Here’s a video I made about people I met in Thailand battling addiction ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-UnHe1Ls037s.htmlsi=RVSOVUfFYXeQf_4K
Alcohol only works for a certain time, it stopped being fun for me years ago and I wouldn't want to drink but it'd be Friday 5pm and I'd think "What else am I going to do?" so I'd drink and never feel that 'high' I used to get and slowly get drunk and binge over the weekend (no sleep, no food, no water, two days straight) for years. My hangovers on Sunday turned into withdrawals, being exhausted and unable to sleep, wanting to cry but not being able to, being depressed and anxious and sweaty and having the shakes. I was functional though, never drank during the week, went to work and did 5 Crossfit sessions each week. The year before I quit everything started to fall apart, I could hardly make it through a gym session and I was exhausted at work. I'll be 2 years sober next month and I absolutely love life. I have this enormous sense of well being and I get a real high just from living life. I'm so happy I escaped and I'm happy that Paul did too. Not all of us do.
I am in 100% agreement on how he saw drinking is the key to fun. And it was. I stopped. Never had a problem just go too old to enjoy it like I use to. Chasing that first wonderful wild party drunk for so many years.
My younger brother passed away from liver failure at the age of 47. Similar to Paul, he needed alcohol to cope with life's ups and downs. Well done Paul for having the inner strength to defeat the demon called alcohol.
Very well done Paul on overcoming King alcohol. I was a slave to the bottle for 17 years. December 2023 will be 34 years sober. Pete thank you for this one. Truly inspirational Paul. Thank you very much
Wow what an interview. Paul has come across as a very insightful and intelligent individual and to think he was homeless and running amuck in the past. Credit to him for not only beating his demons but giving back to the community by talking about his experiences. Good work Pete.
There are very many people that are functioning Alcoholics, as there are also very many functioning drug addicts. They hold down jobs, live reasonable lives, they might drink alot everyday and never get totally drunk although they are not completely sober. Some people can handle alcohol better than others and sometimes it depends on the type of alcohol being used, as not all types of alcohol bring on the same effects. I'm not trying to make a case for alcohol, just that there are varying degrees of alcoholism and not all alcoholics are falling over and being a nuisanse to everyone around them. But they have a dependancy issue because something is missing from their lives, once you find out that missing link is then it is usually much easier to either give up all together or turn back into a social drinker. Just my opinion.
I was very skeptical at the beginning of this video. I heard an amazing number of statements I completely agree with. Enough said. Great video. Thank you.
Such an insightful conversation, thanks Pete and Paul! That talk alone will motivate people to drink less or even stop doing it. Thats what it does for me, at least. Paul seems to be incredibly smart. Congrats on winning the fight! Cheers!
It’s very rare that anyone admits to being an “aggressive drunk”.It’s hard to label a specific drunk personality .As for myself I’ve covered the whole spectrum.From psychotic moron to happy go lucky philanthropist.
Met so many nice alcoholic brits or irish people in Thailand. They were very good people. I thought then, that if I was God for 5 minutes, id make it rain Gin Toni or Vodka Orange and there will be world peace.
I heard that alcohol addiction is harder to beat than heroin, cant just go cold turkey because it can cause death. I am a light drinker, but has been thinking many times to give up drinking, kinda a waste of money and life is much better sober.
He is right. Thai bars are sad places for Farang. I have not been into a Thai bar, but walking by the bars, looking in at guys sitting on stools in the mornings, is very sad looking.
Most walking streets are like that. Walk to any of those and look at those men sitting there and having a drink at 9am. That prompted me to run away from a Red light district after only 2 nights. Lest I get infected by whatever they have. 😢
Thanks for this topic. I’m a person in recovery in USA, planning to move to the Kingdom at some point and appreciate a ‘sober’ look at addiction and how Thailand can kill you but also sanity can be found as well.
Great interview Pete, many guys with bad habits like alcoholism find it very difficult to resist, especially in places like Thailand but glad to see Paul's turned his life around. All the best to him.
Your introduction Pete pulled me in and the interview has made me stay there...watching this in stages to really savour it....will comment more once finished watching it. Already I know this interview is exceptional viewing for anyone who wrongly judge alcoholics. It's exceptional too for anyone battling this psychological war with alcohol. 10/10 . Such inspirational courage . Total respect 🍀🌿👏
I think I could have been addicted to alcohol if I had liked the taste as I'm a bit addicted to chocolate and sugar, and I have to constantly watch myself. Fortunately I hate the taste of alcohol.
