Alcoolodépendance : Aurore raconte son addiction à l'alcool et son déclic pour s'en sortir

Summary

This deeply personal account chronicles a decade-long struggle with alcohol addiction. The speaker shares their journey through blackouts, physical harm, and toxic relationships, including a traumatic fall that led to a coma. Despite multiple attempts to quit, alcohol remained a central part of their life until a violent encounter pushed them toward recovery. After seeking therapy and support groups, they began their path to sobriety in April 2023. The journey is marked by small victories, internal battles, and an unwavering determination to stay sober, even as the temptation to relapse persists.

Takeaways

• 😀 Alcohol was a central part of the speaker's life for over a decade, defining their daily routine and behaviors.
• 😀 The speaker struggled with addiction, experiencing blackouts, loss of belongings, and dangerous situations, such as being robbed after a night of drinking.
• 😀 At the age of 20, the speaker fell from the fourth floor during a blackout, resulting in a month-long coma and a long recovery process, which became a turning point in their life.
• 😀 Despite numerous attempts to quit, including a forced rehabilitation in 2018, the speaker relapsed and continued to rely on alcohol as a coping mechanism.
• 😀 The speaker felt that alcohol was not only a way to numb emotional pain but also a social lubricant, helping them overcome shyness and insecurities.
• 😀 The addiction led to a vicious cycle of self-destruction, including toxic relationships and risky behavior, such as drinking with strangers and engaging in dangerous activities.
• 😀 After a violent assault following a drinking episode in 2023, the speaker recognized the need for change and decided to stop drinking permanently.
• 😀 The speaker tried various forms of professional help, such as therapy, psychiatrists, and addiction specialists, but struggled with the temptation to relapse.
• 😀 A pivotal moment in the speaker's recovery was joining a support group for alcohol addiction, where they started to see gradual improvements.
• 😀 The speaker acknowledged that alcohol addiction is a lifelong struggle with constant temptations, but emphasized the importance of small, daily victories in their sobriety journey.
• 😀 Despite facing ongoing challenges, the speaker is determined to stay sober, reflecting on their journey with pride and commitment to continue on the path of recovery.

Q & A

What role did alcohol play in the speaker's life before they decided to quit?

Alcohol was central to the speaker's life, dominating their daily routine and decisions. They often described it as what 'rhythmed' their life, where everything revolved around when, where, and how they would drink.

How did the speaker's alcohol addiction impact their personal relationships?

The speaker's alcohol addiction caused significant strain in their relationships. They mentioned how they would manipulate and lie to friends to hide their drinking, and their behavior, particularly when intoxicated, led to conflicts, including insulting friends and alienating others.

What event marked the turning point in the speaker's life regarding alcohol consumption?

The turning point occurred after the speaker drank heavily following a festival on June 17, 2023. This led to a series of unfortunate events, including being robbed, which made the speaker realize that they could not control their drinking. They came to the conclusion that either they would quit drinking or risk death.

What was the speaker's experience with alcohol-related injuries?

The speaker had a traumatic experience involving alcohol during a toxic relationship. They fell from a fourth-floor window while intoxicated, resulting in a month-long coma and subsequent months of rehabilitation. This was a key event in their struggle with alcohol and self-destruction.

How did the speaker's addiction to alcohol affect their sense of self and personal identity?

The speaker's identity became heavily tied to their alcohol use. They felt that alcohol was a social lubricant and even prided themselves on being able to drink like a man, believing it was an essential part of who they were. Alcoholism became intertwined with their personality and social interactions.

What are some of the ways the speaker attempted to hide their addiction?

The speaker tried to conceal their addiction by drinking secretly, using alcohol to cope with stress, and even lying to friends about their drinking habits. They would go to bars discreetly and drink until they could no longer function, all while maintaining the facade of normalcy.

What significant event led the speaker to seek professional help for their addiction?

After experiencing a traumatic incident where they were assaulted while heavily intoxicated, the speaker realized how vulnerable they had become and decided to seek professional help. This event marked a critical moment where they vowed to stop being the 'vulnerable' person they had been.

What steps did the speaker take to start recovering from alcoholism?

The speaker began their recovery by attending group therapy, which they initially struggled with. They also entered a clinic for addiction treatment, where they committed to sobriety one day at a time. The speaker emphasized the importance of focusing on each day without drinking.

How did the speaker cope with cravings and the urge to drink during their recovery?

Despite still facing strong cravings and the temptation to drink, the speaker remained focused on their goal of sobriety. They acknowledged the challenges of addiction, especially with alcohol being so pervasive in daily life, but they stayed committed by attending support meetings and keeping their objective in mind.

What insight does the speaker provide about the nature of alcohol addiction?

The speaker shares that alcohol addiction is one of the most difficult to overcome due to its omnipresence in society and the fact that it is legally available. They explain that, although recovery is possible, the addiction does not disappear, and the brain always remembers the urge to drink.