Latest news with #UlrikaJonsson
The Independent
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Ulrika Jonsson gives fans an honest look into sobriety journey
Ulrika Jonsson celebrated one year of sobriety by sharing before-and-after photos on Instagram, marking the milestone without "fanfare" but with gratitude. The TV presenter, 57, expressed thanks to her children and friends for their support, acknowledging their role in helping her overcome "crippling shame." Jonsson posted a recent healthy-looking photo labelled "#sober" alongside an older selfie labelled "#drunk." In a previous post marking six months of sobriety, Jonsson revealed she sought help after no longer recognising herself, emphasising the importance of support from friends and family. Celebrity friends, including Kerry Katona and Michelle Heaton, shared messages of congratulations and encouragement to Jonsson. Ulrika Jonsson shares powerful before-and-after photos as she celebrates one year of sobriety
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Ulrika Jonsson marks one year sober after 'self-loathing' drove her to alcohol
Former Gladiators host Ulrika Jonsson has marked one year of sobriety this week, celebrating her massive achievement and reflecting on what led her to drink in the first place Ulrika Jonsson has reflected on the reasons she turned to alcohol as she marked one year of sobriety. The former Gladiators star revealed last year that she had been dealing with a secret drink problem, with concerned friends and family supporting her. But after walking away from the drink, she has celebrated 12 months sober and reflected on what caused her to develop a problem. The star, 57, previously spoke about her issues with drinking and how she would "black out and not recall the night". She also admitted that drink offered her an escape from anxiety. "I drank to kill my feelings of anxiety and my fears of everything," she previously admitted. Mother-of-four Ulrika would sometimes drink until she blacked out, and concern grew among her friends when they would try to have a conversation with her but she made no sense. She admitted she would wake up with no memory whatsoever of the night before. Writing in The Sun, Ulrika said that on June 5 last year, she was hungover and realised she couldn't continue drinking to the extent she was. She admitted she needed help, and text one of her friends, who had been on their own sobriety journey: 'I can't do this any more." She said: "It was a hangover day, much like any other, really. I sat on the sofa with my liver and brain pickled in equal measure, wrapped up in the blanket of shame, and something made me reach out for help." Although she was still functioning, with a career, close family and good friends, she suffered mentally. Ulrika heartbreakingly added: "There is nothing quite as 'sobering' as admitting to dropping to your knees at 11am and sticking your lips around a bottle of 40 per cent alcohol; feeling it swiftly burn your throat and immediately extinguish your anxiety, fears and self-loathing." "Alcoholics come in all shapes and sizes and many live among us in plain sight," Ulrika said. She admitted her family has a history of alcoholism, leading her to think she could be predisposed to it. Marking her sobriety anniversary this week, she took to her Instagram page. Ulrika shared a before-and-after snap of her journey and how different she looks since kicking the drink. She marked the first photo "Sober", sharing a glowing Ulrika pose for a selfie in the kitchen of her home as she went make-up free while rocking a pair of oversized glasses. Meanwhile, her second image saw a "drunk" Ulrika, posing for a glassy-eyed selfie in her bathroom after a night on the tiles. Captioning her post, Ulrika wrote: "Today I'm marking 1yr of sobriety. No fanfare, no medal, no trophy. The journey goes on. A huge thanks to all those beautiful people who have supported me; understood me; scooped me up and handled me tenderly and without judgement; who nudged me in the right direction; who made me laugh and helped me shed the crippling shame. "Thank you to my kids for their support; for having faith in me after I must have worried them so. For close friends for their patience and belief. My sobriety will continue to be my priority. Turns out it IS possible to teach old dogs new tricks." Ulrika's decision to get sober came after a frank conversation with a friend. She confessed: "One Saturday morning my best friend, who I love and cherish, called me and basically told me we had spoken the night before and she hadn't understood a word I had said. "She told me I needed help. I knew it came from a place of love. The sense of shame would have been enough to make me want a drink. But not on that occasion. Instead, I sobbed like a child who desperately needed someone to hold her. I was full of despair."
