"Alcohol, drugs and abuse and recovery"

When I was younger, I got bullied a lot in school. I grew up in a very chaotic home with some of my family members hitting me and also having addiction problems.  They also picked on me from childhood to adulthood.

When I was 16, there was a huge incident where my dad was very aggressive towards me and then he kicked me out afterwards. Then I started drinking and taking narcotics, basically anything I could get my hands on.

That went on for many years, Clubbing, fights,  more drugs, in and out of hospitals, My mental health deteriorated. I was working in the building trade and in my late 20's I decided to change my job and I became a chef.

Before this age I did my first detox (2008) supported by CGL where the staff and the support was what I needed and I am grateful. I was sober for 4 years, in the time I trained to be a chef and in the first 2 years of this phase I became a two times award winning chef. Over time the alcohol got hold of me in the cooking industry and I was working more hours and made my mental health bad.

I felt worthless and always feel like I need to prove myself to people instead of worrying about myself. Inside me I just didn't feel enough.

After all that, I met my current wife who supported  me and made me to be where I am now.