David Morrissey was in a ‘terrible state’ as he battled alcoholism

The Walking Dead star David Morrissey has confessed he was in a “terrible state” as he battled alcoholism admitting he drank to deal with “social anxiety”.

David Morrissey was in a “terrible state” as he battled alcoholism.

The Walking Dead star – who has been sober for 21 years – has confessed his drinking spiralled out of control after he used alcohol to help him cope with bouts of “social anxiety” and the trauma he suffered following the death of his father when he was a teenager.

During an appearance on BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs, Morrissey explained: “I am a recovering alcoholic. Drinking first was about anxiety. I’ve had this terrible social anxiety and that helped me get through it …

“Later on in my adult life, I couldn’t stop. I wasn’t drinking to be convivial. I was on my own in the pub. That was really hard and very hard for my ex-wife and people around me.”

Morrissey – who was previously married to author Esther Freud, the mother of his three children – realised he had to quit drinking after hitting rock bottom so he called a former colleague who he knew was a member of Alcoholics Anonymous.

He said: “He gave me his number on the job and I knew he was in AA. And then two years later I was in a terrible, terrible state, and I phoned him quite late, early in the morning time. He came round my house and just sat with me. And I’ve not drank since that day, really. So, it’s been tough …

“When I stopped drinking, I didn’t stop being an alcoholic. My behaviour was still very self-destructive for many years.

“I’m much better nowadays but for a long time I was really telling myself I wasn’t enough and that added to the alcoholism and the inability to stop.”

Morrissey, 61, went on to credit his acting career with helping him through some tough moments, revealing his work “rescued” him and made him “feel safe”.

He added: “I went looking for acting, I went looking for a way out … When I’m in work, I feel safe. Not necessarily in control, but I feel it’s where I should be in my life. In my life, I’m less confident. I’m always looking for an exit strategy in every situation.”