How Joe Sealey Got Clean
Dan is joined by Joe Sealey, ex-West Ham footballer who is currently starring in the Housewives of Cheshire. Joe is also the son of late Manchester United goalie Les Sealey, Joe lost his father and his football career at the same time which is what led him down the path of addiction.
Joe talks to Dan in this episode about the role of his father and football in his life and addiction and how his wife helped him on the road to recovery. Joe opens up about what addiction and sobriety have been like for him including many of his lowest moments, the failure of rehab and what life looks like now he has been sober for many years. Joe also talks about his number 1 bestselling book which is about his addiction, sobriety and also features chapters from his dad’s book project that was started many years before.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Identifying himself as his fathers’ son and later as a West Ham player, meant Joe never discovered his own true identity which led to a lot of problems with his self-esteem.
- Before his dad died and his career ended, Joe had never really drunk alcohol to excess and had never taken drugs, but within 6-8 months he had started taking drugs and drinking.
- Joe felt like at the start, drugs saved his life, they made him happy, but it quickly escalated to ruining everything for him.
- Very quickly, Joe escalated from doing drugs socially to isolating himself and doing it alone at home every day.
- Hyperfocus and drive can help individuals find success, but they are also traits that can easily lead them down the path to addiction.
- Joe meeting his wife is what saved him and he attributes being her today and staying sober to her love and support.
- Before realising he had a drug problem Joe thought he had an anger problem, but it was actually the comedowns from drug taking that were making him angry.
- Rehab didn’t work for Joe; it didn’t prepare him for when he left the centre.
- Children sense when their parents, or any adult, have been drinking or taking drugs. It’s something both Dan and Joe feel ashamed about now they are sober.
- Being on Housewives of Cheshire is for fun and promotion for Joe, he doesn’t take it too seriously.
- Joe’s advice to anyone struggling with addiction is to just get through the day, and then keep getting through each day, try and switch off your thoughts by any means necessary such as going for a walk.
BEST MOMENTS
"I did [drugs] it and it made me feel better”]
”Drugs saved my life but by the end it took everything”
“What I loved was losing control”
“Once I start I can’t stop”
“You have to look at the tragedy [of addiction] and laugh at it”
“Your brain will kill you if you listen to it”
VALUABLE RESOURCES
https://www.cocaineanonymous.org.uk
CONTACT METHOD
ABOUT THE HOSTS
Daniel O’Reilly
Daniel O’Reilly is one of the UK’s Largest Influencers, a comedian, actor, musician, viral video star and social influencer. With a portfolio of businesses Daniel enjoys a busy lifestyle mixed with business and pleasure. Daniel is a father to two beautiful girls and enjoys spending quality time with them and his wife Shelley. With 2022 being a busy year, Daniel sold out his O2 stand-up show, released his British movie 'The Last Heist' and is currently preparing for the upcoming release of his other film 'Miss The Kiss'. Daniel is a creative through and through, with a passion to strive in everything he does. Daniel is looking forward to the release of his podcast 'Menace 2 Sobriety' in 2023, his long-term position on GB News, Headliners, and the growing slate of films in the works with his production company, HYPRR.
Kirk Norcross
“My name is Kirk Norcross, I’m 34 years old, I had a pretty good run, a TV career which I can’t even remember hardly any of that, drugs consumed my life I always used drugs like an addict but I didn’t use them all the time until my fiancé split up with me for no reason and never gave me a reason and I was so upset, hurt and confused. I started using drugs to self-medicate to shut my brain down to stop thinking and then spiral turned and turned and turned until I was like a wrecking ball everywhere I went every penny I had went on drugs, my whole life revolved around drugs I tried recovery a couple of times and kept relapsing then I lost my due to suicide, and it was like something clicked in my head that I need to step up to the plate and be the man that my father wanted me to be, and from then on, I’ve been so as of today’s date I am 583 days sober haven’t touched any drugs or alcohol or any other mind-influencing substance since then.”
Menace 2 Sobriety, podcast, actor, comedian, sobriety,sober, story, years sober, consequences, behaviour,alcoholism, drug addiction, denial, insecurity, fear-driven,rock bottom, sober, rehab, suicidal, addict,realization, struggle, addiction, rock bottom, denial,curiosity, hope, denial, gratitude, self-awareness,behaviour, guilt, shame, emotions, gratitude,self esteem, gratitude, sober life, drugs, confidence,sobriety, ego, drinking,
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