Meet the local grandad sharing his inspiring mental health journey after beating addiction

Gavin King shares his battle with drinking culture on social media to over 6,000 followers

A local Grandad has amassed over 6,000 followers on social media sharing his inspiring battle with alcohol addiction and mental health updates. 

Gavin King, from Hayling Island, posts on Twitter beneath the alias @TheCasualSniper, sharing videos accompanied by the hashtag 'keepsmiling'. Now marking his seventh year sober, his goal is to "stay sober and keep loving life however tough it can get".

He describes the videos he posts as a "therapy" which helps both others and himself. Sharing his story, Gavin told V2 Radio that football drinking culture was a pathway into addiction. 

"I became a functioning alcoholic basically." He admitted. 

"My mother said her son she lived with had died years ago, I wasn't the lad she had raised.

"We celebrated Xmas [sic], mum said it was the only gift she had wanted for years...her son back."

He also revealed that his relationships suffered, describing that it "must have been awful" to live with him whilst he struggled with addiction. But within two years of going sober, his children moved back in and his grandchildren arrived, something Gavin says feels like an "amazing reward". 

Now, Gavin loves his job as a groundsman - and often posts his video updates from his workplace. He recently praised Chichester Film Festival submission 'It Snows In Benidorm', with followers swarming to the comments to wish him a good day as he told them about his experience visiting the cinema alone. 

It snows in Benidorm.......an evening at the cinema that gave me so much more!! #keepsmiling pic.twitter.com/petb99kSPh

— 𝓒𝓪𝓼𝓾𝓪𝓵 𝓢𝓷𝓲𝓹𝓮𝓻 (@TheCasualSniper) August 17, 2022

He also spends his time riding his scooter, going to non-league football games, spending time with family, and even going on his first sober holiday to Benidorm.

"I do as much as I can. Hence the cinema on my own, I've always sort of not liked myself so I'm in the process of trying to love myself". He confessed. 

Gavin also had a message for anybody struggling with their alcohol consumption.

"I keep a keyring by the side of my bed, it says Everyday is like Xmas Eve. Going sober has brought that feeling to me, every new day to look forward to.

"If you can confront your problems the rewards are endless - loving life again being the biggest of all." 

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