Dan grew up with normal parents but felt uncomfortable in the world. His insecurities and fears led to a nervous breakdown in his early teens. Dan discovered alcohol as a 16 yo and found that it relieved his overwhelming feeling of being different. Alcohol allowed him not to care about what others thought about him and, like many alcoholics, he continued to drink to blackout, even from his first drinking session.
Dan didn’t realize that his feelings were the problem, but he knew that alcohol was the solution, and even though he couldn’t control his drinking, he couldn’t contemplate life without alcohol. After 27 years of drinking, including being homeless and through about 40 periods of rehab and detox, Dan found the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous. Understanding the disease concept of alcoholism and with the help of AA members Dan’s desire for alcohol quickly diminished and he was able to be himself and live life on life’s terms.
If you would like to find out a bit more about alcoholism for yourself or a friend, then you can give Alcoholics Anonymous a call on 1300 222 222 or check out their website www.aa.org.au.
If someone else's drinking is causing you a problem, then you can phone the Al-Anon Family Groups helpline on 1300 252 666 or go online at al-anon.org.au for more information.
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Music played in this episode was provided by the artists, via Australian Music Radio Airplay Project (https://amrap.org.au/):
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