In this episode, I talk with Chris Gimpel from Brisbane about his personal struggles with alcohol and how the need for acceptance fuelled a deeply problematic relationship with drinking. This conversation highlights a critical issue—many of us drink to feel accepted, and the effects on our lives, bodies, and mental health are profound. We explore the importance of getting curious about what drives our drinking, rather than succumbing to shame or embarrassment. We also talk about some important questions to ask yourself before you think about quitting alcohol. Chris (and Presley) helps others in his role as Head of Client Engagement at Clean Slate Clinic and is a compassionate advocate for destigmatising substance dependence to remove that barrier for accessing addiction treatment services. Clean Slate Clinic is a social enterprise who provides telehealth clinical support to help Australians struggling with alcohol, stimulant, or cannabis dependence to detox and recover safely from the comfort of their homes His lived experience combined with his corporate background allows him to support our clients with deep understanding and to help grow Clean Slate.  Chris is dedicated to empowering others on their recovery journeys by sharing his story of hope and the opportunity for change. Find out more at cleanslateclinic.com or follow on IG @cleanslateclinic To reach out to Chris go to https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisgimpel/. For more resources such as coaching or to join the next HIQA challenge go to www.iquitalcohol.com.au Follow HIQA insta @howiquitalcohol  Music for Podcast intro and outro written by Danni Carr performed by Mr Cassidy If you are struggling with physical dependancy on alcohol consider contacting a local AA meeting or a drug and alcohol therapist. Always consult a GP before stopping alcohol.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.