I was hiding my drinking from my family | This is how I quit - Simon Maguire

At 15 years old, Simon Maguire lost his mom and alcohol became how he coped.

What started as relief slowly turned into years of drinking, weight gain, and hiding how bad things had become.

By 38, everything was catching up and something had to change.

Story-Based Episode Summary

Simon’s story begins with loss. After his mother passed away, alcohol quickly became more than something social. It became a way to numb emotions he did not know how to process.

Through his teens and into adulthood, drinking became a constant. On the outside, life looked normal, but behind the scenes it was escalating. Alcohol, food, and later painkillers all became ways to cope. By his late 30s, he was drinking heavily, taking codeine, hiding it from those around him, and feeling the impact on his family, especially his kids.

The turning point came from a moment he did not expect. A simple comment from someone at work forced him to face the truth. That led to a conversation with his wife that changed everything.

What followed was not instant, but it was real. Step by step, he began to quit drinking, rebuild his habits, and take control of his life. From early mornings in a boxing gym to completing an Ironman, his journey shows what is possible in sobriety.

This is a real story of alcohol addiction, recovery, and choosing to live alcohol free.

Key Topics Covered

• Using alcohol to cope with grief and trauma
• How alcohol addiction develops over time
• The connection between drinking, food, and emotional coping
• Hiding alcohol use and recognizing the signs
• The moment that leads to quitting drinking
• Early sobriety challenges and building new habits
• Fitness and transformation in recovery
• Life after alcohol and building an alcohol free identity

More information and connect with Simon:

www.simonmaguire.co.uk

https://www.instagram.com/keynotemaguire/

If you want to connect with me via Instagram, you can find me on the instahandle @Soberdave https://www.instagram.com/soberdave/

or via my website https://davidwilsoncoaching.com/

Provided below are links for services offering additional help and advice.

www.drinkaware.co.uk/advice/alcohol-support-services

https://nacoa.org.uk/

Show producer- Daniella Attanasio-Martinez

Instagram - @TheDaniellaMartinez

https://www.instagram.com/thedaniellamartinez/

www.instagram.com/grownuphustle

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