Alcoholics Anonymous - Grace on 17FEB2022

Thursday, 17 February 2022 - 1:00pm to 2:00pm

Alcoholics Anonymous - Is alcohol costing you more than money?

Content Warning - this program features a personal story that includes alcoholism and suicidal thoughts that may be distressing to some listeners. If that doesn't sound like your cup of tea right now you should skip of this podcast. If this raises questions or causes distress, please call Lifeline (13 11 14) or Beyond Blue (1300 224 636).

Grace grew up in a normal family but felt anxious and was sensitive and self-conscious from an early age. She was younger than her classmates and started drinking at 16 years old at her friend’s 18^th birthday parties. Grace started drinking because that was what everyone was doing, and it helped her to fit in. It took around 20 minutes before she was drunk, and she felt cool, and her head wasn’t so busy any more.

Grace’s drinking progressed and regular drinking at Uni led to her mental health decline and suicidal thoughts. Her parents and friends tried to help her, but Grace denied that she had a drinking problem. Hospitalization, being unable to work and loss of friends due to her drinking still didn’t alert Grace to the damage being done by alcohol.

In her mid-twenties Grace tried Alcoholics Anonymous meetings for a short while but didn’t relate to the “old” and “male” alcoholics. She was able to stay sober for short periods but couldn’t maintain it, she tried and failed at controlled drinking and eventually came back to AA when she feared that she would pick up a drink. Grace has now been sober for over two years and is now living a full, happy and independent life.

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.

#Recovery #Alcoholism #Anonymous #LivingFree #Sobriety

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