Jenny always felt like a bit of a loner as she moved schools often and her parents didn’t have much money. Drinking started in her mid-teens as she tried to fit in with her peers at a pre-party before a local disco and it transformed her from shy to bullet-proof. In year 11 she drank to oblivion and sought out venues where drink was available.  Jenny started work, met her future husband while drunk at a pub as a 19 year old and went on to marry him in her early twenties. As her career progressed her drinking increased and she realized that she couldn’t stop at the 4^th drink. Jenny progressed to very regular drinking and eventually her health suffered and a friend took her to Alcoholics Anonymous.  Identifying with the other women in the AA group, Jenny finally understood how alcoholism works and what she needed to do to stay sober.

Rachel had an 8 year gap to her older siblings, which meant that she felt separate and was often on her own. She started drinking at 16 years old and it helped her to feel less shy.  Her drinking really kicked off with regular drinks after work with the girls. Rachel married in her early 30’s and her drinking wasn’t much of a problem but that all changed when she was working mum with two young kids. Drinking daily to drown her sorrows, it wasn’t until she started needing a drink in the morning that her health rapidly deteriorated. With liver problems and concerned that her kids might not have a mum if she continued drinking Rachel turned to AA and has managed to stay sober for 2 years.

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.