Does Your Family Think You Have A Alcohol Problem?

What are the signs that someone may have an issue with their drinking habits? How can family members or friends support someone in making a positive change regarding their alcohol consumption?

In this story, Lynn tells us how a text message from a loved one can be a turning point for someone struggling with alcohol . This post was created for the sober and sober curious looking for relatable, inspiring sober-positive content. The following are Lynn’s experiences, words and opinions.

I had struggled with trying to moderate my drinking for literally decades.
For the last five years of my drinking, I knew in my heart of hearts that
something needed to change but I just couldn’t fess up.

My doctor would say, “You’re blood pressure’s going up.”

“Could that have anything to do with drinking?”, I’d reply, all the while preparing to lie about my drinking consumption.

“How much do you drink?” they’d ask.

“Oh, two glasses a day,” I’d reply (while adding in my head, "if the glass is bottle-sized.")

I knew deep down that my behavior wasn’t OK. But I didn’t yet have the impetus for change.

I was 67 when I finally got sober. The event that got me to finally make a change was a text from my oldest daughter. She said, “Mom, I am so concerned about your drinking. On our FaceTime last night, you were slurring and repeating yourself. You were not making sense to the point that my son asked, ‘What is wrong with Grandma?’”

I don’t know if that would be considered a rock bottom for most people, but it was for me because when I got that text I thought what is she talking about? I had no recollection of our conversation and had to check my phone to see that we had a 20-minute FaceTime the night before.

I had been struggling for so long that I think, perhaps, all I needed was for someone precious to me to put a mirror up to my face and say, “Don’t hide: look at the truth.”

That was the day I decided things were going to change. 

At the time I thought that the timing was terrible because my husband and I were getting ready to leave on a 10-week, 30-state, 15,000-mile road trip. As it turned out, quitting just before the trip was genius because it got me out of my day-to-day routines and into a whole new experience in life. I was always going to be documenting my road trip on Instagram and then I decided that I would share about my choice to be sober as well. 

It turned out to be an amazing trip. 

I'm so grateful to my family for being my mirror and for being honest with me about their experience of me. I have a much better life today because of it.