Ryan O’Connell.Photo: Amy Sussman/Getty
Ryan O’Connell is one year sober.
The 34-year-old actor and writer — who chronicled his experience as a gay man with cerebral palsy in the hit Netflix seriesSpecial— revealed in a candid post on Thursday that he’s stopped consuming alcohol.
“One year ago today I quit drinking,” O’Connell wrote, in a lengthy post on Instagram.
He went on to reveal that he’s long struggled with the substance, and pointed to Annie Grace’s bookThis Naked Mindas a resource that helped him get sober.
“I used to see posts like this and be like ‘WTF? HOW?’ And, look, everyone is different. I did not do [Alcoholics Anonymous] which has worked for so many. I read a book,” he said.
The Netflix star revealedThis Naked Minddeconstructed “alcohol’s power over our society and explained its addictive nature in a science and facts-driven way that made sense for me.”
“But reading the book wasn’t a magic trick. I was also ready to be sober and not live in the iron grip of booze anymore,” O’Connell added.
Ryan O’Connell.Ryan O’Connell/Instagram
O’Connell then opened up about his journey to sobriety, admitting he put a rule in place while filmingSpecialbefore lockdown that entailed “only drinking on the weekends.”
Having that parameter in place gave O’Connell “some semblance of power and control,” he said. The problem for the actor was that on those weekend days, he would binge.
“I even took a picture of the martini to make it seem glamorous instead of sad,” theAwkwardwriter continued. “I experienced just a flicker of clarity that night where I was like, ‘Gee, maybe alcohol is in control of me and not vice versa.’ Yes, I haven’t drank five nights a week but I’m thinking about it and counting down the days ‘til Friday when I can do it again. How is that normal?”
Ryan O’Connell.Michael Kovac/Getty
O’Connell then told anyone struggling with sobriety “don’t feel bad,” citing the ways alcohol is intertwined with the social experience.
“We live in a culture obsessed with drinking. It’s been railed into our subconscious that we need alcohol as social lubricant, as a reward, to enhance our food?” he wrote. “It’s years and years of conditioning, which makes opting out of it seem insane and not feasible.”
The producer continued, “Well guess what? It is possible. I did it. You can do it too.”
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“My life has improved 1,000% since removing booze from my life,” O’Connell said.
“I used to think I was an anxious person who needed alcohol to deal. It turns out alcohol was actually the thing making me anxious and turning me into someone who can’t handle anything,” the actor explained. “Alcohol is such a scam.”
There’s been one other benefit for O’Connell.
“Also, when you quit drinking, you get really hot,” he said. “That part is fun too.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, please contact the SAMHSA substance abuse helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.
source: people.com
