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John Mayer is known for many things. The heartthrob has a successful career as a musician, has dated some of Hollywood’s most beautiful women and has released songs that are still popular today. However, over the last couple of years, Mayer has drawn attention to a new topic in his interviews: addiction. John Mayer’s sobriety has been splashed across headlines as he’s shared his past struggles and his decision to get clean. His story is inspiring for anyone struggling with overdrinking and alcohol addiction.
John Mayer’s Journey to Sobriety
John Mayer rose to fame quickly. He produced hit songs and dated famous women like Jessica Simpson, Jennifer Anniston, Taylor Swift and Katy Perry.
In October 2016, he was just another famous musician at a Hollywood party. More precisely, he was at Drake’s 30th birthday party and made a fool of himself. And it wasn’t just the embarrassment of how he behaved at the party that made him question his choices; it was the aftermath, too. Mayer shared that after drinking excessively at that party, he had a 6-day hangover and realized things needed to change.
In an interview with Jerry Lorenzo and Complex’s Joe La Puma, Mayer recounted the entire experience. “I had a conversation with myself. I remember where I was. I was on my sixth day of the hangover. That’s how big the hangover was. I looked out the window and I went, ‘Okay, John, what percentage of your potential would you like to have? Because if you say you’d like 60, and you’d like to spend the other 40 having fun, that’s fine. But what percentage of what is available to you would you like to make happen? There’s no wrong answer. What is it?’ I went, ‘100.’ The voice in my head said, ‘Okay. Do you know what that means?’ I went, ‘We don’t have to talk anymore. I get it.'”
John Mayer’s Sobriety: Why He Chose a Sober Lifestyle
So, is John Mayer sober? Yes. The night of Drake’s party — October 23, 2016 — was his last drink. In one interview, Mayer talked about how hard it can be for people to give up drinking because it’s so widely accepted in our culture. “You have to fight really hard to look at it from a critical point of view because it’s constantly pushed on you. Every Friday and Saturday, on social media, there is enabling going on for drinking.
Mayer says that he doesn’t consider his drinking to have been a full-blown addiction, but it negatively impacted him enough for him to want a change. He said he “never had a serious issue with it. [But] there’s never an amount that felt like I was succeeding at life. It always felt wrong.”
It’s important to realize that you don’t have to be in the throes of addiction to have a problem with alcohol. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 23.5% of Americans 18 and over reported binge drinking in the past year. Binge drinking is defined as a pattern of drinking that brings blood alcohol concentration to 0.08% or more. In women, this usually means four drinks within 2 hours; for men, it’s five drinks.
Binge drinking is dangerous, is bad for your health, and can eventually progress into alcohol addiction. So, to Mayer’s point, you need to recognize when your drinking is problematic and put a stop to it.
John Mayer’s Reflections on His Sobriety’s Impact on Creativity
The commitment to sobriety was a positive choice for the musician. John Mayer’s mental health, productivity, and happiness all improved. He shared, “That next year, I did four tours, I was in two bands, I was happy on airplanes.” He went on to release a new album in 2017, just 1 year after quitting alcohol. The change allowed him to focus and be reinspired in his music and professional career.
How John Mayer’s Story Inspires Others
In 2017, Mayer wrote on Twitter, “One year ago today, I decided to give drinking a break. A very personal thing for everyone. For me, a constant return on investment. I post this because I want people to know that ‘that’s enough for now’ is on the menu, so to speak.”
Celebrities are idolized and often held to expectations of perfection. So it’s particularly powerful when they’re willing to share their flaws publicly. Mayer has been candid about his journey to sobriety, reflecting on it often. And he has his reasons. He hopes he can inspire others to examine their substance habits and realize when they’re unhealthy.
Mayer has said, “I just want to be an example of somebody who said, ‘That’s enough.'”
When sharing his sobriety story, Mayer focuses on the positive impact quitting alcohol has had on his life.
“Drinking and not drinking is a very personal thing for each person,” said Mayer. “It is wired into your particular psychology and your history. I can only tell you in the first person who I was, what I did, and how it has made my life better. I don’t think you have to wait until everything is lost to stop. If you are doing a little bit more than you wanted to, it is always a good decision to do none of it.”
Lessons from Celebrity Sobriety Journeys
John Mayer’s story differs slightly from many other celebrity stories you hear about. He didn’t hit rock bottom or come close to losing his life in an overdose, like Demi Lovato or Alec Baldwin. Instead, he noticed that his drinking was becoming a problem before it became an addiction. Hopefully, Mayer’s transparency with the public can resonate with those who overdrink. His story is an excellent example of how you can make a change early on to prevent yourself from hitting rock bottom.
Celebrities who have the courage to speak out about their addiction and mental health problems are helping fight against the stigma these topics still carry. By sharing their stories, they help fans understand the dangers of substance abuse and the importance of seeking help.
Alcohol Addiction Treatment at FHE Health
If you want to change your relationship with alcohol, it’s never too late to start. FHE Health is a rehabilitation treatment center for mental health and substance addiction. The experienced, friendly mental health professionals provide you with the tools you need to make a positive change. Contact us today to learn more about FHE’s programs.
