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Hi I’m Carmela, a sobriety blogger, coach, and educator from the UK.
Some of you may already know me through my Instagram page @womanonasobermission, some of you may have stumbled upon me through the web. However you have found me I’m glad you’re here.
This blog is a place for me to document my own sobriety journey as well as shine the light on other people’s journeys, showcase interviews with experts in sobriety and wellness, sharing advice, hints and tips for going sober yourself, recipes, recommendations and much, much more.
I’m a mum to Luca, married and living in the Essex countryside (just outside of London for my international friends)
Aside from the work I do as a sobriety blogger and coach I work as an Event Director for a national business awards programme which I talk about a lot on these pages. I feel incredibly privileged to work in jobs I love which enable me to meet new people and connect others.
In my spare time I love tending to my allotment, growing my own fruit, veg and flowers as well as taking part in my newfound hobbies – wild swimming, CrossFit and Weightlifting.
For years I suffered with poor mental health and my addictive nature. After finally addressing my turbulent relationship with alcohol I was able to transform my mental health and my life.
Alcohol misuse went hand in hand with the depression and anxiety that I had been living with since my early 20’s. Now that it’s out the picture my mental and physical health has never been better.
Although the setting has changed over the years from party girl who was out hitting bars and clubs, champagne flowing and never having an off switch, suffering from severe bouts of depression and a lovely eating disorder on the side, through to stressed out mum trying to juggle the pressures of a high-pressured job, being mum, a wife, a friend and being told by numerous magazines that you can have it all! (Easier said than done).
A glass of ‘mummy juice’ a night (look at all the cleaver marketing by alcohol brands aimed at stressed out mums) quickly turned into a bottle a night and then some to help me ‘unwind’.
I have felt for a long time that I was slowly killing myself through the lifestyle I was living. It took for my fiend Sarah to be diagnosed with breast cancer, to wake up and start making a change.
Sarah was in her 30’s with four gorgeous kids when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She made it her mission to raise awareness to all the negative impacts our poor lifestyle creates.
My friend documented her journey to trying to beat cancer through nutrition, alternative therapy combined with traditional treatments. Her journey inspired me to start taking a deep look inside.
Over the next few years, I started analysing my life. I left my job and took time out to embark on a journey of self-discovery. I started trying to kick the booze too. There were many failed attempts, but each attempt strengthened my resolve.
The journey was a lonely one. I didn’t have support. AA had never appealed, I explored it many times but was always put off.
Fast forward to July 23rd, 2020. In the midst of a global pandemic, I attempted to kick the booze for good. Again. I found loads of sober people on Instagram and started making connections.
This has proven my biggest means of support to date. I started my Instagram page and blogged my own personal sobriety journey, using it to keep myself accountable and pull upon the support of such an amazing community.
Its been a privileged to have had the opportuniy to share my own journey and insight into sobriety in many national newspapers and magazines. I regularly use my job working on business awards as a platform to discuss how alcohol and indeed sobriety impact business and performance.
Sadly, I found out that my incredible friend Sarah lost her battle with cancer on day 2 of my sober journey. Rather than use this as an excuse to feel sorry for myself and reach for the bottle, I instead chose to honour her memory by creating the sort of life I want to live and to really, LIVE. Free of the shackles of addiction and poor mental health and to help others who want to explore a fuller, happier life.
We all deserve to live the best lives possible.
If you want to see daily hints and tips you can follow my Instagram page Womanonasobermission
