Alcohol's evils

Sorry I haven't posted in 2 days, but I had a family drama to take care of. My issue right now is the effects alcohol has on your own mind and body and your family and friends. Last night, at 1am I answered the phone to the news my Mum had been rushed to hospital by ambulance, she had head wounds and was going to emergency. Not at all the call I would wish upon anybody. I tried to keep calm, and as I was out at a party sober, I was able to make the right decisions and get myself there as quickly as possible. I had been told that she was at a party, drinking, and had fallen down metal stairs, hitting her head, becoming concussed, and bleeding from a cut on her scalp. I sat in emergency waiting for her to come in, surrounded by other anxious and worried people waiting for loved ones. When I finally got to see her, she was incredibly distressed and obviously under the influence of alcohol. While I tried to comfort her, waiting for what seemed like forever, I saw some pretty horrific scenes come through those emergency doors. Images of sickness, old age, alcohol and drugs, violence and disease. This was definitely not a place of joy or positivity, although I kept assuring my Mum, and myself, that everything would be just fine. When we were finally taken on to the ward, we waited and waited, and she became more worried and her wound was giving her more pain. Reassurance goes a long way, I continued to stand by her and stay as positive as possible. Hours passed, and she finally received head scans and a check over by the doctor. Stitches weren't in need, and we were finally sent home at 10am the next morning. After 9 hours spent in emergency, I can say I never wish to go back there. The noises and images will stay with me forever. With a big scab, lots of swelling and bruises, she is alright. A wave of relief and gratitude swell over me, even though I hadn't slept in 30 hours. It sounds like a happy ending to a horrific accident. That's where you're wrong. This is just the beginning. 

Alcohol abuse is a serious issue, that I think our culture takes too lightly. I think everybody can recite an incident where drinking excessive amounts of alcohol caused them to injure themselves, make bad decisions, get into an argument, cry, and induce a massive headache the next morning? With the majority of you doing this once or twice a weekend? I too have abused alcohol and it has caused many regrets in my life, however I have chosen to learn from these, and have chosen to stay sober. I can see the effects it was having on my body, my mind, my relationships and on my soul. Others, don't learn these lessons, and continue with the same happenings time and time again. You would think that they would learn, after trying every method of telling them how it is effecting them and your family, you would think they would learn. After accident after accident, incident after incident, argument after argument, you think they would learn. Unfortunately this decision to recognise and accept that you have a problem, is one from within. You cannot force someone else to see something and to want to make change. They need to do this on their own. As heartbreaking as it is; watching on and trying so desperately to help, it is something they need to do on their own. With support of course, and I have always been there to support and help guide, but it has just not been accepted. I sincerely hope now that she can see just how serious this issue is. I have begun researching counselling and group support of alcoholics and their families, because I can't do this on my own anymore. I have tried numerous times before, and my methods, or her lack of commitment to the cure have failed each time. I need support and guidance, and that is what I am seeking right now. I truly want nothing more then to have my Mum happy and healthy, and at the moment this is not true of her. Family means so much to me, and to see someone continually inflict pain on themselves and their loved ones, really hurts. These issues run deep, and have consumed not only her life but my own and my brother's for as long as I can remember. If she doesn't have the strength to realise this, I am now committed to getting her the help she really needs.

So how come alcohol abuse has become such a huge problem in Australian culture? We have placed alcohol at the centre of all of our social gatherings, and people have become incapable of socialising sober. People continually ask me how I go out clubbing sober.  I always reply with "I'm high on life"- judge me as you will, but I prefer to go out and talk and dance with my head on straight. I prefer to wake up in the morning and remember everything that happened the night before. I prefer to wake up early and see the day. I prefer to live my life, purely as it is. Yes, at the moment I am sober as a part of my preparation for my sports modelling competition, but that is only the surface reason for my sobriety. The real reasons lie in the images and memories that haunt my dreams of the many, many ways alcohol was wrecked havoc on my own and my families lives'. Incidents, too many to recall, that I would never wish upon anyone else. I deal with these every single day. Although I choose love over fear, and I work through these issues and chose to see all that is good in life. I do not let them determine my future, but I allow them to teach me, I have learnt from these mistakes.

I am not at all going around trying to convince 
people not to drink. I just urge people to think about their own mind's, bodies, souls and their own family and friends before they chose to abuse substances. Control yourself, and stop once you start to lose control. If you are drinking to try and numb pain or deal with issues, there is a far greater problem. You need to recognise these and seek help in dealing with the real issues. Alcohol may be a quick fix, although it brings along with it many more problems, and does not at all address the real reasons for your escapism. I urge these people to talk with a friend, get counselling and seek help! Your bodies, minds and souls, are precious, please respect them and keep yourself healthy in all of it's forms. If anyone is also dealing with similar issues, feel free to contact me, as any support given or accepted is helpful! Respect yourself, because you don't need alcohol to be the awesome person that you are! <3 Rach