Matt Willis has been flooded with support as marked a milestone in his sobriety journey. The Busted musician has been open about his addiction struggles in the past.
However, he has taken to social media today to reveal he has now been sober for eight years. In an emotional post, he told followers on Instagram: “Eight years clean and sober. This week I celebrated eight years of sobriety. This one feels different. It marks the same length of time I had before my last relapse…and this time I know I’m in a completely different place.
“I try not to think too far ahead in life, but this milestone was one I wanted to reach. Recovery has to stay front and centre. It might seem selfish when I have a wife and three children, but without sobriety I lose all of that.
“What I’ve learned is that if I look after my recovery, my connection to a higher power, my health and my mental health, I actually have more of myself to give. It creates space to be a present husband and father, which is everything to me.”I wouldn’t be here without some incredible people in my life. My wife, my partner in everything, the good and the bad.A good man who knows his coffee. A good man who loves sobriety (and golf).
“And all of you who listen to On The Mend and reach out to me here. People sometimes ask if being so open about recovery affects me negatively.
“Honestly, it’s the opposite. In recovery we pass the message to those still struggling and in doing that, we remind ourselves how far we’ve come…and how close we are to going back if we forget.”I don’t often say this, but today I’m really proud of who I am, and who I’m becoming. Thank you to everyone who has supported me on this journey so far. I’ve got some big plans for the next couple of years…let’s see how far we can go. Peace and love, Matt xx”
Matt is happily married to his wife, Emma Willis, and they share three children. Matt told the ECHO in an exclusive interview last year that focusing on his sobriety is so important to him as it is only through this why he has been able to rebuild his happy family life.
He said: “Recovery comes first because it has to and, without that, everything falls apart. Then it’s family and then it’s everything else. “I’m really proud of my relationships and that’s something which I work hard on. And that’s what keeps me being able to do everything else.
“My kids are the thing I’m most proud of and the fact I’m still married, which is a mind melter.” He laughed: “How have I pulled that off? She’s way out of my league.”
People took to the comments on his Instagram post to praise Matt after his update. Emmerdale star Lisa Riley shared a series of applause emojis.
Jason Perry said: “So proud of you mate. You’re amazing Matt x.” A follower named Helen added: “I wonder how many young lives have been affected by your honesty. You’re a legend”