The Guiding Light

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About Us

Meet Ben & Chris

Our podcast seeks to accomplish this mission by:

The mission is to be a beacon of guidance and hope for individuals navigating the challenging terrain of addiction and mental health.

We are dedicated to illuminating the path to recovery, fostering understanding, and offering support and inspiration.

Sharing Personal Narratives: The guiding Light provides a platform for individuals to share their personal narratives and experiences related to addiction and mental health, breaking the silence and reducing the stigma that often surrounds these issues.

Providing Expert Insights: We engage with experts, therapists, and advocates in the fields of addiction recovery and mental health to offer our audience valuable knowledge, evidence-based strategies, and resources to navigate recovery and well-being.

Building a Supportive Community: Our podcast aims to build a supportive and inclusive community where listeners can connect, share their own experiences, and find strength and solace in the shared stories of others.

Inspiring Personal Transformation: We aim to inspire personal growth and transformation, motivating individuals to take action, seek help, and move toward a brighter future.

At Guiding Light, we believe in the power of illumination and guidance to help individuals find their way through the challenges they face.

Our mission is to provide a guiding light, showing the path to recovery and mental well-being.

Together, we illuminate recovery, one step at a time.

01

Introducing Ben

I am Ben

Ben has now been clean 1292 days!

I faced a challenging journey through 17 years of active addiction. Despite numerous attempts, the breakthrough came in March 2021 when I discovered the path to recovery. Since that pivotal moment, I have steadfastly embraced a new chapter in his life, leaving the shadows of addiction behind.

My story is one of determination, courage, and the unwavering belief that there is hope even in the darkest moments. I hope my journey serves as a testament to the fact that recovery is possible, no matter how entrenched you may feel in the grip of addiction.

My ongoing pursuit of healing, I have become an advocate for those struggling with addiction, emphasizing that there is a solution and that no one has to face the battle alone. Through sharing my experiences, ,my aim to inspire others to believe in the possibility of change and to find the support they need on their own journeys toward recovery.

I have opened up about my past and the transformative power of recovery, as I hope message that echoes through my story: There is hope, there is a solution, and you are never alone.

I am Chris

Chris has now been clean 2601 days!

In October 2020, just two months before my 40th birthday, I was diagnosed with ADHD. My journey involves overcoming alcohol dependence spanning over 20 years and a 6-year battle with gambling addiction, bringing me to the edge of suicide.

I actively raise awareness of addiction, neurodivergence, and mental health both within and outside my work. Engaging in Alcoholics Anonymous and Gamblers Anonymous, along with other recovery avenues, has been crucial for my progress.

My struggles with mental health began in childhood, leading me to cope with drinking and later, gambling. Despite starting gambling at 30, it became a significant part of my life due to relentless advertising portraying it as harmless. Initially drawn to football betting, I quickly spiraled into in-play options, horses, dogs, virtuals, slots, roulette, and blackjack.

Despite multiple attempts to quit, it took a harrowing 4-day gambling binge, where I planned to win and then end my life, to push me toward recovery. Losing every penny that night was my rock bottom, prompting me to attend my first Gamblers Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings that week.

Since embracing recovery, my life has transformed. I’ve found comfort in being myself, developed self-love, and adopted healthier coping mechanisms. I’ve learned to navigate emotions through communication rather than resorting to gambling and drinking.

Motivated by a desire to support others in their journey through addiction, I co-founded and hosted the “All Bets Are Off” podcast—a crucial resource for individuals wrestling with gambling addiction. Expanding beyond the podcast, my dedication led me to become a co-founder and Trustee of Gambling Harm UK, actively contributing to the development of strategies aimed at alleviating the widespread harm associated with gambling.

I am an advisory board member for Ripple, a suicide prevention charity and volunteer as a Mental Health Ambassador with Healthwatch Essex.

Most importantly I’m a dad to two wonderful children.

02

Introducing Chris