Coronation Street Star Emrhys Cooper EXPOSES Dark Cult Childhood, Adderall Addiction & Rock Bottom

In this captivating episode of *Addiction to More*, host Gareth Gallagher sits down with actor, director, and filmmaker **Emrhys Cooper**. Known for his work on *Coronation Street*, The Shuroo Proces*s*, and *Mamma Mia!*, Emrhys pulls back the curtain on a career that looked flawless on paper but concealed profound internal struggles. Emrhys candidly details growing up in a home influenced by spiritual gurus, his parents joining a cult, and how those experiences inspired his Amazon feature film *The Srō Process*. He breaks down his seven-year battle with prescription Adderall and alcohol, the pressure to hide his gay identity early in his career, and how hitting rock bottom led to over two and a half years of sobriety. The conversation explores endurance sports, writing his memoir, suicide prevention advocacy, and ends with an insightful live tarot reading. **Key Takeaways** **External Achievements Don't Heal:** Wealth, TV success, and public validation cannot resolve internal trauma or active addiction. **Breaking Prescription Stigmas:** Stimulant dependencies like Adderall often stem from feeling intellectually inadequate, but the brain recovers natural focus in sobriety. **The Cost of the Closet:** Concealing one's true identity creates severe psychological stress and fuels destructive self-sabotage. **Endurance as an Outlet:** Channeling obsessive energy into healthy physical challenges (marathons, Ironman) provides mental clarity and healthy dopamine. **Service Through Storytelling:** Vulnerability in art creates connection, removes stigma around mental health, and offers hope to others. **Timestamps** **00:00** – Introduction **01:46** – Growing Up with Gurus & Cult Experiences **02:39** – *The Srō Process* & The Fallacy of Quick-Fix Retreats **04:03** – Early Addiction: Alcohol, Adderall & Sleep Pills **05:15** – Rock Bottom While On *Coronation Street* **06:40** – Self-Sabotage & Reclaiming Personal Accountability **07:36** – Industry Pressure: Told to Hide His Sexuality at 24 **09:15** – Writing & Directing *Trophy Boy* **17:11** – Chasing Achievements vs. Morning Spiritual Routines **22:50** – Managing Phone Addiction & Body Dysmorphia **25:04** – Marathon Running & Ironman Training in Recovery **33:48** – Overcoming 7 Years of Adderall Dependency **35:09** – Writing His Memoir & Cult Survivor Advocacy **37:28** – Cast as a Cult Leader on *Coronation Street* **46:17** – *Right Before I Go* Play & Men's Suicide Prevention **01:03:15** – Live Tarot Reading: Shakespeare & Book Publishing