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, and he was medicated for anxiety from about 13 years old. Dan discovered alcohol at 16 and found that it relieved his overwhelming feeling of being different. Alcohol made his life appear normal and like many alcoholics he continued to drink to blackout, even from his first drinking session.
Even though Dan knew alcohol wasn’t the solution, in fact it was making his life worse, he couldn’t contemplate life without alcohol. After 27 years of drinking, including losing his wife, children and his home, 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 lost the desire for alcohol fairly quickly and was able to participate in society again.
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.
#Recovery #Alcoholism #Anonymous #LivingFree #Sobriety
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