About Me

First Page on the blog, originally posted 24th October 2013

Hi, my name is Jon I am “exboozehound” you can probably work out I have had one or two issues with booze over the years. Fortunately my last drink was on the 17th February 2003, the day before I started a 4 week stay at the Woodbourne Priory Hospital.

I have suffered with depression since my teens, I am now 40 and unfortunately Clinical Depression has got the better of me and is currently winning the war.

So, to sum up I am a 40 year old Mentally Ill Alcoholic who is winning against booze but losing against depression.

I have started this blog to share my experiences, good and bad. I am going to be completely honest and I guarantee I will contradict myself from time to time.

I have had a horrendous time over the last few months and if this blog can help even just one person in a very small way it will be worth it.

16 thoughts on “About Me”

  1. I think this will help you a great deal. This whole year has been horrendous for you and is not going to get any better for a while to come. I know there are lots of issues in your life that are slowing down you conquering your depression. However, I feel over the last few weeks you have become stronger – you are fighting back. YOU WILL WIN JON ONE DAY. I am here to support you whenever you need me. Mom x

  2. Jon
    This will help you a lot as it always helps me to write down my thoughts and feelings as much better out of your head. never knew you have fought the booze and won so proud of you. I lost my uncle to the dreaded booze in 1999 as despite all his efforts he just wasnt strong enough to beat it. You WILL get depression under control just believe in yourself keep fighting and you will get there one day at a time. You have good friends and family around you so ask for help when you need it you are NOT on your own babe.
    Seeing your strength is giving me the courage to battle my own demons on a daily basis so keep going as you are my inspiration xxxx

    1. Hi Lynne, thank you for having a look at my blog and putting such a wonderful comment. It is sad to hear about your uncle, I am not sure I would have been able to get off the booze without The Woodbourne Priory. Thank you for saying I am your inspiration, that means more to me than you can know. Keep Smiling 🙂 xxx

  3. Hi Jon,

    We are related on your mother’s side. Your Grandfather was my mother’s brother.
    I read your blog with interest.
    Our family were not that close. However, with a little effort I’ve been able to witness with interest how all my uncle’s families and obviously my mother’s family have turned out.
    Try it yourself. It’s very interesting. Ask your mum, she’ll tell you.
    There were three brothers and one sister (my mother).
    I was close to your uncle John in our teen years and have many happy memories of hanging out with him. He taught me things I needed to know as a teenager.
    Jon, many in our family have suffered in a similar way to you. I have.
    My mother had two “nervous breakdowns.” There was no political correctness in the 60’s, for my mother’s friends and my own family blamed me! Nothing like a little guilt to send you on your way through life, I’m sure you’ll agree!
    At 62 I’m the happiest I’ve ever been. I can’t give you a remedy based on experience but just time did it for me.
    Kicking alcohol shows incredible strength and your ability to put all this into words is definitely a family trait and will keep you in good stead. Keep going.
    It’s a shame your uncle John is not here with us today. I was acutely aware of his struggles and from what I knew about him in the 60’s he too, at 62, would have prevailed and been happy today.
    Something someone said to me when the battery died on my motorcycle this summer and I was a nervous wreck trying to figure out why it went flat was “Dave, it just IS,” “charge it up and press on.” I’ve tried applying this to just about everything in my life since (and boringly for them, everyone else’s). I rather like it and it works.
    I can definitely relate to your story about how a light bulb and bald tyre can ruin your day.

    Good luck.