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ulrika Jonsson shares powerful before-and-after photos as she celebrates one year of sobriety
Ulrika Jonsson has celebrated one year without alcohol by sharing before-and-after photos on Instagram. The TV presenter, 57, told her social media followers that sobriety will 'continue to be [her] priority' and thanked her children and close friends for supporting her. Gladiators star posted a recent photo showing her looking healthy, labelled '#sober', and also shared an older selfie in which she appeared bleary-eyed and messy-haired, which she labelled '#drunk'. 'Today I'm marking 1yr of sobriety,' she captioned her post. 'No fanfare, no medal, no trophy. The journey goes on. 'A huge thanks to all those beautiful people who have supported me; understood me; scooped me up and handled me tenderly and without judgement; who nudged me in the right direction; who made me laugh and helped me shed the crippling shame.' Jonsson went on to share a special message to her four children, Cameron, 30, Bo, 25, Martha, 20, and Malcolm, 17. 'Thank you to my kids for their support; for having faith in me after I must have worried them so,' she wrote, before also praising her 'close friends for their patience and belief'. 'My sobriety will continue to be my priority,' she continued, before joking: 'Turns out it IS possible to teach old dogs new tricks.' Jonsson's celebrity friends shared messages of encouragement and congratulations, with former Atomic Kitten star Kerry Katona writing: 'So bloody proud of you my darling miss and love you all the world.' Liberty X singer Michelle Heaton wrote: 'So happy for you darling.' In a post which coincided with six months of sobriety in December, Jonsson previously revealed she reached a point where she could 'no longer recognised [her]self' just before she decided to quit drinking. 'On the 5th June 2024, I had the gift of desperation and reached out for help,' she wrote. 'I no longer recognised myself and I surrendered.' 'Many people have asked me how I've done it and all I can say is that no woman is an island – I have not done this alone,' she continued. 'The willingness to give up alcohol came from me, yes, but without support of friends, family and my new tribe, I would not have made it this far.'
Scottish Sun
4 days ago
- Health
- Scottish Sun
My name's Ulrika Jonsson & I'm an alcoholic – I was on knees swigging a bottle at 11am then one day I made cry for help
Read on as Ulrika bravely opens up about being trapped in a 'vicious cycle of hell' and how sobriety saved her life - and her sanity BOTTLE BATTLE My name's Ulrika Jonsson & I'm an alcoholic – I was on knees swigging a bottle at 11am then one day I made cry for help MY name is Ulrika and I am an alcoholic. Not a drop of alcohol has passed my lips in just over a year. 7 Ulrika Jonsson bravely marked one year of sobriety with before and after photos 7 The 57-year-old admits getting sober saved her life - and sanity Credit: Instagram For family and friends, it's been a cause for great celebration, it's viewed as a major feat. My eldest daughter even offered to take me out for a celebratory meal. For me, the run-up to this anniversary has been the cause of much trepidation and a sprinkling of fear. But, most of all, it's been a realisation. Because this is my life now. The day I surrendered and accepted I had a problem with alcohol, I knew I couldn't just give it up for a while. I knew I couldn't just cut back in the hope that I'd be cured, because alcoholism is a disease for which there is no cure. There is a solution, but there is no fix. I was trapped in a vicious cycle of hell. Even with my best friend calling me one Saturday morning to tell me to get help because I clearly had a problem, I refused despite the unbearable shame I felt. Alcoholics are selfish creatures. Yes, having a problem with alcohol meant I was an alcoholic. Even though I would NEVER have admitted it at the time. Then came June 5 last year. A hangover day much like any other, really. I sat on the sofa with my liver and brain pickled in equal measure, wrapped up in the blanket of shame, and something made me reach out for help. Ulrika Jonsson speaks out during Sober October about overcoming binge drinking I typed a message that read, quite simply: 'I can't do this any more' and sent it to a friend who was five years' sober. And that's how a life of sobriety saved my life and my sanity. There is every possibility I could have given up drinking by myself — my obstinance can be a virtue — but I wouldn't have been able to heal myself and reach the level of emotional sobriety I have today without the support of other ex-drunks and a programme to guide me. Saved my life It has saved my life in more ways than one. And, without sounding too evangelical about my journey, I've had a spiritual awakening and found an inner peace I never knew possible. I'm a different person to the Ulrika I was over a year ago. I've learnt more about myself in the past year than I did in my past 56 on this planet. I was trapped in a vicious cycle of hell. Even with my best friend calling me one Saturday morning to tell me to get help because I clearly had a problem Has it been easy? Nothing easily gained is ever worth having, I say. I've not had the temptation to pick up a drink, but alcohol is impossible to avoid — it's everywhere. What to do if you think are an alcoholic IF you're struggling with alcohol