'Everyone thought I was living my dream life. In reality, I was slowly destroying myself.'

You might know a version of the old me. My social media was filled with laughter, dance floors, overseas travels, endless nights, and epic cocktails.

Not many nights passed without a celebration (read: a party). 

I was living what many would call "the dream life" —working and travelling around the world in Hong Kong, London, Sydney, Paris, LA — ticking all the boxes of success.

At the time, I worked as a product developer — first in Europe, then in Australia.

It was fast-paced, high-pressured, and glittered with just enough glamour to distract from how completely burnt out I actually was.

At the time, I didn't think I had a bad relationship with alcohol. I wasn't messy. I didn't black out often. But the reality is: I drank every single day, easily finishing a bottle of wine without blinking. 

It wasn't just alcohol, either — I smoked, and on the weekends, party drugs weren't out of the question.

My life was full of late nights, toxic relationships, and stress I didn't know how to process.

And I numbed it all.

Watch: Your Body After 1 Year Without Alcohol. Post continues after video.

Everyone around me was living the same lifestyle, so I never questioned it. But I can see now, I was never really sitting with my own thoughts. 

I never gave myself the chance to reflect on whether this was actually the life I wanted — or whether the people around me were helping or harming my growth.

Even my body started trying to slow me down. One weekend after drinking too much, I ended up in hospital with intense stomach pain. 

They initially put it down to alcohol overload, but my GP later diagnosed a stomach ulcer—exacerbated, of course, by my drinking habits.

There were the wasted weekends of dealing with endless hangovers (especially once the perimenopause started). 

Perimenopause is a sneaky little devil — you honestly think you're going mad until you realise your body is going through major hormonal shifts.

For me, the emotional rollercoaster often made me want to drink more, just to calm the noise. 

But the hangovers? They hit ten times harder. 

The weekends became a blur of that endless cycle of trying to recover, function, and pretend everything was fine.

Looking back, I think the people closest to me didn't express any concern because they were on the same ride. It felt normal. 

Everyone I knew was drinking every night, having big weekends. It wasn't seen as a problem — it was just life. 

But if my family back in the U.S. had seen the reality, I know they would've been worried.

And yet, I never seriously thought about stopping. 

Because... who would I be if I wasn't that fun party girl? Would people still like me? What would I even do if I wasn't out drinking?

And then a few things happened. A toxic break-up. COVID. And then the worst: a phone call from my Mum back home in the USA.

"Heather, I'm sorry, but I have some bad news. I have stage 4 cancer."

Heather with her mum. Image: Supplied.

You can never prepare yourself for a call like that.

My Mum has always been the epitome of good health. Worrying about her had never crossed my mind. And I couldn't get home to her as travel was still restricted. I felt completely helpless.

So, I drank.

I had moved to Australia from London after a holiday in 2010 because I'd fallen in love with the mix of lifestyle, energy, and the way Aussies seemed to genuinely value work/life balance. 

But during COVID, the distance from my family going through this cancer diagnosis hit hard—especially with Melbourne's lockdowns. 

I felt more isolated than ever, and like many others, I turned to drinking even more just to cope.

It had always worked to push down the bad and bring on the better. And, honestly, it was just what everyone did.

"Here, have a drink" —that was how people consoled each other. 

But this time, it hit differently. I had already started exploring my wellness journey, but this moment shook me to my core. 

I didn't have the tools yet to cope in a healthy way.

Then one day, Dry July popped up on my feed. I just knew it was my sign.

Previously, when I had played around with the idea of not drinking, it was just too hard. And honestly, the hardest part about even thinking about quitting was that my entire social life—and most of my relationships—were built around it. 

Nights out, bottomless brunches, after-work wines, long lunches... everything revolved around drinking. And so did my sense of connection. 

What would happen if I stopped? Who would I be if I wasn't "the fun one"? Would I still be invited? Would my friends still want me there?

With Dry July, helping raise funds for other families going through cancer gave me purpose. 

Having an external reason not to drink gave me a lifeline.

So, I did it. 31 days alcohol-free.

Listen to this episode of But… Are You Happy?

What happened in those 31 days blew me away:

• I had a sense of control again — I hadn't realised how much I missed that.

• Fundraising felt amazing — it gave me back a sense of pride and purpose.

• I started sleeping properly again. Like, deep, restorative, sober sleep.

• My perimenopause symptoms seemed to start dissipating — hallelujah!

• My energy skyrocketed.

• I discovered non-alcoholic Prosecco. It tasted close enough to the real thing and meant I could still feel included socially, without the side effects.

• I had clarity. Without the fog of alcohol and hangovers, I could actually think.

• My A-game came back — in work, in life, in how I showed up.

• I felt connected again — to myself, to others, to what mattered.

It was like I'd been walking around with a thin veil over everything... and suddenly, it lifted.

I find it hard to explain the transformation, except to say it was the ultimate level-up.

I kept going.

Those 31 days became four years. I haven't had a drink since.

I'll be honest, my fears around friendships and my social life were a very hard obstacle still. 

They survived the 31 days, but when I chose to continue without alcohol, there were simply people who disappeared. 

There were friendships I realised had nothing under the surface once the drinks were gone. It hurt. It still does.

But it also forced me to find out what else could fill that space.

What started as a one-month challenge led to a complete life rebuild. But not through massive overhauls — through purposeful shifts, one at a time. 

I completed my studies to become a Professional Wellness Coach and Mentor, completed further Clinical Pilates qualifications, and left my corporate job. 

I opened my boutique Pilates studio, Glow Getter Co, in Geelong.

A client once said: "I came for the Pilates, but what I've gained is so much more." That says it all.

I've shed so many layers of who I thought I had to be, to become who I truly am. And the beauty is: when you let go of one thing, you create space for something else. When you're in a positive, healthy state, life gives you more of what supports that.

Now, I wake up with energy, peace, clarity, and a community that feels like home. As a Wellness Mentor, Speaker, and Ambassador, I get to help others do the same.

And that's why being an Ambassador for Barwon Health Foundation's Team LOVE for Dry July is such a full-circle moment.

We're raising funds for families impacted by cancer. We're transforming our own lives. We're creating a community.

I'm happy to say that my Mum is now cancer-free and living a healthy, happy life in Seattle. My partner and I recently visited her and my brother there.

We're all a little older, a little wiser, and so deeply grateful — for health, for healing, and for each other.

I often say that choosing to go alcohol-free has been the greatest gift I've ever given myself. It gave me the clarity and courage to rebuild my life — step by step — into something that feels aligned, grounded and joyful.

If you're curious about making a change, I hope this story reminds you that it's not about being perfect. It's not about changing everything at once. You don't have to have it all figured out. 

You just have to begin.

And you never know... one choice might just change your whole life.

Heather Lee Angland is a Wellness Mentor, Clinical Pilates Trainer, and founder of Glow Getter Co. After years of chasing external success and burning out, she rebuilt her life from the inside out. Now four years alcohol-free, she supports others in creating lives that feel as good as they look - one small, powerful step at a time.

Feature Image: Supplied.

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