Confessions of an Ex-Functioning Alcoholic - How 67 Year Old Quit After 48 Years

Рет қаралды 2,597

7 ай бұрын

Alcohol, booze, drink.... we're told from a young age in the UK that we absolutely need it to have a good time... but do we? Addiction is no laughing matter, especially thousands of miles from 'home' and particularly when your 'tipple' of choice is alcohol. Bangkok, Thailand can be a lonely place for some expats and many have been drawn to excess drinking or drug taking over the years, often with devastating results.
Today, we have an uncut and frank discussion with Paul Wallis about his 40 plus year addiction to alcohol, why he started and why he stopped.
Help to support the channel and feed my coffee addiction at www.buymeacoffee.com/jimmybyrne
Links to Paul's books: A Wanderer's Words: www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09YRT5F59
The Essential Expat's Guide To Living In Thailand: www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00T1VJKLY
#alcohol #alcoholfree #alcoholic #addiction

Пікірлер: 68

@Stovetopcookie 16 сағат бұрын

I’m so glad they got their lives back together.

@tobyprice1092 7 ай бұрын

I agree with you both. I would never have got married if I was sober.

@btkindonesia137 7 ай бұрын

100% - cost me a fortune.

@JBWanders73 7 ай бұрын

Ouch, now that's a sobering thought Toby 😂🙏

@antech555 7 ай бұрын

@@JBWanders73😂

@NickyDunn 7 ай бұрын

555

@user-fk2vr4uh8c 14 күн бұрын

I never got married BECAUSE of alcohol

@carolynmurphy3697 Ай бұрын

Well done giving it up. My mum was a chronic alcoholic and had her kids taken off her, we ended up in care and she still couldn't give the alcohol up to have us back

@Daz377 4 ай бұрын

Stated drinking heavy 14. My family were drinkers. Loved the local pub scene. But damn did it end up self destructive. Ended up a right mess on many occasions. Threat to life and liberty many times. Only just gave it up a year 55 now. Evil old muck.

@JBWanders73 4 ай бұрын

Great that you gave it up bro - well done; it's difficult. Hope you have a wonderful New Year!

@Daz377 4 ай бұрын

@@JBWanders73 Thank you all the best. Have a happy new year.

@dg9015 5 сағат бұрын

It's poison

@karlsthailand 7 ай бұрын

Enjoyed that, Paul’s car crash story was epic. I think something we both share is a wariness towards alcohol. I can really enjoy, even look forward to a few but after 4 or 5 I have the self awareness to realize it’s heading nowhere good and probably not worth the hangover the next day, and I don’t consider myself to be a bad drunk at all. We all know some people who the more they drink the happier they feel, I’ve never been that way

@JBWanders73 7 ай бұрын

Cheers mate - yes, it's an epic tale indeed. I didn't know what stories he would tell; I just said to him let's sit down and talk about your relationship with alcohol. I used to absolutely love 'getting on it' but I would lose days. We're just lucky in that the booze doesn't call our name on a daily basis, because it has a sweet and melodious voice to many.

@phillipwhite4741 25 күн бұрын

So over drinking ! Not going to lie have had some good times back in the day , also had some horrible and very regretful life events and experiences over time it’s a slippery slope . At 46 I’m done I don’t even enjoy that feeling anymore. The anxiety it causes is just not worth it anymore

@JBWanders73 23 күн бұрын

Me too Phillip 🙏

@eeeeks 19 күн бұрын

I’m 10 years younger from America and I grew up in a culture where I was exposed to alcohol on a regular basis from day one. Mostly moderate drinkers but everyone drank and sometimes got drunk. Most of my friends started drinking around 14-16 and a few of us became alcoholics-that I know of but it was kind of obvious at a young age who was going to have a real problem with it. AA helped me but I drank too much for most of my life and it’s the worst thing that ever happened to me. I wasn’t a daily drinker and never did the hair of the dog but alcohol changed my life-and definitely not for the better. I’m grateful to be in recovery and I don’t need substances to be social anymore. I have more fun as a sober person.

@JBWanders73 17 күн бұрын

Thanks for sharing that mate! Alcohol has taken a grip of way too many of my friends and, honestly, it turns a bunch more into mean-spirited, 'gobby' a^^holes every time they drink.... 🙏

@youtuber-MGTOW 7 ай бұрын

Not drinking is an art, but not drinking is an art.

