Roller skating and knitting helped achieve sober year

A woman says she achieved a year of being sober with the help of painting, knitting, and roller skating.

Jill Nelson, of Derbyshire, was drinking a litre and a half of vodka a week but "didn't think it was a problem".

She said she would drink herself into a stupor most evenings to cope with memories of childhood and relationship trauma.

On her sobriety, she has thanked an NHS support service for its help.

Ms Nelson, 59, from Dronfield, put her drinking down to childhood trauma, a bad marriage breakup, surgery after cancer, and boredom after being medically retired.

She said: "From then on, if there was any bump in the road, I would have a drink.

"If I was feeling down or depressed, I would open a bottle of vodka."

She fell into the habit of drinking from around 4pm until she fell into a stupor.

"When I was asleep, I didn't have to face my worries," she said.

"I was drinking about a litre and a half of vodka a week, but I never drank out; it was always at home, and I really didn't think it was a problem."

When she spoke to her GP over mental health concerns, they said she could not be referred until her drinking was tackled.

Ms Nelson was already taking anti-depressants and sleeping tablets, and said she was shocked to be told her alcohol intake was stopping the tablets from working.

"It was only when I spoke to someone on the outside that I realised this is not how other people live.

"I was told I'm not alcohol dependent or an alcoholic, I was drinking to forget, which is why I had to look at the reasons why I drank."

Ms Nelson self-referred to Derbyshire Recovery Partnership (DRP), an NHS support service, in April 2023, and had counselling and therapy to help her process her memories.

To help occupy her spare time, she fulfilled a childhood ambition.

"I did a 12-week course of roller skating, and I was rubbish!" she said. "I realised it wasn't for me.

"But I also used to paint by numbers as a child and really enjoyed that, so I now do adult paint by numbers, and I have started knitting for the special care baby unit."

She thanked DRP saying: "They are so patient and understanding, and my keyworker just 'got' me from the first time I walked in.

"She let me talk, understood everything I was saying, and I would recommend them to anyone.

"If by sharing my story I can help just one person think about what they are doing, then I would be so pleased. I could not have done it without the DRP's help."

Details of organisations offering information and support with issues relating to alcohol are available at bbc.co.uk/actionline

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