addiction, the most important thing is to recognise the problem and seek support - You don't have to face it alone. Seek Professional Help GP or Doctor – A medical professional can assess your situation and provide advice on treatment options. – A medical professional can assess your situation and provide advice on treatment options. Therapists or Counsellors – Talking to an addiction specialist can help address underlying causes and develop coping strategies. – Talking to an addiction specialist can help address underlying causes and develop coping strategies. Rehab or Detox Programmes – If physical dependence is severe, medically supervised detox may be necessary. Consider Support Groups Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) – A well-known 12-step programme that provides peer support. – A well-known 12-step programme that provides peer support. SMART Recovery – A science-based alternative to AA, focusing on self-empowerment. – A science-based alternative to AA, focusing on self-empowerment. Local Support Groups – Many communities have groups tailored to different needs. At the beginning, I would look lovingly at a glass of red wine when I went out for a Sunday roast. But knowing that a drink would not make things better, and it would never just be the ONE, stopped me from picking it up. I found Christmas difficult initially and, disconcertingly, Easter was even harder, with family around me drunk and laughing at things that just weren't funny. I had a couple of dates earlier this year, when I knew the social lubricant of alcohol would have calmed my nerves and allowed me to hide beneath a veil of intoxication. But at least I was able to be my authentic self — to be more discerning and accept that these men were just not for me. Sobriety comes with a hefty dose of honesty, which can be as welcome as it can be unwelcome. So, this journey goes on. It's not a destination. It will only end with my dying breath. I've yet to learn the exact damage my drinking might have inflicted on those around me. 7 I was trapped in a vicious cycle of hell and my best friend told tell me to get help because I clearly had a problem, says Ulrika 7 Ulrika admits she was binge-drinker who drank to black out I think of my children and how worried about me they were. How I must have scared them. How torn they must have been between wanting to say something and just hoping I would come to my senses. I have amends to make. I have character defects to accept and improve. I have to remember to live in the moment and that whether I'm one year or ten years' sober, for me it will continue to be one day at a time. I still have alcohol in the house. Removing it would make no difference to me. I believe if I really wanted a drink, I would go to buy it. I have no objections at all to others drinking around me but, by Christ, people can be annoying when drunk! At least it's not me doing the crazy stuff, dancing on the tables or doing things I will quickly forget or regret. Nor do I wake up with punishing hangovers and terrifying anxiety or even a new haircut because the rum thought it was a great idea to give myself a new look the night before. Beautiful things happen in sobriety. Good things come your way. Beautiful people come into your life, too. People without judgment who fundamentally care for you and understand you. That has been my greatest reward. Don't get me wrong, life has continued to throw me curveballs. I'm just better equipped to deal with them as a sober person. Sobriety comes with a hefty dose of honesty, which can be as welcome as it can be unwelcome I have a history of alcoholics in my family on my mother's side, but I don't have decades of alcohol abuse behind me. I didn't become addicted after the first sip of Pimm's at the age of 14 when I first got drunk. My drinking history is quite unremarkable. It didn't result in me losing my job, my marriage, my children or even my driving licence. I didn't get arrested or end up in jail. I wasn't a vomiting mess that couldn't get her kids ready for school in the morning. I wasn't a violent drunk. Which is why it might be helpful for anyone else out there to note that alcoholics come in all shapes and sizes and many live among us in plain sight. But the few years running up to my decision to quit, I was clearly drinking for the wrong reasons and I had no control over my cravings. I was a binge-drinker who drank to black out. Heavy shame A perfect storm of life led me to self-medicate, to soothe away life's ills and sharp edges; to quell my crippling anxiety by drinking neat rum from the neck of the bottle while kneeling into the cupboard underneath the stairs. There is nothing quite as 'sobering' as admitting to dropping to your knees at 11am and sticking your lips around a bottle of 40 per cent alcohol; feeling it swiftly burn your throat and immediately extinguish your anxiety, fears and self-loathing. Drinking was 'my thing'. It was a personal and private activity I had all to myself. I foolishly believed it was harmless because it didn't affect anyone else, so it was nothing anyone could take away from me. And I loved it. It made me feel instantly better and helped me cope with life. It killed my feelings of being overwhelmed; it relaxed me and made me a much nicer person. I thought . . . See, the one thing I had established by the time my drinking got completely out of hand was that I simply wasn't cut out for life. 7 Beautiful things