@JBWanders73 7 ай бұрын

✌🙏

@JBWanders73 7 ай бұрын

Alcohol, booze, drink.... we're told from a young age in the UK that we absolutely need it to have a good time... but do we? Addiction is no laughing matter, especially thousands of miles from 'home' and particularly when your 'tipple' of choice is alcohol. Bangkok, Thailand can be a lonely place for some expats and many have been drawn to excess drinking or drug taking over the years, often with devastating results. Today, we have an uncut and frank discussion with Paul Wallis about his 40 plus year addiction to alcohol, why he started and why he stopped. Please help to support the channel, and I will head of for some more adventures soon: www.buymeacoffee.com/jimmybyrne Paul's books: The Essential Guide To Living In Thailand: amzn.to/3kpmkCQ A Wanderer's Words: amzn.to/3vrQTy7 Paul's media: facebook.com/paul.wallis.... twitter.com/paulinbkkxx

@btkindonesia137 7 ай бұрын

When boredom sets in alcohol kicks in, it's the most toxic drug worldwide that's accepted, IMO - it's all down to $$ - throughout the world governments, alcohol here in Indonesia was looked down upon due to religion they banned it's sale in all stores, or taxed it heavy within restos/bars, but it's ok to buy it now within supermarkets and certain regions i.e. North Jakarta, is a great example......and now it's all 'ok" again hmmm... But what do I know as a functioning British ex-alcoholic. Great honest discussion.

@JBWanders73 7 ай бұрын

Agree with you 100% mate; it's all down to money. I went to a Thai Muslim wedding yesterday and everyone was having a jolly old time on sugar and coffee haha. I must admit that some of the lads were smoking hash and weed at the bottom of the garden (I may have joined them briefly haha)..... but there were no arguments or rows all day. It was a pretty enlightening experience. Actually, as an ex functioning alcoholic, you know better than most people! Have a lovely day - where abouts are you in Indo?

@Corey-iw4ot 4 ай бұрын

Usa too

@brucewayne2773 7 ай бұрын

Paul made an interesting comment, without alcohol , you can't have fun. Alcoholism has never led anything positive in his life. That is truly a sad time to live thru. Alcoholism, it's a terrible addiction. Eating hash and 5 days of withdrawal, what a crazy story.😭. Bless you both for sharing such an interesting subject on drugs and alcohol. Kratom, would be interesting to watch you both after having a drink of it. I hope there are not adverse effects of Kratom , which he says is liver damage

@JBWanders73 7 ай бұрын

Yes, that's the myth in the West mate, particularly the UK - you neeeeeeeed alcohol to have fun but it is so destructive (I watched my friend drink himself to death). Whenever you see Paul with a non-branded cup, he is drinking his special tea; it seems to work very well for him and is better for him and less destructive than the alcohol. I probably have a glass every month or three - it's quite nice but not really my thing (makes me sleepy). I had my first glass of it in a month or two right before this chat (and Paul was drinking it before and after) - I'm not a method actor but a method interviewer 😂✌

@JBWanders73 7 ай бұрын

Thanks for your continued support - I really, really appreciate it mate! ✌

@brucewayne2773 7 ай бұрын

Seeing a friend drink himself to death is a tough one. Weird that tea does not work on you like it does to Paul. Maybe that is a good thing for you Jimmy. Good old coffee is all you need. You are definitely a great method interviewer👏@@JBWanders73

@brucewayne2773 7 ай бұрын

👍@@JBWanders73

@JBWanders73 7 ай бұрын

Thanks mate, you have just brightened up my morning considerably. Do you think I should try and do more interviews with people? I know some people (some famous) here that I think would be really interesting but I will wait until I have a bigger video so that they are more likely to say yes (when they see 2-300 views, I am sure they won't be motivated hehe).....

@garethpotter 7 ай бұрын

Enjoyed this a lot. It’s always interesting to hear people’s attitudes and experiences round alcohol. I like drinking, personally: I love the taste of beer, wine and whiskey especially. I also love the ‘2 pints in’ fee, but not so much the being drunk. Hangovers, however, suck big time, so I’m careful to avoid them. Booze has destroyed some friends of mine’s health and relationships and our attitude to it in the UK and Ireland can be utterly bonkers. I’d rather have 1 or 2 nice drinks than 10 average ones any day!

@JBWanders73 7 ай бұрын

Cheers Gareth. I agree about the 2 vs 10. I'd rather have 2 or 3 pints of a really tasty beer (maybe a German wheat beer or a good English Ale) than 10 local lagers. I have nothing against booze per ser, it just gets a free ride as it's a money maker. For example, it's acceptable to finish a video with sunset beers but a sunset spliff may well go down like a dog sh*t sandwich lol

@realeasterne 7 ай бұрын

I just lost a desire for it too. I have a beer or two a couple times a month maybe but it was every day for a decade or so before.

@JBWanders73 7 ай бұрын

I just lost the taste for it too but more so for me, I started to dislike the way that certain 'friends' of mine were acting when drunk and then just passing it off as normal behaviour and "oh, it was the drink" (and myself too), so I removed myself from the situation. I haven't quit alcohol - I just refuse to let it dictate my social situations.

