Emma (38) joined the Help Me Stop Digital Dayhab programme, the first of its kind in the UK to provide intensive online addiction treatment. She attended group and one-to-one therapy, successfully completing her treatment for alcohol addiction. I came to Help Me Stop at rock bottom – couldn’t live with or without alcohol. In my quest to be the perfect daughter, mother, wife, colleague, friend, niece, I became so overwhelmed I could no longer breathe. Alcohol became my outlet and steadily controlled my every waking moment – driving me to cross-lines and behave in ways I never thought ..read more

What is Dry January? Dry January is a campaign run by Alcohol Change UK, in which participants give up alcohol for the month. Other charities run similar events, such as Dryathlon, organised by Cancer Research UK. Every year millions of people make a resolution to lay off the booze for a month at the start of the year – Dry January started in 2013 with 4,000 people. Now in it’s 11th year it’s come a long way and over 175,000 people took part in 2023. The risks of going dry for a month  There has been remarkably little evaluation of the benefits of campaigns like Dry January. These initia ..read more

Having recently returned to Help Me Stop as Director of Treatment Services I want to share some thoughts on the importance of developing our recovery community further. I am honoured and excited to be back with Help Me Stop and look forward to developing the community into a vibrant place where people can get well and flourish. Everyone needs to feel as if they belong somewhere or have a place to call home. This is a basic human need and is essential if we are to feel safe and grow. Many addicts and alcoholics say that they have always felt at odds with the world, as if they don’t fit in anywh ..read more

University is an exciting time for young people but it also comes with a lot of risks. Peer pressure, new surroundings and often a new-found sense of freedom, can result in many young people trying drugs and excessive amounts of alcohol for the first time.  Ketamine and cocaine are two drugs that we see an increasing amount of young people using and trying when they are at university, and what starts as something that feels like harmless fun, quickly turns into something more sinister. Trying drugs at university is often told as part of the experience, but for some young people, this is w ..read more

Festival season is upon us and while we might often associate them with drink and drugs, there is a whole side to festivals, live music, and entertainment that can be enjoyed and appreciated sober. If you’re planning on going to a festival this summer and beyond, here are some tips from the team at Help Me Stop so that you can make the most out of it. Festival Culture There is a long-association with festivals and alcohol, but there are now more alcohol free options than ever and most festivals are championing those making these decisions for themselves and their health. Gone are the days when ..read more

A summer spent socialising can be a trigger for people to find and seek the support they need with both drug and alcohol addiction. More events, more parties, and more temptation can often be the breaking point where we see that something needs to change. From lost memories to not going home, missed plans and neglecting commitments, there are a variety of different ways that these things can manifest.  If you are seeking support over the summer or have had a moment of realisation that you would like to change the path you’re on, then here are some practical actions and steps you can ta ..read more

Learn more about peer support and how it fits into addiction recovery.  Peer support is a vital part of addiction recovery, offering a non-judgemental space and a chance to connect with people who are in the same situation as you, or a very similar position.  Why is it important? Peer support not only brings you together with others in a meaningful way, and it offers a sense of belonging. Drug addiction can be isolating, shameful at times, and a space where you feel alone and misunderstood. Peer support is a chance to connect and vulnerable, to share stories and listen, learning from ..read more

Seeking professional help for addiction can be daunting, but we are here to help. There are so many benefits to seeking that professional help, so take a read and please reach out if you feel like we could help.   What is classed as professional help? When you seek help with alcohol addiction, you will likely look for experts in their field or organisations that specialise in this. Professional help is just that, and it is the difference between trying to tackle it alone, and seeking the help you know you need to get the right support throughout your journey. There are many different ..read more

The beer gardens are open and summer is here, so how are you going to go about those sober summer nights spent socialising? Here is everything you need to know and consider about getting social and staying sober this summer.  Where do you want to spend your time? Think about where you want to be spending your time this summer. Do you want to be in the beer garden and soaking up the sun? If you do, the good news is that you can do that sober, whether you choose a soft drink or a non-alcoholic alternative that you can road-test in the warmer weather. But, think about what you want to do and ..read more

Sobriety has a life-changing impact on you.  It is only when you get sober that you can see drug use in a different light, and how it was damaging your life beforehand. Summer is a time for socialising and celebration, and in sobriety you have the joy of remembering every moment.  However, old habits die hard and when temptation calls it can be hard to stay on the path of sobriety. If you have been a drug user or are addicted to drugs, then summer will likely have a long-standing affiliation with heightened use, peer pressure, and forgotten nights. But, we see things through rose-t ..read more