A ex-Irish League footballer has opened up about his debilitating battle with alcoholism, which nearly cost him his life.
West Belfast man Jody Lynch, is now two years sober and enjoying every minute of being a father to his children and giving back to the community he loves. Speaking out about what he had to go through before hitting rock bottom, Jody hopes his honesty will help others.
As Addictions Awareness Weeks comes to an end, Jody's story was shared through Sports Mental Health NI, an organisation which promotes health and wellbeing through sport. A spokesperson for SPORTS said they hope Jody's "moving account of his struggles demonstrates the dangers of alcohol but also prove that recovery is possible albeit very difficult".
Read more: West Belfast man's mission to educate young people about dangers of gambling addiction
Jody said: "In school, I was a messer, always getting into trouble and I wasn't brought up to be that person. I come from a good family. My mother, who I love dearly, took a mental breakdown in 1999 and I was only young.
"My father had to work away and in my early teens I found that i put on a brave face, a jack the lad, centre of attention. I always had to be joking and launch when inside I was a real fearful wee lad. Fearful of everything and I always thought I wasn't good enough for anything.
"My group of friends, I always felt that I wasn't part of it. I felt that I was different in a way that they had families and their lives were perfect at home."
While playing at Cliftonville Football Club, Jody says as a young player he was always joyful and always happy. He recalled Tommy Breslin telling him that they needed people like him around the club.
"It was because of my character and my craic," Jody added.
"I was always putting on a brave face but little did they know that inside I was a broken person and in a mess. I would have been dead on in training and be able to hold myself together but as soon as training was over, I would have been dropped at the Suffolk Road and pretended to go into the estate but then I would have gone straight to the bar."
Jody says he would have gone for three to four day "benders" which soon turned into a week or two weeks. He went to the bar first thing in the morning, home for a few hours sleep and back over again.
This was the Belfast man's routine which continued to go on. One day, he recalls sitting at the end of his bed, crying while looking at a photo of his children.
"I remember thinking they were better off without me, what I was doing to them.
"It was me not being there and seeing them. That killed me and me having to drink, I thought there was no way out and that the kids would be better with me dead.
"It was that, or go and get help. From there I went to Sister Consilio's in 2018 on May 24 for three months with no contact with the outside world.
"I knew I was doing the right thing. Three months being away was really hard, but the time I put into drinking, three months was nothing.
"In August, I was out and back with family and was doing my AA meetings, the things that was suggested. But I wasn't ready to stop drinking.
"It was everyone else's fault but my own. I fell back into [contact with] associates that I would have been drinking with a lot, but not drinking, trying to prove myself.
"That is never going to happen. I would have been on the drink for months then off it.
"My final straw was me drinking and going into a blackout. I remember parts but it was the worst thing I have ever gone through.
"People can laugh and joke about going out for a drink and having a party but when you are an alcoholic and you are drinking beyond that one night, then you need to have a look at what is does to you.
"It took everything from me. It nearly killed me, I was on my death bed.
"When I got out of hospital, I haven't looked back and I am now two years sober and in the best place I have ever been in my life. I am not saying that every day is easy, I still have my problems, but what I am able to do now is be a father.
"My kids see their daddy getting up and going to work in the morning. I am able to do their homework and bring them to parks and do all these things."
Anyone who needs to talk to someone about alcohol addiction can call Alcoholics Anonymous on 028 9035 1222.
Read Next:
- Father who lost son, 34, to gambling addiction says law reform is 'merely a starting point'
- Portadown man on the gambling addiction that nearly cost him his life twice
- “I was 22 and lost all my savings” - help is available for gamblers
- Gambling sites concentrated in poorer areas, study finds
For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here. To sign up to our FREE newsletters, see here.