happen in sobriety. Good things come your way. Beautiful people come into your life, too, says Ulrika Credit: Getty 7 Ulrika says she's now better equipped to deal with life's curve-balls 7 I've not had the temptation to pick up a drink, but alcohol is impossible to avoid — it's everywhere, says Ulrika Credit: Instagram I just couldn't cope. Everyone else seemed on top of everything while I was constantly swimming against the tide. I was forever traipsing through fields of molasses; perpetually found myself on the battlefield of life utterly unarmed. I was just no good at it. While I made no specific plan to end my life, my hope was eventually that alcohol would destroy me. I was a solitary drinker. But what might have started out as fun very quickly, and without fail, ended in blackout. I couldn't just have the one drink. What weirdo does that? I wasn't seeking light inebriation. I wanted the full anaesthetic effect. My self-esteem and self-worth were so bad, I believed the drink would make me become someone else. Or better still, nothing at all. I had such crippling anxiety about the present and future, which was coupled with past ordeals, that I was desperate for my feelings just to STOP. Because I didn't initially drink every day, and because my life looked impeccable from the outside, I convinced myself there wasn't a problem. I was still in control. However, I know now that those close to me saw a different picture. They heard my slurred voice on the phone; saw my drunk eyes betray me; worried about my volatile and highly strung demeanour and mood swings. They grew tired of repeating things to me that my blackouts had erased. It took months to rid myself of the heavy shame that drinking brought. Now, I realise I was really ill — both physically and spiritually — and that makes me go a bit easier on myself. In short, I'm grateful to my alcoholism for bringing me to where I am today: a life of honesty and integrity; of clarity and calm and being the person I never believed I could be. My name is Ulrika and I'm an alcoholic. And I have chosen life.
The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- Health
- The Irish Sun
My name's Ulrika Jonsson & I'm an alcoholic – I was on knees swigging a bottle at 11am then one day I made cry for help
MY name is Ulrika and I am an alcoholic. Not a drop of alcohol has passed my lips in just over a year. Advertisement 7 Ulrika Jonsson bravely marked one year of sobriety with before and after photos 7 The 57-year-old admits getting sober saved her life - and sanity Credit: Instagram For family and friends, it's been a cause for great celebration, it's viewed as a major feat. take me out for a celebratory meal. For me, the run-up to this anniversary has been the cause of much trepidation and a sprinkling of fear. But, most of all, it's been a realisation. Because this is my life now. Advertisement The day I surrendered and accepted I had a problem with alcohol, I knew I couldn't just give it up for a while. I knew I couldn't just cut back in the hope that I'd be cured, because alcoholism is a disease for which there is no cure. There is a solution, but there is no fix. I was trapped in a vicious cycle of hell. Advertisement Even though I would NEVER have admitted it at the time. Then came June 5 last year. A hangover day much like any other, really. I sat on the sofa with my liver and brain pickled in equal measure, wrapped up in the blanket of shame, and something made me reach out for help. Ulrika Jonsson speaks out during Sober October about overcoming binge drinking I typed a message that read, quite simply: 'I can't do this any more' and sent it to a friend who was five years' sober. And that's how a life of There is every possibility I could have Saved my life It has saved my life in more ways than one. And, without sounding too evangelical about my journey, I've had a spiritual awakening and found an inner peace I never knew possible. Advertisement I'm a different person to the I've learnt more about myself in the past year than I did in my past 56 on this planet. I was trapped in a vicious cycle of hell. Even with my best friend calling me one Saturday morning to tell me to get help because I clearly had a problem Has it been easy? Nothing easily gained is ever worth having, I say. I've not had the temptation to pick up a drink, but alcohol is impossible to avoid — it's everywhere. What to do if you think are an alcoholic IF you're struggling with alcohol addiction, the most important thing is to recognise the problem and seek support - You don't have to face it alone. Seek Professional Help GP or Doctor – A medical professional can assess your situation and provide advice on treatment options. Therapists or Counsellors – Talking to an addiction specialist can help address underlying causes and develop coping strategies. Rehab or Detox Programmes – If physical dependence is severe, medically supervised detox may be necessary. Consider Support Groups – A well-known 12-step programme that provides peer support. – A science-based alternative to AA, focusing on self-empowerment. At the beginning, I would look lovingly at a glass of red wine when I went out for a Sunday roast. Advertisement But knowing that a drink would not make things better, and it would never just be the ONE, stopped me from picking it up. But at least I was able to be my authentic self — to be more discerning and accept that these men were just not for me. Sobriety