"I’m Liz, I’m 53, and I’m from Hawes.

I used to think having a few glasses of wine in the evening was normal. Everyone I knew did it. It was how we relaxed after a long day. But somewhere along the line, it stopped being a choice and became something I relied on.

It’s strange because I didn’t see it happening.

It started with one glass while I cooked dinner. Then two. Then I’d top it up while I watched TV. Before I knew it, I was going through a bottle most nights.

I told myself it was fine because I wasn’t going out and getting drunk. I was just at home. But deep down, I knew I was using it to cope. Stress at work. Arguments with my husband. The quiet, lonely moments when the house felt too empty.

One night, I was sat on the sofa with my second glass, watching something on TV, and I realised I could not remember the last night I went without. Not one day. It hit me hard. This was not just a habit anymore.

The worst part was the mornings. I would wake up tired and irritable, with my skin looking dull and my mind feeling foggy. I started snapping at people I cared about. I felt older than my years.

Then one morning, I found myself searching online for ways to cut back and came across Clear Minds. I read a story about another woman, not much younger than me, who had changed her whole life after using their alcohol sessions. Something about it made me think maybe it could work for me too.

I ordered the Control Alcohol Consumption Essentials package and joined the support group. At first I was nervous. I did not know what to say, so I just introduced myself and read other people’s stories. Some of them could have been mine.

The first night I listened to a session before bed, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I fell asleep halfway through, but when I woke up the next morning, I felt slightly calmer. Like I had let go of something or put it down.

Within a few days, I was reaching for a drink less and less. I started asking myself if I actually wanted one, and most of the time, I didn’t. I realised I had been using alcohol to hide from my feelings, and the sessions were helping me face them in a healthier way.

Over the next few weeks, everything started to change. My sleep improved. I was much less irritant. I had more patience. Even my relationships felt better because I was more calm and present.

There were nights I struggled, but the group was always there. People I had never met were checking in on me, offering advice, and reminding me I could do this.

Now, I can go weeks without a drink and not even think about it. I feel more in control of my life than I have in years. I am more confident, more patient, and I have more time for the things I love.

I never realised how much alcohol was holding me back until I let it go."

If you are reading this and wondering if it could work for you, take that first step. You might be surprised at how much life can open up.

We want to honour Liz for her courage in opening up about her journey and the changes she has made.

Her honesty will give hope to so many others who feel trapped in the same cycle she once did.

If you are ready to take control and experience the same transformation Liz has, click below to learn more about the alcohol programme that helped her rebuild her life.