On The Mend

Author Matt Haig Confesses His Darkest Moments

On The Mend

Show Notes

Matt Willis sits down with the celebrated, bestselling author Matt Haig for a deeply personal conversation on the cost of living without a map. From a life-altering breakdown at 24 to navigating a late-in-life diagnosis of Autism and ADHD, Matt explores how a lack of understanding of his own brain led to decades of exhaustion, masking, and misdirected pain.

The discussion dives into the realities of mental collapse and the quiet return of addiction. Matt shares why he slipped back into drinking after eight years of sobriety and how his neurodiversity diagnosis finally provided the "why" behind his impulses. It’s a raw look at how addiction often wears different clothes at different ages, serving as a crutch for unmet needs.

Ultimately, this episode explores the liberation of finally finding the language for your own experience. It’s an essential listen for anyone seeking to move past the stigma of "brokenness" and understand themselves better.

This episode covers the following themes: Neurodiversity, Identity, Sobriety, Breakdowns, and Resilience.

Matt Haig's latest novel The Midnight Train is out now: https://amzn.eu/d/0gxsyrqe

Better Help 👉 Join Matt in Saying It Louder with 10% off Betterhelp Therapy. Click here: https://highpfrmc.com/otm-betterhelp-au

AG1 👉Head to http://drinkag1.com/onthemend to save £20 on your first month, plus a free welcome kit, Vitamin D3 + K2 and five travel packs

Postcode Lottery 👉 Discover how Postcode Lottery players are Powering Hope Together. Click here to find out more: https://highpfrmc.com/otm-postcode-au Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

More from On The Mend

Oct 19, 2026

TV presenter and grief advocate Jeff Brazier knows that grief doesn’t always look the way we expect it to.

Oct 12, 2026

Nikki Lilly has spent much of her life navigating chronic illness, hospital stays and a body that has often felt unfamiliar to her.

Oct 5, 2026

For Matt Willis, addiction was never the real problem. It was the solution to a pain he didn't know how to deal with.

Sep 28, 2026

Matt Willis sits down with Professor David Nutt, one of the world's leading experts on drugs and the brain, to answer a question so many people carry in silence: why can't I just stop?

Sep 21, 2026

Musician and internet personality Window Kid, aka Greg, built a career around being the life of the party, until drinking nearly cost him his life.

See all episodes →