Am I an alcoholic? Emily Weir from sobriety to Home and Away
Dec 19, 2023
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Actress Emily Weir opens up about her journey with alcoholism, recovery, and living with OCD and anxiety. She shares how sobriety has impacted her acting career and friendships. The podcast also explores the role of alcohol in bonding and the importance of addressing personal issues in relationships.
Commitment to sobriety played a crucial role in Emily Weir's success in acting.
Alcohol can mask underlying issues and exacerbate mental health conditions like anxiety and OCD.
Addressing the root causes of alcohol addiction is crucial for long-term sobriety and overall well-being.
Deep dives
Recognizing the Need for Sobriety
The podcast episode features an interview with Emily Weir, an actress known for her role on Home and Away. She opens up about her decision to give up drinking and the impact it has had on her life. She attributes her success to her sobriety and discusses her battles with alcohol and anxiety. This conversation prompts discussions about vulnerability, misconceptions around alcoholism, and the need for support in recovery.
Emily's Journey into Acting
Emily shares her passion for performing and how she got into acting. She talks about her childhood interest in singing, dancing, and musicals, but how she temporarily abandoned those pursuits in her teens due to societal pressures. It was during her time in London, where her alcoholism was at its peak, that she decided to return to Australia and pursue acting once again. She talks about her journey through acting school and theater and ultimately landing her role on Home and Away.
Dealing with Anxiety and OCD
Emily discusses her experiences with anxiety and OCD, which were present before her alcoholism but worsened over time. She shares her first panic attack and the initial confusion around what was happening. She talks about her journey to understand and manage her anxiety and the role that alcohol played in masking and exacerbating her symptoms. Emily emphasizes the importance of seeking support and finding resources for mental health and addiction issues.
Realizing the impact of alcoholism
The speaker shares their journey of realizing the destructive role alcohol played in their life. They initially attributed their problems to anxiety and trauma, but alcohol only exacerbated those issues. They describe a specific incident where they had a physical altercation with their mother due to their intoxication. This event, combined with the distancing of loved ones, led the speaker to commit to sobriety. They reflect on the never-ending nature of alcoholism and the need for day-to-day commitment to sobriety.
Exploring the challenges of sobriety
The speaker discusses the difficulties faced in maintaining sobriety and the importance of addressing the underlying issues associated with alcoholism. They talk about experiencing a nervous breakdown due to not treating the disease of alcoholism as a whole, focusing solely on abstaining from drinking. The speaker reflects on their addictive tendencies manifesting in other areas of life, such as disordered eating and codependency. They emphasize the need for inner reflection and self-acceptance when dealing with insecurities and anxieties without the dependence on alcohol.
Hey Lifers! In this episode, we sat down with the talented Emily Weir, known for her role as Mackenzie Booth on "Home and Away." Emily shares the highs and lows of her path into acting, as well as the challenges she faced with alcoholism, her path to recovery, and the realities of living with OCD and anxiety.
Emily shares how: -Her success in acting wouldn't be there if she hadn't committed to being sober -She realised she had a problem with alcohol -Her life and friendship groups shifted after going sober -Substances/alcohol can be the mask to what's going on under the surface -To seek and get help if you have a bad relationship with booze
Em is a particularly insightful woman and in this chat, she opens up so vulnerably in the hopes that she can help shift the narrative of what an 'alcoholic' looks like. You can follow Emily's Instagram
If you have an question please send it on it to life uncut podcast on Instagram here