Bottled-up

19/01/2026

Hi everyone, the new podcast, Relapse, is available now. Listen here: https://pod.link/1824729126?view=apps&sort=popularity

Relapse is common. Whether you’re the family or friends of a problem drinker, or a person with an alcohol addiction, setbacks can be difficult to cope with. In this episode Lou and John talk about relapse, how to cope with them, how to look for the positives, and how you can learn from the setbacks, and progress is what you are looking for – not perfection.

Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".

Whether you're a person struggling with an alcoholic in your life, or a person struggling with alcohol, Bottled Up can help. For more advice, guidance, and 1 to 1 counselling and information on the services Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com

Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.

Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.

John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.

16/01/2026

The big one you have been aiming for. Recovery. Watch on Facebook or listen here: https://pod.link/1824729126?view=apps&sort=popularity

In this episode John and Lou look at recovery from the point of view of the drinker. It's an important listen for drinkers and family and friends. They consider the difficulties, the treatment and help available, the importance of maintaining recovery and keeping going when times are tough or when there is a relapse.

Start by stopping. That's what drinkers need to do to commence their recovery. It sounds simple in practice, but it is difficult. There may be many fault starts and difficulties along the way, but recovery from problem drinking is of course possible and thousands of people achieve this every year.

Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".

Whether you're a person struggling with an alcoholic in your life, or a person struggling with alcohol, Bottled Up can help. For more advice, guidance, and 1 to 1 counselling and information on the services Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com

Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.

Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.

John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.

15/01/2026

Today my book is finally available on Amazon!!😁
The book charts my life through boyhood in Scotland, failed trainee priest, hippy, given 6 months to live as an alcoholic and drug addict, recovery, return to education to gain a degree and then a doctorate in psychology and writing the master’s course and teaching many of the addiction therapists in Scotland. It is a story of love and loss, of hopeless addiction and miraculous recovery and spiritual growth; how the lowest times in our lives can become our most powerful assets. It is funny, entertaining and, hopefully, inspiring.

A roller coaster memoir charting a course through addiction, recovery and the search for meaning. Readers are taken through one aborted vocation to the priesthood, a season as a hippy, several failed marriages plus a return to academia. Early in life, John McMahon wanted to escape the parochiali...

14/01/2026

The new podcast, recover for the drinker is out now. An essential listen for drinkers and everybody caught up in the problems caused by alcoholism. Listen here: https://pod.link/1824729126?view=apps&sort=popularity

12/01/2026

Hi everyone, this week's new podcast is focused on recovery for the drinker. But it's an essential listen for anybody, including friends and family, who have to contend with the problems created by alcoholism. Listen here: https://pod.link/1824729126?view=apps&sort=popularity

10/01/2026

Anger can be a good fuel for change - but don't turn it inward on yourself.

Listen here: https://pod.link/1824729126?view=apps&sort=popularity

Christmas with a problem drinker can be extremely difficult for a whole manner of different reasons. Whether you are experiencing your first Christmas with somebody who you think might have a problem with alcohol, or this is your umpteenth Christmas with a drinker, in this episode Lou and John guide you through ways to help with the Christmas fallout and how you can improve your life in the year ahead.

Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".

Whether you're a person struggling with an alcoholic in your life, or a person struggling with alcohol, Bottled Up can help. For more advice, guidance, and 1 to 1 counselling and information on the services Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com

Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.

Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.

John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.

08/01/2026

January can prompt change.

Listen here: https://pod.link/1824729126?view=apps&sort=popularity

Christmas with a problem drinker can be extremely difficult for a whole manner of different reasons. Whether you are experiencing your first Christmas with somebody who you think might have a problem with alcohol, or this is your umpteenth Christmas with a drinker, in this episode Lou and John guide you through ways to help with the Christmas fallout and how you can improve your life in the year ahead.

Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".

Whether you're a person struggling with an alcoholic in your life, or a person struggling with alcohol, Bottled Up can help. For more advice, guidance, and 1 to 1 counselling and information on the services Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com

Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.

Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.

John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.

08/01/2026

One of our members sent us a nice comment about her Christmas and New Year. We asked her if we could share it in the Bottled Up Blog, and she agreed. Have a look at it and, if you would like, you could share how your Christmas and New Year went.

You can find the comment by clicking on the picture below.

Happy New Year to all of you. We hope that the festive season has not been too traumatic. Every year there is the big build up to the Christmas period,

07/01/2026

Listen here: https://pod.link/1824729126?view=apps&sort=popularity

Christmas with a problem drinker can be extremely difficult for a whole manner of different reasons. Whether you are experiencing your first Christmas with somebody who you think might have a problem with alcohol, or this is your umpteenth Christmas with a drinker, in this episode Lou and John guide you through ways to help with the Christmas fallout and how you can improve your life in the year ahead.

Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".

Whether you're a person struggling with an alcoholic in your life, or a person struggling with alcohol, Bottled Up can help. For more advice, guidance, and 1 to 1 counselling and information on the services Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com

Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.

Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.

John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.

07/01/2026

Christmas Fallout podcast
Listen here: https://pod.link/1824729126?view=apps&sort=popularity

Christmas with a problem drinker can be extremely difficult for a whole manner of different reasons. Whether you are experiencing your first Christmas with somebody who you think might have a problem with alcohol, or this is your umpteenth Christmas with a drinker, in this episode Lou and John guide you through ways to help with the Christmas fallout and how you can improve your life in the year ahead.

Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".

Whether you're a person struggling with an alcoholic in your life, or a person struggling with alcohol, Bottled Up can help. For more advice, guidance, and 1 to 1 counselling and information on the services Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com

Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.

Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.

John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.

06/01/2026

This year, change what you re doing - for you.

Listen here: https://pod.link/1824729126?view=apps&sort=popularity

Christmas with a problem drinker can be extremely difficult for a whole manner of different reasons. Whether you are experiencing your first Christmas with somebody who you think might have a problem with alcohol, or this is your umpteenth Christmas with a drinker, in this episode Lou and John guide you through ways to help with the Christmas fallout and how you can improve your life in the year ahead.

Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".

Whether you're a person struggling with an alcoholic in your life, or a person struggling with alcohol, Bottled Up can help. For more advice, guidance, and 1 to 1 counselling and information on the services Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com

Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.

Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.

John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.

05/01/2026

It might be the first time you notice drinking is causing a problem.

Listen here: https://pod.link/1824729126?view=apps&sort=popularity

Christmas with a problem drinker can be extremely difficult for a whole manner of different reasons. Whether you are experiencing your first Christmas with somebody who you think might have a problem with alcohol, or this is your umpteenth Christmas with a drinker, in this episode Lou and John guide you through ways to help with the Christmas fallout and how you can improve your life in the year ahead.

Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".

Whether you're a person struggling with an alcoholic in your life, or a person struggling with alcohol, Bottled Up can help. For more advice, guidance, and 1 to 1 counselling and information on the services Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com

Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.

Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.

John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.