present it's all social conditioning & bullshit from alcohol companies
I agree with you completely mate
I drink a little too often for opposite reason - it did do good things for my life. Helped me de-stress after work, I'm quite serious and it makes me non serious, i'm more chatty. I also like to go to social events if I can drink but stay in if i want to be sober.
Only reason I want to cut back is because of the money and its hard to lose weight drinking 3 times a week
That's good mate... not everybody has a problem with alcohol... You are like me in that respect; it never got a grip on me.
I chose to drink every drink. Therefore It no longer works.
What no longer works mate?
Agree...beer 🍺= great times was handed down as a given where i grew up in Australia and part of the surf culture!
I've just returned from England - I forgot how many pubs there were.... I enjoyed checking a few out though
I just lost a desire for it too. I have a beer or two a couple times a month maybe but it was every day for a decade or so before.
I just lost the taste for it too but more so for me, I started to dislike the way that certain 'friends' of mine were acting when drunk and then just passing it off as normal behaviour and "oh, it was the drink" (and myself too), so I removed myself from the situation. I haven't quit alcohol - I just refuse to let it dictate my social situations.
Kratom is the best drug going id say. Id recommend it for an alcoholic who wants long term abstinence
A few people have said this... 🙏
Valerian root and bramhi there leagle
@@Corey-iw4ot Kratom is legal in my country. Just waiting for bud to be too lol
brilliant! love the frank stories and brute honesty. hey you should interview scooby next time! there would be some good stories there lol
Cheers mate.... yeah, he'd have a week's worth of mad stories... haven't seen him in 20 years, bless him. Hope he's OK ✌🙏
San Tip was quiet trippy, (but very subtle). I remember it well when I stayed in Thailand many years ago but 10 years later when I went back to Thailand San Tip wasn't the same. I didn't enjoy it so much and it didn't have the same affect. Now you've just explained why
🙏✌🙏
Just came across the channel and great to see the series of chats with Khun Paul, I cold listen to him all day. Interesting its the hang overs that stopped his drinking. I was never much of a serious drinker but in the end it was the hangovers , in the hot humid Thai climate that stopped me. Maybe drink once or twice a year at most, not bothered. Agree living in the Bkk burbs helps.
Yes, he tells a great story and has a captivating presence. Thanks mate 🙏🙏
I have found Kratom to be very addictive…
I'd say you were right. I think Paul may concur with that if he is honest. I will ask him
Eat flyagaric mushrooms loads of them, the next day you'll not be able to smell your drink let alone drink it
That reminds me of an old Minder episode, where Arthur is hypnotised, after which all cigars tasted of burning rubber. However, Paul needs no encouragement - I'm sure he would chomp them straight down 🙏✌
In the UK at least it is much healthier than in many other places. When I was in the UK I was an alcoholic, albeit a functioning one too, but ,at least I was having FUN as opposed to drinking alone and indoors. In the UK it was always a Social thing as opposed to "Escapism " if you will.
You people have it much better than in other places where the Culture is the same ,except you are having no fun at all ...this eventually leads to isolation, escapism.
Also ,the only place I´ve been where fights never got personal and about humiliating/ injuring your opponent(s) as much as possible ...people are not full of hatred and bitterness ,I guess.
When I used to drink a fair bit in the UK, it was always fun and sociable - you are right. Not so much hate and bitterness. more just whining and moaning..... in between having a laugh. I very rarely drink these days matee, but mor because I prefer the green stuff.
Danish culture is all about drinking. Snaps and beer is a large part of the culture. In Denmark we can even drink in public places, unless you're acting disorderly.
The "sticky Nepalese Hash " he refers to in the video was readily available in Christiania in the late 90s/early00s when I was living in Denmark ...I still have that as the best thing I´ve ever smoked in my life. I wonder how Christiania looks like these days... well, Denmark as a whole actually. Great country to live in.
The problem in England is that we are a bunch of thugs deep down, and the alcohol brings it out, as you can see at the football.
@@JBWanders73 You nailed it. I would even extend that to women.
I´ve never seen wilder women elsewhere. 1st time I witnessed women engaged in punch ups which would have many man thinking twice before getting involved. Drinking just as much if not more as men do too ...very strong Cultural component to it as you put it ...indeed.
Still, as I said ,very seldom ,if ever actually , have I sensed (in the UK ) the type of scheming, downright malice which I see in other countries when it comes to that sort of rowdy, violent drunken behaviour and the way people deal with it during and specially afterwards. It´s all pretty much spontaneous and pretty much unresentful, innocent in a way even 😂.
The older guy sounds like Jonney Rotten.
He really does Des... I should get him to do karaoke and see if he can sing!!!
I'd know that lonely tooth anywhere. It's that Thai Bar girl guy.
It's the same guy - he lives round the corner from me.