Piesy Khosrowpour, now sober, uses his experience to aid other addicts & raise money for Steps To Hope charity.
The 12-step program changed everything for Piesy, helping him face his issues. He dealt with problems around substances and confronted struggles with gambling. Eventually, Piesy became the best version of himself.
“I struggled my whole life,” he said, unable to pinpoint when habits became addictions, including drinking, drugs, and gambling. Trauma from a young age played a role, made worse growing up in certain places. He crossed a line before he knew it.
Gambling, alcohol, and drugs went together, worsening around age 16 when he could access bookies and pubs. He felt powerless, and his life was unmanageable. Gambling was his main problem, with alcohol and drugs close behind. He now knows he is powerless to all three and cannot have one drink without a reaction.
He can’t casually drink or moderate himself, a realization he has come to many times over. His addiction hurt the people he loved. His fiancee, Lisa, saw him at his worst but supported him to become his best. Now, his daughters know him at his best.
His friends saw him during his addiction and also witnessed him turn his life around. At his lowest, he didn’t want to live and felt like a burden. He even thought about driving off the Forth Road Bridge, feeling spiritually unwell.
The 12-step program helped Piesy find support, and a sponsor guided him through recovery. The program gave him principles to follow, helping him understand difficult truths.
Piesy wants to help other addicts and give them hope. People often hide dark secrets, and the program helps them explore and process these, leading to freedom. Prayer and faith in a higher power also aided him.
He accepts he will always be an addict, but now he is in recovery and in a good place. He knows he must stay consistent.
Piesy is now helping his 18th addict recover. He also wants to raise money for Steps To Hope, a charity helping people facing addiction and homelessness. He will do the David Goggins Challenge monthly, hoping to raise awareness and donations.
The David Goggins Challenge is very demanding, meaning running four miles every four hours for 48 hours straight.
He said the sleep deprivation will be hard, having done it once before. The blisters were very painful. He will work with PT clients between runs. February 28 marks nine years sober. He hopes to raise £10,000 for Steps To Hope and hopes others join him on the runs.
Nine years sober is a big achievement he made by focusing on one day. Long-term thinking can be dangerous, he feels, and addicts must be careful. He feels proud and in a good place now. He used to live only for himself but now inspires others, provides for his family, and believes they are proud of him.