Bottled-up

Bottled-up Bottled Up helps people who live with a problem drinker, and people struggling with alcohol.

Founded by Dr. John McMahon and Lou Lewis, they are experts in addiction and counselling, through their own experiences they want to empower you to make change. Lou and John created Bottled Up because, just like you, they have also suffered the effects of alcoholism. Because they know that sense of being alone, not knowing where to turn. They started Bottled Up to help and support you and others like you. Lou was married to an alcoholic for 29 years till his death and talks openly about the mistakes she made, the times she got it right and the lessons she learned. John was an alcoholic and addict (clean and sober since 1984) and is completely frank about his drinking and recovery. Between them they provide a rare insight into both sides of the issue, the drinker and the partner. But they bring more than personal experience, they also bring professional training and experience. Lou is a therapist with her own counselling practice, so she brings a knowledge of strategies for change. John is a psychologist who taught addiction counsellors at the Centre for Alcohol and Drug Studies at Paisley University and who has published widely and presented his research at many international conferences.

Hi everyone. New podcast series. Stop doing things which don't work. First up, STOP picking a fight with a drinker.Liste...
09/03/2026

Hi everyone. New podcast series. Stop doing things which don't work. First up, STOP picking a fight with a drinker.

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

You won't win, there could be unforeseen consequences for you and the drinker, and you will only feel worse about yourself.

A new series in which John and Lou talk about the stopping doing things that don't work. Known as the four Ps, they are Picking a fight, Punishing, Policing and Pleading. They do not work, so don't do them.

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".

For more information on the service 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.

09/03/2026

In our new podcast series we look at ways to deal with an alcoholic. First up, don't Pick a fight. Never argue with a drunk. You won't win and you could casue a lot more trouble for yourself.

06/03/2026

What I wish I had known : Recovery

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

In this episode John talks to Lou about what he wishes he had known about the early stages of recovery. Lou and John explore John’s thirties as an “alcoholic motorway”: chaos everywhere, seemingly no exits, and denial hardened into identity. John recalls losing his marriage to drink, then ironically treating separation as permission to drink “like a gentleman” (he didn't). John shares the fear many problem drinkers hold—“If I stop, then what?”—believing sobriety would be empty despair, even that he’d “used up” his happiness. Early sobriety was hard, but support revealed life after alcohol. A turning point came when he thought, “I wouldn’t mind having me as a friend.” Recovery brought real freedom, purpose, adventure, and a new life.

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".

For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com

05/03/2026

Life opens up after getting sober.

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

In this episode John talks to Lou about what he wishes he had known about the early stages of recovery. Lou and John explore John’s thirties as an “alcoholic motorway”: chaos everywhere, seemingly no exits, and denial hardened into identity. John recalls losing his marriage to drink, then ironically treating separation as permission to drink “like a gentleman” (he didn't). John shares the fear many problem drinkers hold—“If I stop, then what?”—believing sobriety would be empty despair, even that he’d “used up” his happiness. Early sobriety was hard, but support revealed life after alcohol. A turning point came when he thought, “I wouldn’t mind having me as a friend.” Recovery brought real freedom, purpose, adventure, and a new life.

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".

For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com

04/03/2026

Recovery. The moment when John thought "I wouldn't mind having me as a friend".

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

In this episode John talks to Lou about what he wishes he had known about the early stages of recovery. Lou and John explore John’s thirties as an “alcoholic motorway”: chaos everywhere, seemingly no exits, and denial hardened into identity. John recalls losing his marriage to drink, then ironically treating separation as permission to drink “like a gentleman” (he didn't). John shares the fear many problem drinkers hold—“If I stop, then what?”—believing sobriety would be empty despair, even that he’d “used up” his happiness. Early sobriety was hard, but support revealed life after alcohol. A turning point came when he thought, “I wouldn’t mind having me as a friend.” Recovery brought real freedom, purpose, adventure, and a new life.

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".

For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com

02/03/2026

Hi everyone, in the latest podcast in our series, What I Wish I Had Known, Lou talks to John about his recovery.

