My success came at too high a price . . . A 10 year nightmare of addiction.

Name - Chris Nell 

IG: chrisnellmediaradioactingmusic

Drug of Choice - Alcohol and Opioids

Sober Date - 10/25/2018

My Story - Never Deny Yourself A New Life

“To anyone reading this, bear in mind our stories may appear collectively different, however the premise remains exactly the same - reaching the bottom of the barrel and arising from the ashes thereafter.”

“My name is Chris Nell.”

“I was born in Cape Town, the capital of South Africa, but I later spent the majority of my adolescence and early adulthood in Johannesburg. This would be where my career in entertainment would ultimately begin - I have hosted numerous radio shows, done voice work for commercials and TV promos and I’ve begun a podcast, which surprisingly enough enjoys great response overseas . . . More than in my host country. A charming surprise.” 

“Furthermore I’ve dabbled in acting for camera and for the stage. Caveat to that I must admit - Entertainment has become so diverse and I wouldn’t be the ONLY person who has had an extensive portfolio. Although versatility to my experience and knowledge have come to only a select few, so in that regard I’ve been very fortunate.”

“That aside my success came at too high a price . . . A 10 year nightmare of addiction.”

“The reason when I had begun using was because my early life began in heartbreak. I was abused emotionally and physically by a neglectful parent.”

“Because of a lanky and towering physical appearance I’d spent the majority of my weekends in a bar in the “pleasurable company” of people of loose virtue and with the liquid of temporary euphoria.”

“This would become routine in my life, but when I moved on from college to becoming a radio host and performer I always drank to excess, exclusively between the four walls of my home. My kitchen and living room would be littered with beer cans, wine and -shot glasses.”

“Quite a reversal of routine - In my teens I wasn’t bothered getting blitzed amid a crowd of people, but becoming public property made me use at home.” 

“Erstwhile, there were other worries I had to face that was never my burden to carry.”

“I was constantly harassed by a hag former landlord who wanted more money because of illicit gluttony and made a threat to drag my name through the mud in the press when I refused to comply.”

“I was also constantly being threatened by former co-workers and my former employer through accusations that were monstrously false, namely sexual harassment, because of my bearing and superior skills.”

“Into my tenth year of active addiction I contracted recurring health problems, culminating in a bout of drug-induced bronchial pneumonia that left me deaf in one ear for more than a month.” 

“Experiences I’d rather forget. In my sobriety I have learned to embrace them as life lessons not a prison sentence.”

All this time I never could fully grasp why I was doing that I had been doing:”

“- Was it exclusively peer pressure?

• Was it purely temptation?

• Was this normal for a 20-something to regularly get belligerent to the point of almost oblivion?

• Was it normal to cry myself to sleep every night?

• Why was I awaking dead on my feet after an hour and a half of bed rest?”

“These questions were all ringing true to my mind and it had begun to drive me bonkers. Compounded by an ever-accelerating use of sleeping pills and painkillers; I was severely overweight, I had debilitating insomnia and I was wrought with depression.”

“In 2018 it would be a year to remember - I had gotten sober after an emotional breakdown, but barely into my first year I was diagnosed with cancer.”

“What rotten luck . . . I’m trying to over a new leaf and now a dreaded disease was going to punch my ticket for good.”

“Here was where I knew I had to make a choice. Fight or flight. Where the latter was a fleeting thought, I said to myself . . . I’m going to beat this . . . And by Grace I did.”

“That was 2 years ago. Today I’m alcohol and drug free, I’m in full remission from cancer and I’ve been blessed with a new life.”

“It took a lot of introspection, saying the sorrys, working out the problem areas and learning to rather listen than speak.”

“How I maintain my sobriety has been really a healthy diet of faith, a commitment to NA meetings, exercise and surrounding myself with people of equal stature who have crossed my path through the work I do and most importantly . . . A hobby of laughter.”

“Getting sober was exhausting mentally and physically, but the experience is one to treasure for all time. It takes true grit to commit to as I had to do away with old ways of thinking, people who had become poisonous to my character and becoming militaristic in avoiding temptation. Also remaining constantly teachable.”

“To add some further gravy to the meat - Fever dreams, stinking thinking/negativity, physical reactions are part of the healing process. Recovery isn’t a cake walk and there will always be danger looming ahead.”

“However never deny yourself a new life. You have the unconstitutional animal right to turn a new leaf that more times than not will make you shine based on your truth and your true identity - a refreshed and true you.”

“Recovery is truly a process, which is lifelong so enjoy the ride.”

“You’ve gotten this far, in spirit I’m cheering you on.”

“Don’t give up . . . I believe in you.”

“Warmly

Chris”