July 17th 2023.
Sarah Catchpole, 29, remembers her life before sobriety as being "absolute chaos." She started drinking at the young age of 14, when she realized that alcohol helped her mask her insecurities and escape from an unhappy home life.
"Every weekend became a mission between my friends who could get alcohol," Sarah says. "I started drinking vodka, but after it made me sick one night, I switched to cider. It became a warped badge of honour that I could drink as much as the boys, but by the end of the night, I was always the one worst off—either puking up or passing out."
Despite her excessive drinking, Sarah was able to do well in her GSCEs and went on to study graphic design at university. She even met her now-husband Steve, 37, while working in a pub.
"Neither of us drank, but on the weekends when it was just us, we’d go out and party hard with our mates. Sundays were always a complete write-off," Sarah recalls. "By then, I was working in a high-pressured job and my 'hang-xiety' was causing me to wonder if I did actually have a drinking problem."
When lockdown hit in March 2020, Sarah thought it would be a relief from her binge-drinking—but as soon as the restrictions started to lift, she slipped back into her old ways.
"We had a big garden, so we started having friends over for parties. That's when my binge-drinking escalated and I started to become territorial about alcohol," Sarah says. "Alcohol made me selfish and argumentative."
In February 2021, Sarah found out she was pregnant and immediately stopped drinking. She relished her role as a mum when her daughter Halle was born in November 2021, but when the couple had a few friends over for an afternoon drink, Sarah got extremely drunk and realized that she needed to do something about her problem.
"When Halle was eight months old, Steve and I had a couple of friends over for an afternoon drink. Fast-forward several hours and I was black-out drunk," Sarah says. "I was crying and shouting how much I hated my life and what a terrible mum I was. That's when I decided to quit the booze for good."
Now, almost a year into her sobriety, Sarah has transformed her life and her relationships.
"Now, I'm getting to know and love my authentic self," she says. "My life is so much better without alcohol. I'm happier and healthier and so much more present for my family."
Sarah Catchpole, 29, reflects on her life before sobriety. "My life before sobriety was absolute chaos," she says. "I convinced myself that I didn't have a drinking problem because I didn't drink every day or at home by myself. But when I did have alcohol, I'd often end up blacking-out or doing something reckless."
Sarah had her first taste of alcohol at the age of seven when she was allowed to have a sip of her mom's Bacardi Breezers. She then had her first proper drink when she was twelve on a camping trip with her friend and her parents. "My friend and I were allowed one alco-pop each. We felt so grown up, but the booze just made me feel fuzzy-headed and sleepy. I couldn't understand why adults liked it," she recalls.
By the age of fourteen, Sarah realised that alcohol helped mask her insecurities and escape from an unhappy home-life. She says, "I was quite an anxious person, but alcohol made me feel confident and bolshy. Every weekend became a mission between my friends who could get alcohol. I started drinking vodka, but after it made me sick one night, I switched to cider. It became a warped badge of honour that I could drink as much as the boys, but by the end of the night, I was always the one worst off – either puking up or passing out."
Despite drinking from a young age, Sarah did well in her GSCEs and went on to study graphic design at university. At university, she got a part-time job in a pub, which is where she met her now-husband Steve. They started as friends and eventually got together after Sarah graduated. They then got married and Sarah was soon blessed with a daughter, Halle.
At first, Sarah found it easy not to drink when she was pregnant with Halle. However, as soon as the lockdown restrictions started to lift, she slipped back into her old ways. "We had a big garden, so we started having friends over for parties. That’s when my binge-drinking escalated and I started to become territorial about alcohol. I’d buy a 24 crate of Strongbow Summer Fruits and would hide cans around the house, so no one could take them," Sarah explains.
In February 2021, Sarah got a wake-up call when she found out she was pregnant. "Steve and I were over the moon and immediately, I stopped drinking, I didn't miss it at all," she recalls. But when Halle was four months old, Sarah went out to ‘wet the baby’s head’ and got extremely drunk. She eventually realised that she needed to do something when Steve told her, "I'm not going to tell you to stop drinking, but you need to do something."
Sarah made a vow that after their wedding in April 2022, she'd go on a detox. However, she couldn't stick to it, as she got extremely drunk at her hen-do and on the day of her wedding. After that, she decided it was time to quit the booze for good and it has been almost a year since she has been sober.
Now, Sarah is happier and healthier than ever before. "Now, I'm getting to know and love my authentic self," she says. She is also able to enjoy her relationship with her husband and daughter without the influence of alcohol. "I'm so glad I made the decision to stop drinking for good," she says. "It's been life-changing."
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