227. How David Quit Drinking and Rebuilt His Health, Identity and Life

What if the moment that finally changes your life doesn't have to be dramatic at all, but a quiet realisation that you can’t keep living the way you have been?

That’s exactly where this week’s guest David, found himself before everything shifted.

On episode 227 of The Alcohol ReThink Podcast, Patrick speaks with long-time listener David, who shares his journey from being a daily drinker stuck in a cycle of weight gain, health scares, and repeated attempts to 'moderate one day,' to becoming completely alcohol-free and losing over 35 kilos in the process. A listener who first reached out years ago to share early wins, David now returns with the full story, one that you are bound to relate to.

He talks openly about the wake-up calls he ignored, the relentless belief that moderation would eventually work, the years spent in the sober-curious phase, and the exact moment it all finally clicked.

He also shares how quitting drinking helped him uncover deeper layers of himself, including understanding his ADHD and why his brain had always gravitated toward alcohol, dopamine and coping behaviours.

This episode goes far beyond weight loss or stopping drinking.

It’s about identity, resilience, self-awareness and the uncomfortable emotional work that comes after the alcohol is gone.

Some awesome takeaways:
• Why health warnings became the catalyst for changing his drinking
• How one year alcohol-free didn’t stick, and why old habits returned
• Why moderation is harder than we want to admit
• The identity shift that follows when you stop fighting yourself
• How neurodiversity, dopamine and addiction overlap
• The power of building new neural pathways (and letting old ones fade)
• Tools that helped David stay alcohol-free, including 'never question the decision' and playing the movie forward
• What emotional sobriety really means
• The incredible physical transformation, including over 35kg lost

A huge thank you to David for sharing his journey so openly and honestly. If you’re rethinking alcohol yourself, pick one insight from this episode and put it into practice today.

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