In this episode we chat to the hilarious Robert Mee, who runs the LGBTQI charity Out In The Bay in Lancaster.

Robert makes us laugh so much in this episode, which is a true testament to both his character and his outlook - because as you'll hear, he has faced some incredible challenges in his life. As a young man, Robert contracted HIV and was told that he had 6 months to live. His response was to drink - only to be told that his liver was failing him, and that it could kill him more quickly than his AIDS diagnosis.

Robert reduced his drinking (or at least he thought he did) but it was through a partner that he was introduced to smoking crack cocaine - this led to him using heroine, and it was after overdosing that he was told that he had 4 hours to live in the Royal Hospital in Liverpool. Robert survived, and went to rehab where he discovered that alcohol was one of the root causes of his problems.

Robert now spends his life helping others, and believes that nobody should feel like they're in a situation where they're alone. He's warm, he's kind and he's absolutely hilarious - this episode is a rollercoaster of emotions, and we thank Robert for sharing his story so honestly.

If you're affected by anything you hear in this episode, or if you would like further information on services who may be able to help you if you need it, please see the Support Resources section of our website.

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Of course, you can always get in touch with us (publicly or privately) on our socials - @alcoholfreepod on Instagram, or search for "Over The Influence" on Facebook.

We'd love to hear your story - please get in touch with us directly at [email protected] or go to our website, www.overtheinfluence.co.uk

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For links to alcohol-related support services, please visit our website.

Some further links related to this episode:

National AIDS Trust: https://www.nat.org.uk/

Terence Higgins Trust: https://www.tht.org.uk/our-services/living-well-hiv/support-people-living-hiv 

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All views expressed in this podcast are of the participants themselves, and not necessarily those of Over The Influence (OTI) Ltd. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. We are not medical professionals but normal people giving their own experiences of removing alcohol from their lives, and as such this podcast should not be considered professional advice. If you are dependent on alcohol, or think you may be, we strongly recommend that you seek professional medical advice.

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We found hashtags and sober social media accounts really helpful in our early days alcohol free, as following them can help to reinforce that you are not alone! 

These are some of the hashtags we've followed:

#alcoholfree #stopdrinking #healthandwellnessjourney #zeroalcohol #idontdrink #sobercurious #healthydrinking #alcoholfreelife #soberaf #alcoholfreeliving #sobermotivation #podcast #healthpodcast #noalcohol #nobooze #sober #sobercurious #soberlofe #soberliving #sobercommunity #afcommunity #soberwomen #sobermom #sobermomtribe #sobersisters #sobriety #soberuk #soberjourney #sobrietyrocks #overtheinfluence #oti