‘For six months my life was just drink, sleep, drink, sleep’
MOVING TO NOTTINGHAM ALLOWED PETE TO GET THE HELP HE NEEDED TO CONQUER HIS ADDICTION
A RECOVERING alcoholic, who at one stage could barely pick up his first drink of the day due to the shakes, has revealed how his life was transformed after moving to Nottinghamshire.
Pete Connelly, of Hucknall, said that every day for more than six months he would drink a bottle-and-a-half of vodka and two bottles of wine before going out at night to drink even more.
“Life was just drink, sleep, drink, sleep - that’s how it was for about six or seven months,” he told the Post.
The 56-year-old, who grew up in Manchester, admitted he was a “functioning alcoholic” for 30 years before his life completely spiralled out of control.
After starting off “culture drinking” Pete’s addiction began to progressively get worse, resulting in him getting kicked out of his mum’s home and losing a well-paid job in transport management.
Recalling his lowest moment, Pete said he once struggled to pick up a pint in a Wetherspoon’s pub because he was shaking so much.
“I sort of accepted [the shakes] as an occupational hazard but it progressively got worse to the point where I couldn’t get it off the bar,” he said.
“When I was at the table, instead of lifting my drink up I had to move my head down to the glass - and this was in a public place.
By the time I finished that I had to get another, and then I had to get a double whisky to go with it, just to stop the shaking.”
However, once he moved to Nottingham four years ago Pete said his life “changed”.
After two failed attempts to detox in Manchester, Pete received support from Change, Grow, Live (CGL)- a Nottinghamshire County Council commissioned recovery service.
“CGL helped me learn from my previous mistakes and look at my trigger points and cravings. Up to now, it’s worked brilliantly and I’ve not touched a single drop of alcohol for four years,” said Pete.
He now works for CGL himself and added: “My life’s turned around completely.”
Issuing a message to anyone who believes they may have a drinking problem, Pete added: “If you think you have a problem or if you just want some advice or you think you’re drinking too much - just get help as soon as you can.
“The longer you put it off the harder it will be to treat.”
Councillor Boyd Elliott, chairman of adult social care and public health committee at Nottinghamshire County Council, said: “Thank you to Pete for speaking out about his former addiction and well done to him for getting it under control and helping others to do the same.
“Figures show that drinking levels have increased during the pandemic but, like Pete, many people may tell themselves they have things under control. If you’re worried about yourself or someone else, please contact CGL for professional help.”
Public Health England data shows that there was a 58.6% increase of people reporting that they are drinking at increasing and higher-risk levels when comparing March 2020 and March 2021 (50 units a week for men, 35 units a week for women).