At the age of 28, professional footballer Fraser Franks was abruptly forced into retirement from professional football and found himself spiralling into depression, which swiftly led to a prolonged period of alcohol addiction. Through sheer willpower and determination, Fraser pulled himself back from the brink of self-destruction and has since gone on to become a vocal champion when it comes to helping others to beat their alcohol issues. Fraser talks frankly about what it means to go from the top to the bottom, how he has learned to frame his past and why our careers must never truly define who we are as a person, the sometimes shocking moments from his time as an alcoholic, and why he resolved to pull himself back from the edge in order to carve out a happier, healthier life. Another incredibly raw episode of the On a Mission podcast. KEY TAKEAWAYS When we are young, we seem to set our entire life's path according to the career we aspire to. When we have the benefit of experience and maturity, we see that career paths never truly define who we are as a person. There's no such thing as failure when it comes to anything. There are only lessons that we can use to make us stronger and more resilient. Alcohol makes us far more confident, and can allow us to explore a more free-thinking side of ourselves. But if that isn't who we truly are, then we tend to rely upon it to help us in social situations, leading to a spiralling effect, where we can't exist in the world unless we drink. Rather than face the judgment of those who love us, alcohol users hide their addictions, forcing them to become shadowy versions of the person they once were. this can lead to shame, and a loss of self-worth. BEST MOMENTS 'There was no separation of the player and the person' 'Personality is not permanent - good or bad' 'I developed a real confidence with alcohol, but no confidence without it' 'I became defensive because I knew I was drinking more than I wanted to' 'I didn't like the person that I was becoming' VALUABLE RESOURCES On A Mission - https://omny.fm/shows/on-a-mission   Fraser Franks Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/fraserfranks/?hl=en Fraser Franks Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/@Fraserfranks ABOUT THE HOST Not so long ago, life was barely recognisable for Ellie McKay, raising three children under five, battling post-natal depression, facing redundancy and walking into the job centre to claim benefits with a double pram, no confidence, and wracked with insecurities. Fast forward to today, and life looks very different. Ellie committed to turning her life around for herself and her family. Following this commitment, she got to work and has now built multiple successful companies, as well as having created a multimillion-pound property portfolio from a standing start. Ellie is now on a mission to make a positive impact and add value to others through her podcast which has attracted phenomenal guests worldwide. The show is specifically to help those trying to reach their full potential through its inspirational and motivational content, as well as challenging conventional wisdom to discuss all the “hot topics” in a relentless pursuit of the truth. CONTACT METHODS: Website: http://www.elliemckay.com LinkedIn: Linkedin.com/in/ellie-mckay/ Facebook: Facebook.com/ellie.mckay.3150 Instagram: https://instagram.com/ellie_mckay_official?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= OAM Instagram: https://instagram.com/onamissionshow?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= YouTube: https://youtube.com/@onamissionpodcast  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.