Al Porter admits he tried to 'numb life and reality' with booze and drugs

Comedian Al Porter has revealed he numbed his "life and reality" with pills and weed as he shows off an incredible transformation.
Porter quit booze and drugs four years ago after he was accused by several men of inappropriate behaviour and sexual misconduct in 2017.
In a new post, the Dubliner reflected on how different his life is now compared to back then.
Showing fans a series of pictures down through the years on his social media, Porter wrote: "Wow! This pic came up as a memory.
"It reminds me how far you can come with love and support and time and a lot of effort in the right direction.
"Here, in 2019, I'm burying my head in the sand, trying to smile, but drinking myself into oblivion, trying to numb life and reality with drink, Xanax, weed, anything.
"I didn't want to accept my life or really be in it. I'd let so many people down and didn't know what to do.
"The next pic over is a couple of weeks ago finishing Hell & Back for Cystic Fibrosis.
"It's a real smile. 4 years sober, even longer of counselling, and years of what my friend in restorative practice calls accountability in a supportive environment - not hiding from reality of your mistakes, but getting support to change, be better and to see a future for a different you, opportunities to make a positive life and contribution to society again."
He said he feels "blessed" to have so much "tough love" in his life.
"I am very blessed to have had so much love and sometimes tough love in my life, that gave me a reason to do the work on myself; to change drastically and turn things around and I'm not finished yet.
"I am very grateful for the people that saw a future for flawed person who had made mistakes when I thought there was none.
"There is always a chance to better yourself and better days ahead if you change things - it's not easy but it's worth it."

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