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

In this episode John talks to Lou about what he wishes he had known about the early stages of recovery. Lou and John explore John’s thirties as an “alcoholic motorway”: chaos everywhere, seemingly no exits, and denial hardened into identity. John recalls losing his marriage to drink, then ironically treating separation as permission to drink “like a gentleman” (he didn't). John shares the fear many problem drinkers hold—“If I stop, then what?”—believing sobriety would be empty despair, even that he’d “used up” his happiness. Early sobriety was hard, but support revealed life after alcohol. A turning point came when he thought, “I wouldn’t mind having me as a friend.” Recovery brought real freedom, purpose, adventure, and a new life.

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".

For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com

Hi everyone, in the latest podcast in our series What I Wish I Had Known, Lou talk with John about what he wishes he had...
02/03/2026

Hi everyone, in the latest podcast in our series What I Wish I Had Known, Lou talk with John about what he wishes he had known at the start of his recovery.

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

In this episode John talks to Lou about what he wishes he had known about the early stages of recovery. Lou and John explore John’s thirties as an “alcoholic motorway”: chaos everywhere, seemingly no exits, and denial hardened into identity. John recalls losing his marriage to drink, then ironically treating separation as permission to drink “like a gentleman” (he didn't). John shares the fear many problem drinkers hold—“If I stop, then what?”—believing sobriety would be empty despair, even that he’d “used up” his happiness. Early sobriety was hard, but support revealed life after alcohol. A turning point came when he thought, “I wouldn’t mind having me as a friend.” Recovery brought real freedom, purpose, adventure, and a new life.

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".

For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com

26/02/2026

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

In this episode of the series "What I wish I'd known", Lou talks to John as he reflects on the early indicators of his problem drinking. John describes how denial appeared as the belief he could change “tomorrow” — a tomorrow that never arrived. As his peers matured, he remained stuck, deliberately choosing environments where heavy drinking was normal. John explains how comparing himself to other problem drinkers and adjusting his surroundings didn’t just mask the problem — they actively suppressed insight and reinforced denial. John reflects on wishing he had recognised the moment when alcohol became the most important thing in his life — and acted upon it then.

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".

For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com

Hi everyone, our new podcast, out now - The Warning Signs - What I wish I had known.Listen here: https://pod.link/182472...
23/02/2026

Hi everyone, our new podcast, out now - The Warning Signs - What I wish I had known.

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

In this episode of the series "What I wish I'd known", Lou talks to John as he reflects on the early indicators of his problem drinking. John describes how denial appeared as the belief he could change “tomorrow” — a tomorrow that never arrived. As his peers matured, he remained stuck, deliberately choosing environments where heavy drinking was normal. John explains how comparing himself to other problem drinkers and adjusting his surroundings didn’t just mask the problem — they actively suppressed insight and reinforced denial. John reflects on wishing he had recognised the moment when alcohol became the most important thing in his life — and acted upon it then.

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".

For more information on the service 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.

18/02/2026

It's hard, but try to affirm the good in your problem drinker.

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

In this episode in our new series "What I Wish I Had Known", Lou and John reflect on being married to someone suffering with alcoholism and the painful dance which often takes place between the spouse and their partner as they try to navigate addiction. Lou shares how appealing to her husband’s love often furthered his guilt deepening his shame and triggered further bingeing. John explains that addiction is less a binary choice between alcohol and a partner, and more about escaping emotional pain. They explore affirming the sober identity while hating the drink. Themes include boundaries, hope, shame, affirmation, identity, and routes to recovery.

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".

For more information on the service 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.

16/02/2026

New podcast out now! Listen here: https://pod.link/1824729126?view=apps&sort=popularity

In this episode in our new series "What I Wish I Had Known", Lou and John reflect on being married to someone suffering with alcoholism and the painful dance which often takes place between the spouse and their partner as they try to navigate addiction. Lou shares how appealing to her husband’s love often furthered his guilt deepening his shame and triggered further bingeing. John explains that addiction is less a binary choice between alcohol and a partner, and more about escaping emotional pain. They explore affirming the sober identity while hating the drink. Themes include boundaries, hope, shame, affirmation, identity, and routes to recovery.

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".

For more information on the service 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.

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

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