    Dave

    1. Hi Dave, thank you so much for your message. I remember you as “Dave the Pilot”. I would imagine being with John in your teens was an “interesting” experience and I can only hazard a guess at what those things John taught you as a teenager were, just how much trouble did you get into? I can’t even begin to imagine what it was like to have “nervous breakdowns” in the 60’s there is a lot of talk about Stigma these days but at least there is talk and mostly acceptance. Very unfair that you were blamed, no-one is to blame it’s just an illness, and yes I do agree!! I am happy you are happy I don’t think there is a remedy and I am sure time will do it for me too.
      It’s strange when people say things like “Kicking alcohol shows incredible strength” because I see it as something I had to do, I still miss it, but it had to be done and at this point I would say it was easier to beat the booze than depression.
      It is a shame John is not here today, I remember him as an absolute sound guy and my one memory I always think of about John was me and my brother going around his flat picking up loads of change from the floor, table, sofa and keeping it :). Fortunately he was happy at the end and I am sure he would still be happy now and very wise!!
      I like that “It just IS” now I have relaxed a bit and accepted I am not well and have to address it a phrase I use a lot is “it is what it is”, very very similar and for such small words very powerful.
      Thank you for the luck I will need it 🙂
      Thank you again for your message, I used to ride a motorbike until some foreigner in a left hand drive car decided to knock me off so please be careful, my bike used to get flat batteries all the time so had to bump start it on many occasions, if you have ever had to do that I am sure you will agree it is a lot more difficult than you would think!!
      Keep smiling
      Jon

  4. Yea, John took me to a Birmingham City match against Manchester United over Easter 1965.
    We got there early, so we stood outside St. Andrews ground where the visiting team leaves their coach to enter the ground.
    It was easy to do in those days, I think John and I were the only ones to bother doing so, we even picked up a few autographs one by one as they left the coach (still got ’em), Bobby Charlton, Nobly Stiles, Pat Crerand etc.
    No girls were allowed on the coach on these sort of trips, even today, so we were surprised to see a young girl leave the bus in front of a half grown adult with his football boots.
    What the hell? we got his autograph too. It was probably the tea boy with his girlfriend for all we knew.
    Then at 3.00 pm, there he was on the field in full Manchester United colours.
    The program said number 7, George Best. Never heard of him.
    He was 17 at the time. He was the only one allowed on the coach with a girl even in those days!
    He scored a goal I believe. They beat Birmingham City, I do remember that.

    Dave

  5. Help us influence the way people think about addiction treatment

    Dear Jon,

    I’m working with a professional addiction rehabilitation center – FloridaBeachRehab.com. We’re working on generating a stronger web presence by seeking partnerships with talented writers and bloggers, who can help us create content that will reach as many people who need our help as possible.

    I really enjoy your posts on your blog. I would be truly honored if you would be interested in contributing an article or articles to our site. If so, please let me know under what terms. We will be happy to include an author bio with links to your social media profiles and look forward to supporting the article creation process with media and formatting.

    Kind regards,

    Michael Anderson

  6. As you might know, when you have a physical disability, and need physical assistance (like I do [somewhat; I’m very independent] you can be classified as a “Vulnerable Adult”. This makes many people (including me) very nervous about talking about how they feel; it can have disastrous consequences. I’ve also seen it happen with young people within the foster care system.

    I guess what I’m trying to say is that, care experienced young people (it’s the term the Children’s Commissioner for Wales is beginning to use) and people with Additional Needs, need to know that it’s ok to talk about Mental Health. More importantly, it is people like Jon Mansell make it possible for people who have Additional Needs (disabilities) to feel able to speak to someone, honestly, who has been through similar situations. It has been my experience, that this can often mean the difference between surviving and thriving; being able to come out the other side of mental health difficulties, in such a way that they can (eventually) move beyond it.

    I would, without hesitation, recommend that anyone struggling contacts Jon Mansell. He is very understanding, and more than willing to accommodate; ensuring anonymity when asked.

    1. Hi Luke thank you for taking the time to comment. I think the only thing I can say is that one of the many reasons that I started my blog and then more recently moved on to vlogging is to break down the barriers that keep so many people suffering in silence. I feel very proud that something I’ve said or written has given you the strength to contact me. It is important that more people are able to talk about whatever issues they have mental and physical but I realise not everyone will want to do it quite as publicly as I have…. lol

      Keep going;)

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