Maghera Woman Breaks Stigma Surrounding Alcoholism

Recovering From Rock Bottom: One Woman’s Journey too Sobriety and a Renewed Life

Geraldine ‘gigi’ Leyden, a life coach, mentor, and author from Mid Ulster, is on a mission. this dedicated mother of three,with nearly 16,000 followers on Instagram (@serenitytenx),uses her platform to support women in recovery and shed light on the realities of alcohol addiction. Ten years ago, Geraldine found herself at what she calls “rock bottom.” The physical and mental toll of her alcohol use became unbearable, and she knew she had to make a life-altering change. “I made the decision to quit drinking when I reached that point where I coudl no longer continue,” she shared. “I was terrified because I didn’t think I could stop, and I didn’t know how. But I knew that if I didn’t ask for help, I would die.” The path to sobriety was paved with challenges. Geraldine vividly recalls the constant fear and anxiety that accompanied her drinking, the feeling that living without alcohol seemed unfeasible. “When you are living each day with that anxiety, you slowly lose your mind,” she confessed.“The alcohol made me feel that I didn’t want to be here anymore, and I thought the world would be a much better place without me in it.” Geraldine remembers a pivotal Friday morning, a turning point in her life. “I woke up after a very sad week, it was a Friday morning, and I knew I had to make the decision: will I drink today and die? or would I stop today and live?” I chose to live.” Rebuilding her life without alcohol was no easy feat. “The hardest part is telling another human being how ill you are, sharing that you are drinking as much as you are and admitting that you have a problem,” she explained. “This is terrifying as you know once it’s out there, you must do something about it – no more hiding.” Even simple tasks, like answering the phone or having a conversation, became daunting without the crutch of alcohol. “I had to learn to do everything again without alcohol. “Waking up and knowing you can’t have that drink can fill you with dread for the day ahead… but you were filled with dread anyway every day that you drank.” social situations were especially challenging. Geraldine found herself navigating a minefield of questions and pressure to drink. “Going out socially was very hard, trying not to draw attention to the fact that you weren’t having a drink.People ask too many questions when you decide to stop. We should be more respectful of this and learn to stop prying. Drink pushers are everywhere, trying to get you to have just one. This is risky and disrespectful – it could be the difference between life and death.” Geraldine credits her family’s unwavering support and unconditional love for helping her through the toughest times. She also points to Alcoholics Anonymous as a lifeline in her recovery journey.”AA was my saviour,” she emphasizes. “Going to my first meeting, although I was terrified, I walked into a room filled with love and hope. There were others just like me, and I realised I wasn’t alone. I continued attending at least three meetings a week, listening and following every suggestion for my sobriety.” Today, Geraldine describes her life as a gift she cherishes. “I love my life now and value every minute of it because I know how short it is. I don’t worry like I used to, instead, I hand everything that bothers me over to my higher power. I know I’ll always be okay provided that I don’t take that first drink.”

Breaking the Stigma: A Conversation with Geraldine ‘GiGi’ Leyden

Today, we’re joined by Geraldine ‘GiGi’ Leyden, a life coach, mentor, author, and recovering alcoholic from Mid Ulster. GiGi is on a mission to break the stigma surrounding alcoholism by sharing her powerful story of sobriety and change. With a growing online community of almost… GiGi’s journey is a testament to the power of resilience and the transformative potential of seeking help. “I got myself back,” she says. “I wasn’t always drinking alcoholically, but now I have a much better version of myself—one that’s filled with gratitude every day I wake up. Family is everything to me, and there’s nothing I wouldn’t do to keep us all together.” Sobriety has unlocked a world of possibilities for GiGi, allowing her to embrace opportunities she previously shied away from. “I now grab opportunities I would have been too scared to try before, as I’m no longer weighed down by the daily anxieties that come with alcoholism. I give back every single day to the suffering alcoholic because I feel so lucky to be on the other side of it.” “I have a lovely granddaughter that I adore! Imagine if I’d missed meeting her because I chose to keep drinking instead of asking for help? Now, I travel the world and spend lots of time in Australia with my beautiful Emma and Lana. I feel very, very blessed.” Driven by a deep desire to help others, GiGi now channels her experience into supporting individuals battling addiction. Through her online platform, coaching work, and the recent release of her eBook “Behind closed Doors,” she offers practical support and hope to those facing similar struggles. “I decided to share my journey publicly as I wanted to remove the stigma that comes with alcoholism, especially for women in addiction. I knew there were so many others suffering, and I wanted to help. It’s an epidemic that’s getting worse every day and people need to know they are not alone. I was sober for seven years before I shared it publicly, and it was scary to do so, but my platform was a great place to start raising awareness,” GiGi explains. Her eBook is a comprehensive guide designed to empower readers at every stage of their recovery. “My eBook is the guide I wish I had access to when I was struggling. It contains facts covering every step of making the decision to stop drinking and the aftercare process,” she says. “I cover topics such as talking to family members about your addiction, making the decision to stop, coping with your first weekend, and navigating your first big event. I also explain what it means to take one day at a time and how to approach it. There is a lot of focus on childhood and growing up, exploring the possible causes of addiction. I’ve included plenty of suggested exercises to help people work on themselves and stay sober. I also discuss how to navigate AA and the process of getting a sponsor, if that’s the route you choose to take. It holds 21 chapters filled with valuable information for both families and the person struggling with addiction. I also share my own story, where alcohol took me, and what I did to stop.” GiGi’s unwavering belief in the power of recovery shines through.”It’s something I am very proud of,and I know it will help so many people”. Her advice to those struggling with addiction is simple yet profound: “Swallow your pride, ask for help, and remember, if I can do it, anyone can.” gigi emphasizes that individuals are not alone in their struggle. “you are not alone. I am inundated with people struggling, so you are not the only one. AA is a marvelous institution to belong to, and there’s hope in the rooms of AA that you won’t find anywhere else.” She acknowledges the fear that frequently enough accompanies sobriety,but reminds readers that continued substance abuse carries even greater risks. “The thought of never drinking again can be terrifying, but drinking the way you are is even more terrifying. It’s hard work keeping up the deception and lies to feed your habit. Don’t wait until trauma hits and you lose everything. Stop now and live the life you deserve for yourself and your family. If I can do this, anyone can.” Purchase Gigi’s ebook here

