Annie grew up in a large family and her dad left home when she was in her mid-teens. She had plenty of friends and discovered alcohol at parties around 18 years old and always ended up drunk. She could control when she drank but not after she had her first drink. Annie felt that she drank normally and didn’t think that she needed to change as she couldn’t remember her actions when drunk. She married and had a couple of children and could keep her drinking under control when she had work or family responsibilities.

Annie eventually sought help via a counsellor, rehab and eventually Alcoholics Anonymous where she found a group of women prepared to help her to understand alcoholism and the fact that her first drink was the problem. She has had a few lapses since she joined AA but after a few months of sobriety she is getting serious about her recovery doesn’t want to go back to her AA meeting to admit that she had a drink and start again from day 1.

If you think that alcohol may be a problem then Alcoholics Anonymous could help you. Give them a call on 1300 222 222 or see their website aa.org.au.