[TW//Alcohol Misuse, Anxiety, Imposter Syndrome, Suicidal Thoughts] Today I welcome actor and singer, Georgina White.

An emotional rock bottom is excruciatingly painful, often hidden from those around you and kept a secret. On the outside, you may appear to have everything yet, on the inside, be planning ways to end your life or feel completely trapped and desperate.

Georgina's relationship to alcohol had broken down beyond repair. What started off as a way to have fun and be social very, very slowly became a way to cope with the stress of life. Georgina was using alcohol to self medicate to help her deal with overthinking, anxiety, workaholism, stress, imposter syndrome and toxic relationships.

One day, she stared at a glass of wine and for the first time in her life had the the thought that she didn't want to live anymore. In this moment, she decided she never wanted to feel like this again and made plans to quit alcohol forever. After a relapse, she tried again and has been sober since December 2020.

For anyone who is sober curious or wanting to stop completely - Georgina generously shares her story to help you find the courage to take life by the scruff of the neck and gain control.

Topics -
00:00 Intro
2:53 Georgina's Rock Bottom
5:44 Not feeling able to talk about alcohol problems
8:28 Feeling like my feelings aren't valid compared to other people
9:33 The role of anxiety
11:38 Racing thoughts, over thinking and alcohol use
12:44 Alcohol becoming a way to cope
20:15 A toxic relationship with oneself
20:59 Imposter Syndrome and fear of failure
25:25 Links to childhood
28:00 Using work as a coping strategy and it becoming addictive
31:30 Coping with the ups and downs of the entertainment industry
36:16 How Georgina stopped drinking
40:25 Coping with anxiety without alcohol
43:28 Life without alcohol
45:18 Advice for those just graduating from drama school

If you've been affected by any of the issues discussed on today's episode Georgina recommends the following -

MIND - 0300 1233393 and email: [email protected]
The Samaritans - phone 116 123 
The Farm -
https://www.thefarmdayhab.com
The Amy Winehouse Foundation -
https://www.amywinehousefoundation.org

This Podcast is not for profit but my goal is to break even. To help me make more please donate here. Thank you!

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Follow Georgina
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Twitter - https://bit.ly/3lVe81w
Listen to her music
Apple - https://apple.co/3mivhSZ
Spotify - http://bit.ly/3mqbf94

Listen or watch on:
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or search 'School of Rock Bottom' where you listen to your podcasts.

About this podcast -
Welcome to the School Of Rock Bottom Podcast with Oliver Mason. I work as an actor, voice-over artist, Performing Arts School Principal and a Mental Health Coach. It's these careers and passions combined that have inspired this podcast!

People working in the entertainment and performing arts industry are twice as likely to experience depression, are up to 15x more likely to suffer from anxiety and those working across all the creative industries are 3x more likely to suffer a mental health problem.

In this podcast, we invite creatives who have lived through a rock bottom but have survived! These stories need to be heard to help others realise that no matter how bad things seem there is hope and always a way out.

We will also be discussing how to protect your mental health whilst working within the creative industries.

#impostersyndrome
#recovery
#performingarts