@itsuptoyou3526 7 ай бұрын

brilliant! love the frank stories and brute honesty. hey you should interview scooby next time! there would be some good stories there lol

@JBWanders73 7 ай бұрын

Cheers mate.... yeah, he'd have a week's worth of mad stories... haven't seen him in 20 years, bless him. Hope he's OK ✌🙏

@carolynmurphy3697 Ай бұрын

San Tip was quiet trippy, (but very subtle). I remember it well when I stayed in Thailand many years ago but 10 years later when I went back to Thailand San Tip wasn't the same. I didn't enjoy it so much and it didn't have the same affect. Now you've just explained why

@JBWanders73 28 күн бұрын

🙏✌🙏

@AshSmash123 6 ай бұрын

Kratom is the best drug going id say. Id recommend it for an alcoholic who wants long term abstinence

@JBWanders73 6 ай бұрын

A few people have said this... 🙏

@Corey-iw4ot 4 ай бұрын

Valerian root and bramhi there leagle

@AshSmash123 4 ай бұрын

@@Corey-iw4ot Kratom is legal in my country. Just waiting for bud to be too lol

@DonBigMango Ай бұрын

Just came across the channel and great to see the series of chats with Khun Paul, I cold listen to him all day. Interesting its the hang overs that stopped his drinking. I was never much of a serious drinker but in the end it was the hangovers , in the hot humid Thai climate that stopped me. Maybe drink once or twice a year at most, not bothered. Agree living in the Bkk burbs helps.

@JBWanders73 Ай бұрын

Yes, he tells a great story and has a captivating presence. Thanks mate 🙏🙏

@reoun1654 4 ай бұрын

Agree...beer 🍺= great times was handed down as a given where i grew up in Australia and part of the surf culture!

@JBWanders73 3 ай бұрын

I've just returned from England - I forgot how many pubs there were.... I enjoyed checking a few out though

@nevillej9408 20 күн бұрын

I have found Kratom to be very addictive…

@JBWanders73 20 күн бұрын

I'd say you were right. I think Paul may concur with that if he is honest. I will ask him

@adamy3834 24 күн бұрын

I chose to drink every drink. Therefore It no longer works.

@JBWanders73 23 күн бұрын

What no longer works mate?

@desthomas3020 25 күн бұрын

The older guy sounds like Jonney Rotten.

@JBWanders73 25 күн бұрын

He really does Des... I should get him to do karaoke and see if he can sing!!!

@kattekongen Ай бұрын

Danish culture is all about drinking. Snaps and beer is a large part of the culture. In Denmark we can even drink in public places, unless you're acting disorderly.

@saraivatoledo1842 Ай бұрын

The "sticky Nepalese Hash " he refers to in the video was readily available in Christiania in the late 90s/early00s when I was living in Denmark ...I still have that as the best thing I´ve ever smoked in my life. I wonder how Christiania looks like these days... well, Denmark as a whole actually. Great country to live in.

@JBWanders73 28 күн бұрын

The problem in England is that we are a bunch of thugs deep down, and the alcohol brings it out, as you can see at the football.

@saraivatoledo1842 27 күн бұрын

@@JBWanders73 You nailed it. I would even extend that to women. I´ve never seen wilder women elsewhere. 1st time I witnessed women engaged in punch ups which would have many man thinking twice before getting involved. Drinking just as much if not more as men do too ...very strong Cultural component to it as you put it ...indeed. Still, as I said ,very seldom ,if ever actually , have I sensed (in the UK ) the type of scheming, downright malice which I see in other countries when it comes to that sort of rowdy, violent drunken behaviour and the way people deal with it during and specially afterwards. It´s all pretty much spontaneous and pretty much unresentful, innocent in a way even 😂.

@midlanderwbaboothy7068 Ай бұрын

Alcohol just takes credit for fun times when actually it's the company you are with, children have the most fun when together without a drop of alcohol present it's all social conditioning & bullshit from alcohol companies

@JBWanders73 Ай бұрын

I agree with you completely mate

@saraivatoledo1842 Ай бұрын

In the UK at least it is much healthier than in many other places. When I was in the UK I was an alcoholic, albeit a functioning one too, but ,at least I was having FUN as opposed to drinking alone and indoors. In the UK it was always a Social thing as opposed to "Escapism " if you will. You people have it much better than in other places where the Culture is the same ,except you are having no fun at all ...this eventually leads to isolation, escapism. Also ,the only place I´ve been where fights never got personal and about humiliating/ injuring your opponent(s) as much as possible ...people are not full of hatred and bitterness ,I guess.

@JBWanders73 28 күн бұрын

When I used to drink a fair bit in the UK, it was always fun and sociable - you are right. Not so much hate and bitterness. more just whining and moaning..... in between having a laugh. I very rarely drink these days matee, but mor because I prefer the green stuff.