“This journey has truly changed my life” – Nicola Challice

“My health is better, my blood pressure is normal, I am happy, I am consistently learning and striving to be better.”

From “wine o’clock” to “why can’t I stop?”

Nicola’s drinking started out looking pretty normal from the outside.

She was:

• A “wine time” drinker after a long day

• A “mummy drinker” once the kids were in bed

• A “the kids aren’t here” drinker on quiet evenings

• A “I’ve had a hard day, I deserve this” drinker

But that slowly slid into something much more painful:

• “I don’t want to drink this much”

• “Why can’t I stop?”

• “I’m embarrassed by who I am when I drink.”

Every day felt like a “bad day,” which became the justification for a bottle of wine just for getting through it. Weekends demanded even more. She hated who she was when she drank, and hated who she became the next day: lethargic, tearful, and stuck.

Gin, Google, and a turning point

One day, severely hungover after working through a bottle of gin, glass still in hand, she found herself typing the question into Google:

“Am I an alcoholic?”

An OYNB link popped up.

Right then, she ordered the OYNB book, walked to the sink, and poured the rest of the gin away. That moment became the line in the sand.

Starting the challenge: “I just knew something had to change”

When she signed up, she didn’t know exactly what to expect—only that something had to change.

What helped in the early days:

• The OYNB book and daily structure

• The Facebook support group, where she could speak honestly

• Seeing that other people had the same struggles and thoughts

That community gave her:

• Proof she wasn’t alone

• Space to share the shame and fear without judgement

• Real friendships that have lasted beyond the challenge

The biggest gift OYNB gave her was the realisation:“I am not alone, and I am not abnormal.”

Learning to be herself again

The biggest transformation wasn’t just about alcohol—it was about identity.

Nicola had lost her son 12 years earlier, but had never fully processed that grief. About six months ago, she began grief counselling, this time without using alcohol to numb it.

Being alcohol-free let her:

• Actually feel and observe her grief and guilt

• Work through emotions instead of drowning them

• Start to integrate that loss into her story in a healthier way

She also noticed changes in her body and habits:

• Sustainable weight loss and visible changes in body shape

• No more yo-yo dieting; instead, steady, consistent progress

• Health markers improving—normal blood pressure and better overall health

Parenting, presence, and a different kind of “reward”

One of her biggest wins has been as a parent.

• No more rushing through the day just to get to “mummy’s wine time”

• Letting go of the narrative that “we deserve wine” for surviving the day

• Being more present, emotionally available, and stable for her children

Now, instead of checking out with a bottle, she’s:

• Engaged

• Calmer

• More intentional about how she spends time and energy

“My health is better, my blood pressure is normal, I am happy, I am consistently learning and striving to be better.”

A future without alcohol—and a safety net if needed

Nicola doesn’t plan to drink again. She’s seen too clearly what life looks like on the other side:

• Better physical and mental health

• More emotional resilience

• Pride in how she shows up for herself and her family

And she knows this too:

If she ever did slip, she wouldn’t have to do it alone. OYNB would still be there—without judgement—to help her get back on track.

For her, this isn’t “just a challenge” anymore.

It’s a complete life shift—one that has changed how she grieves, parents, grows, and looks after herself.