One of the best interviews so far Pete. Irish men are the best shtory tellers in the world and I love listening to the accents, the sense or fun and self deprecation. Brilliant, thank you ❤
Thank you very much for this focus on the most distructiv substance in human history. Get a "drink" ... but its "drug". 20:37 ... the moment from which it only could get upwards again. I am happy that he made it. Much luck for his future! Only that man is free, who is in control over himself
That "vomit therapy" reminds me of what my dad told me about his quite smoking program that was actually done in a hospital in the 1980s. He said he and others were brought into a conference room and packs of cigarettes were place in front of everyone at the conference table. There they were told to start chain smoking. The idea was to chock them out. He said it was to remind them of the unpleasant experience of smoking when you just start. In other words, to make you feel nauseous (like vomiting). It worked. My dad was a child of the depression, went on to have a successful merchant marine career (license captain, all seas). Just the classic prototype of a smoker in the 1940s and 1950s.
Some story. Read his book long time ago. The part about first holy communion drinking lol.... they are the best pissups I think....! Fair play to him to beat addiction but being Irish I still love the gargle and nothing better than 5 or 6 pints for the craic. Not ever going to stop as love it... !!
I also drink too much (about 5 times a week) and I strongly believe that its poor mental health are the cause for most of us. If we're miserable and depressed we drink and sometimes it helps. If we're anxious it definitely helps on the day. If we're bored, it helps to pass the evening. The only thing that makes me want to massively cut back is hearing about so many heavy drinkers turning into alcoholism if they dont cut it back or stop completely. I see the lives that people who are phycially dependent on the booze and it looks like a miserable life. The only horrible thing is that if poor mental health causes us to booze - then we have to solve our mental health issue - which is so damn hard to do.
90% of Pattaya and Jomtien is like this because there is nothing else to do anywhere including Thailand the days and nights are long no matter how many hobbies and friends you’ve got. Why is anyone shocked drinking is important.
Hi Ive lived here for 30 years. run a bar for 10 years, worked as a scuba Instructor, worked for the Tourist police for 2 years have lived in Pattaya, Bangkok and now Phuket, I've visited nearly every Province here using either a motorbike or pickup truck and have some great stories to tell if your interested.
When I listen to this interview I'm thinking of that rat study, where one group rats were given opportunity to socialize with other rats, exercise, and water laced with heroin. The other group only had the choice of drinking heroin laced water and they became addicted. While the former chose to do the other fun things. I think alcohol, food, gambling or any addiction is just an escape from our mundane lives. It's so unfortunate because so many ppl get trapped and can't escape. And like you said, there are many sensitive souls out there.
All those homeless people in Dublin should be going to Thailand to get alcohol rehabilitation. Most people dont over come these addictions unless they leave the country where they are having these problems.
I found this story a little boring. It sounded a bit far fetched to be honest. How does an alcoholic become a qualified nurse. Very hard to achieve this for anyone let alone a piss head. I think he was just a binge drinker who is guilty of thinking too much
Paul has been on Irish TV and radio over the years and his story has always been the exact same. Many people are functioning alcoholics. I used to work with a guy in Thailand who drank vodka from a Sprite bottle at work and he was able to do his job (not very well but enough to not get sacked) so it is plausible
Interesting that the first memories at around age 7. Dr Bruce Harold Lipton mentions that we record habits from 1-7 years that determine our behaviour- programmed as it were. These programmes run 95 percent of the time and most of the time we are unaware of them
These stories about people drinking too much are very interesting because most people have come to a point in their life where they realise they are drinking too much. Some more than others of course. As a Scotsman in Philippines I’ve been there.
You are correct that the majority of people are unable to beat addiction, and those that can represent a small percentage of the drug/alcohol addicts in this world. There is no real headway or progress being made, either, it seems. The brain is just not as simple as that. And, there will never be SOMA in pill form, either, as was also alluded to in this interview.
Well done Paul we all have our demons that we have to keep the lid on, some use drugs some use alcohol and there's always an underlying reason for any addiction, none of us ask to come into this life we are put here without choice and have to get through it, But Thailand without a doubt is one of the best places in the World to conquer those demons and move on,there is something deeply spiritual about this country and its people that just puts the Western mind at ease straight away as long as your receptive to that,looks like you have found your vocation in life Paul and there's not a better country in the world to practice that.
Once again I enjoyed your interview. Amazing listener, never ever judging the people you interview. In fact you give a lot of respect and hope to people. You are really a unique person. You should have few millions watching you. Great questions. Always managing to bring the person back to the topic in a gentle yet in a smart way without making them feel bad. Please continue your interviews, discussions. You have great personality, calm and direct. I can't wait to see you been a dad. You will be amazing and caring father. I do wish you, your wife and your whole family all the very best. You deserve it. Yet you remain humble and caring person. Here I go, I have now gave you my very honest, fair opinion and compliments. Stay safe and happy. ❤
@@ThairishTimes Pete, this critic was Jameson's then switched to Bushmills , he explains why ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-T3hsUZum_l8.html
does the temple have medical staff to monitor and give drugs to manage the dangers (stroke, heat attack, organ damage, dangerously elevated blood pressure, seizures) of stopping alcohol ??