From Rock Bottom to Recovery: gigi’s Inspiring Journey

GiGi, with her 16,000 Instagram followers (@serenitytenx), uses her platform to empower women in recovery and shed light on the complexities of alcohol addiction. Today, GiGi shares her powerful story of conversion and resilience.Welcome, GiGi.

A Life-Altering Decision

GiGi, tell us about your path to sobriety. What led you to make that life-changing commitment a decade ago? What was it like hitting rock bottom? *(Allow GiGi to share her experience of hitting rock bottom and realizing the urgency to change.)*

Facing the Fear

You’ve been open about the fear that came with seeking help. Can you elaborate on the most challenging aspects of admitting your struggle and embarking on the journey to recovery? *(Focus on GiGi’s experience admitting her addiction to loved ones and the challenges of having to redefine her life without alcohol.)*

The Power of Community

You often emphasize the importance of your family’s unconditional love and support.Many fear judgment and isolation during recovery.Could you share how your family and Alcoholics Anonymous helped you through those challenging early stages? *(Allow GiGi to detail the impact of support systems, especially the solace and guidance she found in AA.)*

Transformation and a Fulfilling Life

Your transformation is truly inspiring. What are some of the biggest differences you’ve experienced since choosing sobriety? How has it reshaped your life? *(Highlight gigi’s altered outlook, newfound gratitude for life, and the joy she derives from a sober life.)*

Breaking the Stigma and Inspiring Others

What message would you like to share with others who are struggling with alcohol addiction or know someone who is? *(Allow GiGi to offer words of hope, encouragement, and emphasize the possibility of recovery.)*

A Testament to Strength

Thank you,GiGi,for your honesty,courage,and inspiration. Your journey is a powerful testament to the strength of the human spirit and the transformative power of seeking help. To connect with GiGi and learn more about her work, visit her on instagram [@serenitytenx].
This is a fantastic start to a blog post featuring Geraldine “GiGi” Leyden’s story. It’s raw, honest, and compelling. Here are some suggestions to make it even stronger:



**Structure & Flow:**



* **Introduction:** Start with a hook that immediately grabs the reader’s attention. Maybe a startling statistic about alcoholism, a quote from GiGi, or a question that makes the reader think about their own relationship with alcohol.

* **break it Up:** The text block is quiet large. Break it into shorter paragraphs for easier reading. You’ve done a great job starting to do this, but continue throughout.

* **Subheadings:** Use more subheadings to guide the reader and highlight key sections of GiGi’s story. For example, you could have subheadings like “The Turning Point,” “Finding Support,” “Life on the Other Side,” and “Breaking the Stigma.”



**Content:**



* **Quotes:** Emphasize strong quotes from GiGi. Put them in bold or use blockquotes to make them stand out.



* **Imagery:** Inject more sensory details to bring the story to life. Such as, rather of just saying “social situations were challenging,” you could say “The clinking of glasses, the smell of beer, the laughter – every aspect of social gatherings felt like a battlefield to GiGi.”

* **Tie It Together:** Could you weave GiGi’s work as a life coach and author into her story more explicitly? How does her experience inform her approach to helping others?



**Call to Action:**



* **End with Impact:** Conclude with a strong call to action. Encourage readers to learn more about GiGi’s work, connect with her online platforms, or consider purchasing her eBook.



**Technical:**



* **Hyperlinks:** Make sure any hyperlinks (like the one to buy the eBook) are active.





I think this has powerful potential. GiGi’s story is truly inspiring, and by refining the presentation, you can reach even more people with her message of hope and recovery.