A mum who went to her first AA meeting aged nine is unrecognisable since giving up drink and drugs.
Ashley Carter Cash, 40, shared inspiring before and after photos to show just how far she has come from hiding in wardrobes to down booze.
And the recovering addict spoke to Reach PLC to offer advice for anyone trying to get teetotal - or even attempting to complete Dry January.
Ashley is a writer and recovery coach who grew up with an alcoholic dad and a mum reliant on crack cocaine.
She herself tried every drug on the market by the time she was 13 and spent two decades being dependent on substances.
Despite being proud of herself for getting clean, she said she feels “shame, guilt and regret” when looking at old photographs where she sees the potential in her young eyes.
Ashley quit education aged 14 and was “homeschooled” by her mum who was jailed two years later.
Alcohol soon took a grip on her life. By 25, she was scouting for discarded glasses at last call and at 35 she was secretly drinking in wardrobes after becoming a mother.
She started noticing yellowing skin and bruising to her body but, despite many relapses, she is now clean.
Photos shared with Reach PLC show an unrecognisable Ashley during the peak of her alcohol problems. Her eyes appear puffy and skin has a yellow tinge. But, fast forward to the present day and she is a totally different person. As well as a hairstyle change, her skin looks healthy.
And the author, based in New York, has developed a five-step model for achieving sobriety called R-R-R-R-Ready - and below she takes us through the steps.
The recovery coach strongly advises people to unlock what motivates them to change and to learn to hone in on that daily.
And explaining the
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