Sober Stories

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Sober Stories are central to our mission. When our founder shared his, it inspired others to become sober curious, leading to the creation of Arclett. Through Sober Stories, we share personal experiences with emotional challenges and alcohol use, while providing a safe space for people to share their own paths. Together, we aim to inspire others to consider a life without alcohol, stigma-free.

      
  
    Sarah ~ 1293 days  “Three and a half years ago, I made the decision to stop drinking, and looking back, it's the best decision I've ever made.  Towards the end of my drinking, my anxiety was through the roof. My mental health was at its
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Sarah | 1293 Days

“Giving up alcohol wasn't about what I was leaving behind. It was about everything I was making room for.”

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    Scott ~ 4018 days  “11 years alcohol-free.  This was me in 2015. I’d just taken on a 1 year no alcohol challenge while travelling in Oz. People told me you don’t move to Bondi in your 20s and stop drinking, but I did.  When I first want
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Scott| 4018 Days

“Not drinking has given me a level of stability and comfort I didn’t have when I drank. Its made life easier, I’ve been happier for it, and most importantly, its helped me be more present with my family.”

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    Nin ~ 9044 days  “I’m turning 25 in July and telling people “I have never been drunk” can be quite a shock for them. The response is always “why do you not drink” or “how do you do it”. Choosing to never drink alcohol is something that’
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Nin | 9044 Days

“Choosing to never drink alcohol is something that’s always been my normal.”

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    Briony ~ 2922 days  “My history with alcohol is very brief, I think I have been drunk once and so therefore had one hangover, but it was enough to very much confirm that drinking is not for me. My true relationship with drinking has alw
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Briony | 2922 Days

I’ve realised that maintaining my boundaries isn’t a restriction. It’s a foundation for my social life.”

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    Viki ~ 2021 days  “I started drinking heavily after my mam died in 2018. I had always liked a drink, but this was different. I found myself on a downward spiral ~ drinking alcohol to cope with my grief. I had no other coping mechanisms,
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Viki | 2021 Days

“I’ve made so many new friends and I’m around people who really get it.”

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    Pete ~ 505 days  “In August 2024, I felt ready for a positive change. I wanted to feel clearer-minded, fitter and healthier, so I decided to take a break from alcohol — and it’s turned out to be one of the best decisions I’ve made for m
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Pete | 505 Days

“When I tell people I’m not drinking, I always hope it’s clear that I’m not judging anyone else’s choices”

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    Louisa ~ 365 days  “On 2 consecutive evenings I got the underground from work to central. The first, went by fine. The second, I met with a friend for a drink beforehand. “I missed your birthday Lou, get whatever you want. “  Alcohol sl
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Louisa | 365 Days

“I didn’t need to borrow from the next day to feel myself at night.”

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    Hayley ~ 398 days  “When I first decided to stop drinking, I didn’t realise how much of my social life was built around alcohol. So many of my friendships were centred on nights in the pub and at the start, it felt hard. I worried that
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Hayley | 398 Days

“I found joy in mornings without hangovers, in evenings where I remembered every laugh.”

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    Beth ~ 1000 days  “This milestone feels to me like a type of renaissance. I now have a whole large chunk of time to look back and reflect upon. Who I was when I started all this and who I have become in the process of all this.  I remem
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Beth | 1000 Days

“You unlock a level of discipline that you probably had no idea you were capable of.”

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    Tom ~ 85 days  “For the longest time, I didn’t have a label for my relationship with alcohol. It wasn’t a problem, it wasn’t an addiction; it was simply… an afterthought. I’ve always been someone who drinks very infrequently.   If
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Tom | 85 Days

“My journey isn't about judgement.”

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    Will ~ 51 days  “Sobriety... What a journey this has been! Reaching 51 days without alcohol doesn’t fully capture the depth of this experience, especially considering it’s been a decade in the making.  I first picked up drinking around
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Will | 51 Days

“Sobriety allows me to become the best version of myself for my wife, my children, my family, friends, and my work.”

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    Eimer ~ 1587 days  “When I first met my partner, one of the things that drew me to him was that he didn’t drink. It was so different from what I was used to, and it felt refreshing to meet someone who was completely at ease in himself w
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Eimer | 1587 Days

“Holding my daughter for the first time made me realise I didn’t want alcohol to be part of my life anymore.” 

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    Charlie ~ 235 days  “If you’d told me a few years ago that I’d be writing this, I wouldn’t have believed you. For almost six years I tried ~ and failed to get sober. I’d wake up after another night of drinking, full of guilt and promise
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Charlie | 235 Days

“My kids get the best version of me every single day.”

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    Chris ~ 14 days  “My relationship with sobriety has been anything but straightforward.  Growing up in Australia, binge drinking was expected from your late teens through university years. Yet during this same period, I harboured dreams
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Chris | 14 Days

“While I can envision a future where I embrace complete sobriety, I'm confident that I'm moving in that direction at a pace that feels authentic and sustainable.”

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    Asa ~ 881 days  “In the past, I would drink as much as the next person and enjoy all the social side that came with it. Beers at the football, a cold Corona in the sunshine, and just social drinking.  There were several reasons why I ul
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Asa | 881 Days

“I gave up alcohol when my youngest was 3 months old.”

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    Paul ~ 386 days  “I started drinking as a teenager, not because I loved it, but because I thought I should. It was like forcing myself to enjoy something just to fit in. But over time, that mindset shifted. I realised I wanted more out
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Paul | 386 Days

“I even got to bond with Ewan McGregor over not drinking, which was definitely a highlight!”

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    Scott ~ 10 years  Wow, 10 years.  I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t looking forward to this milestone.  People have told me they’re inspired by my journey, so here it is.  Firstly, I didn’t get here alone.   Jack Osbourne  ’s Adrenaline J
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Scott | 10 Years

“In May 2015, I did something my future self would thank me for ~ and 10 years later, it has.“

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    Scott ~ 10 years   “I gave up drinking 10 years ago. I went Australia on a working holi
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Scott | 10 Years

“That trip felt like a full circle moment from watching Jack Osbourne’s Adrenaline Junkie when I was younger.”

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    Henry ~ 550 days  “For 20 years, I lived for the weekend: booze, wild nights, and waking up in places I barely remembered. At 12, I had my first real drink. By 14, I was sneaking vodka on a school ski trip. At 16, I made sure every part
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Henry | 568 Days

“I’ve started building something bigger than myself.”

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    Dave ~ 632 days  “A life of sobriety has completely changed my world and exponentially continues to.   Becoming clear and present within myself allows me to reshape myself as a person from the ground up. I'm in the best physical, mental
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Dave | 632 Days

“I adore playing shows more than I could ever have imagined before”

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