Sober Storyteller

Who is The Sober Storyteller?

My name is Dan Sedgwick, I am a father of 5, a husband, a son, a professional storyteller, a hip hop enthusiast and an avid Ipswich Town fan and between 2005 and 2017, I taught in 2 primary schools in Ipswich, Suffolk. I am also in recovery from alcoholism, drug addiction and severe self-harm. Between 1999 and 2018 I almost drank myself to death, took a huge amount of drugs, came very close to committing suicide and was diagnosed with an array of mental health conditions.

I haven’t used any mind-altering substances or self-harmed since 30/12/2018. I no longer have any desire to use any substances to change the way I feel and I live a life of peace and recovery. I am now in my 40s and I am in by far the best shape I’ve ever been in, physically, emotionally and mentally.

My mission is to use my passion for storytelling to share a message of recovery and hope. I am not anti-alcohol, I am pro-recovery. I do not wish to scare people away from drink and drugs, that would be both unhelpful and unrealistic. What I do wish to do is show the people who hear me that alcohol and drugs are to be respected and that if listeners, or anyone they know, get into the same difficulties I did at any time, that it is possible, not only to recover, but to live a happy and fulfilled life. A life of positivity, resilience and purpose.

A Brief Bio...

Find out more about the sober storyteller

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Fitness in recovery

As a child I played football, cricket, table tennis and basketball. I played for teams, had county trials and, looking back, playing sport was when I felt that I had some freedom from my negative and destructive thoughts. I never had any idea that there was a scientific and chemical reason for this.

Alcohol and drugs took over my life during my late teens, twenties and the first half of my thirties, I did no physical exercise at all apart from occasionally running away from something or running to the shop if it was about to close, putting my alcohol supply under threat. I ate takeaways and unhealthy food. I was overweight, hopelessly addicted to various substances and miserable.

In recovery, fitness has become central to my life and day-to-day well-being. I stay disciplined, use the gym regularly, run in races and eat a clean diet. I am fitter, stronger and happier than I have ever been, and I advocate exercise as a perfect accompaniment to a successful and happy life in recovery. I weave this into my talks as I have woven it into my life.

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School visits

I am an experienced teacher and public speaker. During school visits I have different talks, workshops and activities for groups depending on the age of the students and size of the groups. I am happy working with small groups or delivering large assemblies, I offer a unique insight into the world of the active alcoholic, drug addict and self-harmer, delivering an honest and open account of the horrors of alcoholism, drug addiction and self-harm and a look into the world of recovery and sobriety. The nature of this delivery and content is carefully tailored to the age and needs of the students present.

I answer all questions posed to me during Q and A sessions and I am a completely open book. I understand some questions may be sensitive in nature and will give time to students if they want to ask anything privately.

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Media

Follow me on Instagram for my latest thoughts on recovery, sobriety, fitness and living life on life's terms

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Gallery

Wondering what I would do with my time if I got sober kept me drinking for a long time. Turns out a lot of amazing things happen when you find recovery

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