“I was drinking every day, all day and all night. I was going to end up losing my daughter if I didn’t seek help, and I knew I couldn’t stop drinking on my own. Her dad had just passed away, which had caused me to drink even more. She was scared she would lose her mum as well.
“My daughter was a big motivating factor in getting sober, but I also had to do it for myself. I think if I’d carried on drinking, I’d have died from liver failure. I was warned by my GP I had to be careful. It’s also affected my eyesight, and I’m now partially blind as a result.
“Lorraine Hewitt House and The Harbour have helped me stay sober for just over two years and rebuild my life again by giving me structure. I’d go Monday to Friday to the Harbour and join their support groups for relapse prevention. It gave me something to get up for in the morning and somewhere to be. They run small groups which are nice as they’re well supported. Without this I’d have just sat at home. It’s also a very supportive community – the staff and service users are all very welcoming. No one is judged.
“Other things that helped me were the art classes. I also did a circle of life course and mindfulness course there. They run a menopause group which helps you understand the changes that happen with your body before menopause. A lot of the symptoms – feeling depressed, hot sweats, cravings – can feel very similar to withdrawal, which has caused other women to relapse and not recover again for years. So I’m glad I learnt about this.
“If you’re struggling with addiction right now, first I’d try to talk someone. You can visit Lorraine Hewitt House or The Harbour in person to find out about their support groups. Or if you want to try Alcoholics Anonymous, you could also ring their helpline to be referred.
“Where would I be if I didn’t get this support? Probably in the ground. Today I get up and feel grateful for my life. I go to the gym every morning. I’m a peer mentor for the Harbour and at Lorraine Hewitt House. I’m also a parent mentor to support parents fighting to have their children back. I’d like to stay working in alcohol support services – I just want to be there to give support to others and make a difference.”
Get support
If you or a loved are affected by substance misuse or alcohol addiction in Lambeth – get support here.
Find out more
Learn about the Lambeth Together Substance Misuse Programme.