comes with a hefty dose of honesty, which can be as welcome as it can be unwelcome. So, this journey goes on. It's not a destination. It will only end with my dying breath. Advertisement I've yet to learn the exact damage my drinking might have inflicted on those around me. 7 I was trapped in a vicious cycle of hell and my best friend told tell me to get help because I clearly had a problem, says Ulrika 7 Ulrika admits she was binge-drinker who drank to black out I think of my children and how worried about me they were. How I must have scared them. How torn they must have been between wanting to say something and just hoping I would come to my senses. I have amends to make. I have character defects to accept and improve. I have to remember to live in the moment and that whether I'm one year or ten years' Advertisement I still have I have no objections at all to others drinking around me but, by Christ, people can be annoying when drunk! At least it's not me doing the crazy stuff, dancing on the tables or doing things I will quickly forget or regret. Nor do I wake up with punishing hangovers and terrifying Beautiful things happen in sobriety. Good things come your way. Beautiful people come into your life, too. Advertisement People without judgment who fundamentally care for you and understand you. That has been my greatest reward. Don't get me wrong, life has continued to throw me curveballs. I'm just better equipped to deal with them as a sober person. Sobriety comes with a hefty dose of honesty, which can be as welcome as it can be unwelcome I have a history of alcoholics in my family on my mother's side, but I don't have decades of alcohol abuse behind me. I didn't become addicted after the first sip of Pimm's at the age of 14 when I first got drunk. My drinking history is quite unremarkable. It didn't result in me losing my job, my marriage, my children or even my driving licence. I didn't get arrested or end up in jail. I wasn't a vomiting mess that couldn't get her kids ready for school in the morning. I wasn't a violent drunk. Which is why it might be helpful for anyone else out there to note that alcoholics come in all shapes and sizes and many live among us in plain sight. Advertisement But the few years running up to my decision to quit, I was clearly drinking for the wrong reasons and I had no control over my cravings. I was a binge-drinker Heavy shame A perfect storm of life led me to self-medicate, to soothe away life's ills and sharp edges; to quell my crippling anxiety by drinking neat rum from the neck of the bottle while kneeling into the cupboard underneath the stairs. There is nothing quite as 'sobering' as admitting to dropping to your knees at 11am and sticking your lips around a bottle of 40 per cent alcohol; feeling it swiftly burn your throat and immediately extinguish your anxiety, fears and self-loathing. Drinking was 'my thing'. It was a personal and private activity I had all to myself. I foolishly believed it was harmless because it didn't affect anyone else, so it was nothing anyone could take away from me. And I loved it. It made me feel instantly better and helped me cope with life. It killed my feelings of being overwhelmed; it relaxed me and made me a much nicer person. I thought . . . Advertisement See, the one thing I had established by the time my drinking got completely out of hand was that I simply wasn't cut out for life. 7 Beautiful things happen in sobriety. Good things come your way. Beautiful people come into your life, too, says Ulrika Credit: Getty 7 Ulrika says she's now better equipped to deal with life's curve-balls 7 I've not had the temptation to pick up a drink, but alcohol is impossible to avoid — it's everywhere, says Ulrika Credit: Instagram I just couldn't cope. Everyone else seemed on top of everything while I was constantly swimming against the tide. Advertisement I was forever traipsing through fields of molasses; perpetually found myself on the battlefield of life utterly unarmed. I was just no good at it. While I made no specific plan to end my life, my hope was eventually that alcohol would destroy me. I was a solitary drinker. But what might have started out as fun very quickly, and without fail, ended in blackout. I couldn't just have the one drink. What weirdo does that? I wasn't seeking light inebriation. I wanted the full anaesthetic effect. My Or better still, nothing at all. I had such crippling anxiety about the present and future, which was coupled with past ordeals, that I was desperate for my feelings just to STOP. Advertisement Because I didn't initially drink every day, and because my life looked impeccable from the outside, I convinced myself there wasn't a problem. I was still in control. However, I know now that those close to me saw a different picture. They heard my slurred voice on the phone; saw my drunk eyes betray me; worried about my volatile and highly strung demeanour and mood swings. They grew tired of repeating things to me that my blackouts had erased. It took months to rid myself of the heavy shame that drinking brought. Now, I realise I was really ill — both physically and spiritually — and that makes me go a bit easier on myself. In short, I'm grateful to my alcoholism for bringing me to where I am today: a life of honesty and integrity; of clarity and calm and being the person I never believed I could be. Advertisement My name is Ulrika and I'm an alcoholic. And I have chosen life.
