Anxiety, ADHD and addiction were killing me. These simple lifestyle changes saved me in a YEAR, I lost 54kg – and finally got off the meds doctors said I’d need for life

It always started for Will Pattinson on weekends.

After avoiding alcohol all week, some Friday afternoon would be stuck in their beers. But after a long week after the end of the vapor.

“ I never really drank in the middle of the week, but the weekend, I would go to heavy benders who could take two or three days. No sleep. Just escape, ‘Will, 30, tells me.

The cycle was cruel. I feel like a shell of myself during the week – worried, exhausted, embarrassed – then chasing that high next weekend next weekend.

“ I was stuck. And the worst part, I knew. Not only my body, but to my future and more importantly, I was harming my family. I could not achieve anything meaningful. He’s just numb and survives. ‘

William, who began to drink as a young at the boarding school, gave him a ‘quick belief’ he felt missing for ADHD and someone who had a social concern – but soon the drink was not enough.

Over time, drinking went hand in hand with drugs. Cocaine and MDMA were always in the mixture when I was out, ” he confesses.

“ Was very violent. These addictions have managed my life for nearly ten years. I lost motivation, direction and identity. My health was collapsing – high blood pressure, gout, early symptoms of diabetes and mentally emptied completely. I fell to myself all the time. But instead of confrontation, I just drink more, use more, prevent the truth.

The heaviest, Will 135kg (300LBS or 21. 4lbs) weighted and had early symptoms of high blood pressure, gout and diabetes

“ This lifestyle sank my identity. I was never honest with people who loved myself or the most. I would say white lies, I play the Joker, I mask the pain. But behind the smiles, there was someone struggling to keep him together. ‘

In addition to the early symptoms of high blood pressure, gout and diabetes, William suffered from serious concerns and had a weight of 135kg (300LBS or 21. 4LBS).

While prescribing the drug for anxiety, it will look like putting a bandage on a much deeper wound.

‘The drugs were blinded, but they weren’t interested in the root. I wasn’t facing anything, I was just a numbing all of them – even with substances, attention with distraction elements, recipes. It was a survival mode, I didn’t heal ‘he says.

Even though William is trying to make positive changes, he now realizes that he has done it for wrong reasons.

“ I was always doing this for other people – correcting things, rebuilding the bridges I broke, or proved that I can. And every time it was short -lived ‘he says.

William finally hit a trip to Europe last year.

At first, there was a little break – a way to escape, reset, see the world. But quickly the same destructive patterns, only hugged at a larger stage ‘he says.

“ I was drinking a lot, I was using drugs, I was constantly doing a party, I was living fast and reckless. Outside, it might see fun. But I’m completely lost behind the scenes.

Will (in Picture) 54kg down, one year sober and training for the New York City Marathon

After losing weight, extracting and running, Will was able to get out of the anxiety medicines that he thought would need life (in the picture)

At the end of the journey, I was inflated, broken, mentally fried. I could barely look at myself in the mirror. My health was seriously diminished … “If I continue like this, I will not be around for a longer time.” I remember thinking. And it was very frightening to think that it wasn’t even a dramatic thought. ‘

After returning home, Will knew that he had to take action.

‘The European trip was a great call to wake up. He pulled everything back and forced me to see the truth – I was wasting my life, lying to myself, and barely survived. When I came home, something changed. A trip to the doctor was a intestinal tuber -tuber reminder – my story doesn’t have to end. ‘

From then on, Will, ‘completely determined’ he said.

“ I went completely to eight months, and despite my recurrence last summer, it was actually a blessing. He reminded me how far I was and why I couldn’t go back. ‘

William wants to emphasize that recurrence should not be seen as a failure.

What defines your recovery process is not recurrence – this is the next step. How do you confront him, how you carry yourself ‘he says.

And for William, it meant to go back to a sober lifestyle.

In addition to drinking, Will made other lifestyle changes that said it was ‘simple at first’.

At the beginning of my transformation, I focused on a calorie deficit and a high -protein diet. Nothing is decorated – just keep all the foods, consistency and jobs simple. Every day I committed to acting, 10,000 steps targeting and lifted weight twice a week. This was my foundation ‘he says.

As “ strengthened – physically and mentally – my capacity has grown. What started with short walks turned into conditions. I finally fell in love with running. Now an average of 100km per week and the movement has become an indispensable part of my life. This is my exit, my anchor, my therapy. ‘

Under a year, Will lost 54kg (119lbs or 8st 7lbs) and then focused on food as a fuel for durability.

He completed the Paris Marathon, promised to run 365km in three days next month and plans to take the New York Marathon this year.

One of the biggest changes in mentality is to learn to use my addictive personality as a superpower. I always had no nature-and for years he dragged me into chaos. But now I’ve pointed to this energy in a new direction. I am addicted to growth, progress, forcing myself. The fire that makes me advance me. ‘

Will says he can completely get out of anxiety medicines because he’s cleaned, built the structure and moves his body every day.

‘Movement, discipline and purpose now have medicines. This doesn’t mean it’s easy or I still don’t have a hard day – I have. But I found out that mental health is nothing that you have corrected and forgot. One thing you manage, you work on, you choose a daily basis’ he says to me.

Now a year of sober – and to collect money for the Black Dog Institute, to run 365 km in three days and ride a bike – William says he’s really excited about what is ahead of us.

“ I have been building it for the first time in a long time – I do not destroy. And this feeling is better than any high that I chased. ‘

Will’s donation collection details can be found Here.

You can follow his journey Here.