Adwoa Aboah has opened up about the loneliness that came with her sobriety

Fashion model Adwoa Aboah has warmed our hearts speaking openly on the Reign with Josh Smith podcast about her experiences with sobriety, what it has taught her, including how thankful she feels to have met such struggles. 

She struggled with addiction problems during her teens, finally deciding to go sober at the age of 22. 

Reign with Josh Smith is definitely a podcast to bookmark – it’s all about “unfiltered honesty” and empowering conversations with some of our most inspiring celebrity faves, with previous guests including Cara Delevingne, Simone Ashley, Lily Collins, Natalia Dyer and Jodie Comer.

Here are the most impactful elements of Adwoa Aboah’s interview.

On sobriety being like a ‘grieving period’ and the loneliness that first comes with becoming sober

“I don’t think people talk about it [loneliness] enough when attached to sobriety. Like imagine, you know, it’s almost like a grieving period. You mourn the people you can’t hang out with. The situations you can’t be part of. It’s just endless, you know? There are things that you just in no way can relate to anymore because you are so far from them. 

“Or just mentally and chemically you’re not there. It is a bit lonely sometimes. But I think when I was younger my loneliness was an isolation. It wasn’t a healthy one. It was one that kept me from asking for help, it was one that kept me low and in the dark and unable to see anything better. Now I am not afraid of being by myself.

“I was talking to a friend the day after I went to Glastonbury and it was funny because sobriety for me is easier and harder. It’s easier because it’s like second nature. It’s like I don’t even need to think about it, I know how to have a good time without it, I know who I am without him because I’ve been sober for nearly eight years, but it’s harder because I actually cannot bear the bullsh*t. The old me knew how to fake it, I could go into situations and just be like, “yeah, yeah”, and listen to the chat and get on with it. Now I know myself so well.