Tom Holland's Raw Confession: Battling Alcohol Cravings Terrified Me!

Tom Holland Marion Curtis/StarPix for Apple/startraksphoto.com

Tom Holland struggled to achieve sobriety as he became aware of his reliance on alcohol. Consumed by thoughts of drinking, he found himself constantly fixated on the idea. Even upon waking up, his mind was preoccupied with the desire for a drink. Holland, now 27 and having abstained from alcohol for over a year, candidly discussed this journey on the "On Purpose with Jay Shetty" podcast, aired on Monday, July 10th.

The actor starring in The Crowded Room became worried when his efforts to quit drinking proved unsuccessful, admitting, "It genuinely frightened me. I began to realize that perhaps I had a slight issue with alcohol." In an attempt to test himself, he decided to impose a two-month hiatus from drinking, hoping it would demonstrate that he didn't have a problem.

However, even after those two months passed, he continued to struggle. He found it difficult to socialize, fearing he couldn't enjoy a non-alcoholic drink at a bar or go out for dinner. These difficulties led him to grow increasingly concerned that he might indeed have an alcohol problem.

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Holland recalled setting a goal of six months without consuming alcohol — which became the first step to sobriety.

He said to himself, "If I can go without alcohol for six months, then I can prove to myself that I do not have a problem." Continuing, he mentioned that by June [2022], he was experiencing the highest level of happiness he had ever felt. Improved sleep, better problem-solving skills, and the ability to handle setbacks without becoming upset were some of the positive changes he noticed. He also experienced greater mental clarity and a healthier, fitter feeling.

Holland revealed that his choice to stop drinking had a positive impact on his mother, who decided to do the same.

My mom has embraced it with great enthusiasm and has also joined me in giving it up. She absolutely loves it and the transformation I have experienced from not drinking is simply incredible. I can't believe the positive impact it has had on me.

Earlier this year, the star of Spider-Man shared how his involvement in The Crowded Room has had a profound effect on his personal life.

He described to Entertainment Weekly in May that delving into the topic of mental health and discussing the challenges faced by characters Danny and Billy with psychiatrists profoundly impacted his own life. Additionally, Holland revealed how the weighty content in the Apple TV+ series had an effect on his mental well-being.

"I am well acquainted with the physical demands of portraying action scenes in movies. However, the mental toll it took on me was overwhelming, and it took a considerable amount of time for me to recover and return to reality," he revealed. "I found myself identifying with the character in my personal life. I distinctly remember feeling so overwhelmed that I contemplated shaving my head as a symbolic gesture to separate myself from the role. Ultimately, I decided against it because we were still in the midst of filming. It was an entirely unprecedented experience for me."