Top Boy star Ashley Walters opened up on the reality of being a functional alcoholic after being sober for several years.
The Adolescence actor and musician appeared on the GRM Daily Podcast earlier this year and described himself as a 'functioning alcoholic', explaining that while working on Top Boy, there were times when he was drunk or 'very hungover'.
He told the podcast that he was 'drinking from morning to night' and 'if I wake up, I'm drinking'.
Walters admitted that he'd 'drink anything' and that since 'mouthwash has got alcohol in it, I'd drink that if I needed to'.
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When asked whether his co-star Kane Robinson noticed, he admitted that he reckons so, explaining: "We discussed it when the time came that I had to get the help that I needed."
"It was whilst we were filming and I just had to say to the producers and to everyone 'I need to go away'. I didn't say what for but I just said 'I need to go away man'," Walters told the podcast.
"I went away for about four or five weeks and just cleansed myself. Alcoholism is not about the drink, addiction is not about the drug or the thing that you choose to be addicted to, it's about you."
He went on to describe how the reality of being a functional alcoholic felt to him, saying: "I'd be out in spaces and I'm like 'how come everyone can talk to each other and have conversations happily and laugh and joke and I can't?'.
"When I started drinking, I became the life of the party. I could talk to a girl, talk to anyone.
"The worst parts of me and the best parts of me, I was able to show people. And that's the issue, that's alcoholism, it's about a mindset, it's about feeling like you're different to everyone else You choose anything to change the way you feel."
A doctor recently laid out six signs that a person might be a functional alcoholic, since it's Sober October, and taking some time away from alcohol can help a person evaluate their relationship with drink.
Dr Max Pemberton told the Daily Mail functional alcoholics could 'white knuckle' an event like Sober October in an effort to convince themselves they don't have a problem.
He suggested that if you're taking a break from alcohol, but it's still always on your mind, then that's a worrying sign, and that if you're doing Sober October but counting down the days until it's over or trying to bend the rules, that also isn't encouraging.
A number of people who've struggled with alcoholism have also admitted to avoiding social gatherings either because alcohol will be there or they're afraid people will find them boring without a drink.
Topics: Mental Health, Celebrity, Health, Alcohol, Top Boy
Joe Harker