When Health Anxiety Becomes Addiction: Joanna and Jamie discuss Vodka to Victory

This week, I’m joined by a truly inspiring guest who shares his raw and powerful journey through health anxiety, addiction, and recovery.What started as health-related panic spiraled into a life-threatening alcohol addiction—drinking neat vodka from morning to night. He opens up about the moment he was told he had less than 24 hours to live, the turning point that saved him, and how he’s now been sober for over four years.He also talks about how he used his experiences to help others, founding S62, a support group for people struggling with addiction that now has lottery funding, and creating MindFest, a music festival raising awareness and funds for mental health.This is an episode about pain, resilience, rebuilding your life, and the incredible power of turning suffering into support for others.💬 We cover:How health anxiety can spiral out of controlUsing alcohol as self-medicationThe road to sobriety and what recovery looks likeStarting a support group (S62) and the importance of communityThe creation of MindFest and using music to raise awareness🎧 Whether you’ve struggled yourself or supported someone through addiction or anxiety, this episode is a reminder: you’re not alone—and it’s never too late to rewrite your story.