Carlie: How leaving alcohol behind helped me reclaim my life and my children

Carlie, a mum of three from South Shields, is celebrating two years of being alcohol free.

She’s healthy, active, and fully present for her children – something she never imagined a few years ago when alcohol and drugs were taking over her life.

Carlie grew up surrounded by alcohol, and by the time she was a teenager, drinking had become a way to cope with stress and difficult feelings.

Over the years, alcohol affected her relationships, her health, and her ability to be there for her children.

Periods of not drinking alcohol, like during pregnancy, gave her a glimpse of what life could be like without it – but stress, isolation, and personal loss often pulled her back.

Carlie says: “Alcohol was my way of coping with stress and emotional pain. It helped me numb feelings at the time, but it ended up causing more problems than it solved.”

Two years ago, Carlie reached a turning point.

She enrolled in a performing arts degree and fully committed to her recovery. Support from Recovery Church in Newcastle gave her the structure, tools, and community she needed to stay sober. She started to build new routines, focus on her studies, and reconnect with people who supported her new way of life.

Today, she writes daily, takes long walks in nature, and throws herself into creative projects, all of which help her manage emotions without turning to alcohol.

Her life today is busy and fulfilling. Carlie has strengthened her relationships with her children, rebuilt a positive social network, and created a life where she can truly be present for the people she loves. She’s even exploring her creative side through performing arts, discovering passions she didn’t know she had.

Carlie has also created ‘Fortitude Family’ to host alcohol-free events that put connection and community at the heart of socialising.

Her vision is simple but powerful: to create welcoming spaces where people can enjoy great food, conversation, and creativity, all while celebrating an alcohol-free lifestyle. By normalising socialising without alcohol, Fortitude Family is inspiring a positive, inclusive way to come together and enjoy life.

Her passion to support others also now goes beyond her own recovery. Carlie wants children across the North East to grow up in homes free from alcohol’s impact.

“Every child deserves caregivers who are present, attentive, and emotionally available. I want to make sure children grow up with love and guidance, not with adults numbed by alcohol,” she says.

She is determined to make a difference, showing that recovery is possible and that children deserve a stable, nurturing environment.

Carlie hopes her story inspires others to reflect on their own relationship with alcohol.

“Question your relationship with alcohol. Are you using it socially, or to cope with stress or emotional pain? Awareness is the first step to change,” she advises.

Now, Carlie is building a life she’s proud of. She’s focused on her children, her studies, and her recovery, proving that with support, determination, and the right tools, it’s possible to leave alcohol behind and reclaim your life.