A man whose battle with addiction made him contemplate suicide now wants to help others with their struggles.
Connor Derbyshire began drinking once a week as a teenager and quickly found himself struggling with alcohol addiction.
He explained how he would eagerly await payday to go out to the pub and spend his wages, until his drinking problem caused him to lose his job.
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The 25-year-old told the ECHO : " I started drinking when I was about 16, I was never the typical type to go and sit over the park with people. I’d much rather ask my parents to get me some alcohol from the shop and drink it at home.
"It seemed I loved the taste of it a little too much. There would be one day a week that I would drink when I was 16 up until age 18. On my 18th birthday, that’s when everything changed. I got my own ID and was able to get served in pubs."
Connor explained what a typical day of drinking would look like for him, he said: " A typical day I would always start with lager, I learned that four cans was never enough, and it was then cheaper to get a box of ten than it was for two packs of four.
"After the ten had gone I would go in search for more, whether it be to the pub or texting friends. If it was the pub I’d have a further two pints and then hit the whiskey, after the second whiskey I wouldn't remember anything."
Connor, who lives in St Helens, suffered with his mental health around this time, and these issues were made worse by drinking, eventually leading to Connor being sectioned for his own safety after suicide attempts.
His physical health suffered also, losing weight due to his addiction.
While at the height of his addiction, Connor met his now wife Victoria and the two now have a five-year-old daughter called Maddison.
He told the ECHO: " I only spent five days in the hospital unit because I would lie to the doctors by telling them I was fine. I came out and I married Victoria on April 22 2017 and I was still drinking heavily.
"I had got to a point where no matter what I would do or where I would go I would get into trouble with the police or need care from paramedics after blacking out due to the alcohol.
"Social services got involved and I was very close to getting my daughter taken off me, that’s when I said enough is enough."
Now celebrating three and a half years of sobriety, Connor is keen to raise awareness and help anyone who finds themselves in a similar situation as him. He explained: " Thankfully I have forgotten what lager and whiskey taste like and I can go into a pub for a meal or an occasion without being tempted by alcohol.
"I’m only 25 and I’m an alcoholic, and that doesn't bother me at all. I’m a recovering alcoholic and as long as I stay away from the first drink, I won’t get drunk.
"I love my life today and I love the fact that people like yourself have noticed my journey and ask about my recovery.
" I still attend AA meetings now and for the 3 and a half years I have been sober the meetings are getting bigger and bigger. I really don’t think our small town gets the support it needs.
"I would love to give my time to help anyone who is struggling with alcohol addiction"
