Quitting alcohol – the story of how Seana got sober
Sep 5, 2024
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Seana Smith, who navigated a complicated childhood marked by her father's struggles with alcohol, shares her powerful journey to sobriety. She reflects on how her upbringing shaped her own drinking habits, revealing poignant moments from her past. Seana discusses her escape from an abusive environment and her academic adventures at Oxford. As a mother, she confronts the emotional challenges tied to alcohol and her father's health issues, ultimately leading her to a life-altering commitment to sobriety and deeper family connections.
Seana's journey to sobriety was initiated by a profound realization about the negative impact of her drinking amid reflections on her childhood.
She found that embracing sobriety not only improved her relationships but also facilitated a deeper understanding of her family dynamics and childhood trauma.
Deep dives
Tree Change to New Beginnings
Shauna Smith's family moved from Sydney to Orange, NSW, seeking a slower-paced lifestyle as her children grew older and her husband retired. However, their plans were disrupted when Shauna had to return to Scotland due to her mother's deteriorating health, prompting reflections on her upbringing and the duality of her parents' backgrounds. This life event initiated her contemplation about alcohol, as she realized that what was once a social joy in her life was becoming detrimental. This realization set the stage for her exploration of family history, drinking habits, and the complex dynamics influenced by her father's alcoholism.
Childhood Memories and Family Dynamics
Shauna recalls her childhood in East Lothian, Scotland, characterized by a large farmhouse filled with gardens and a loving yet complex familial atmosphere. Her mother's nurturing role included growing vegetables and managing a bustling household, while her father's working-class background shaped his relationship with alcohol. Despite the warmth of their family holidays, particularly the adventures on the water, Shauna notes the lurking tension caused by her father's drinking habits, which brought unpredictability into their lives. This inconsistency made her acutely aware of the shifting moods at home, where love coexisted with fear and unpredictability.
Experiential Learning and the Allure of Alcohol
Shauna's experiences at Oxford and her move to Australia were pivotal in shaping her relationship with drinking, from initial social outings to a growing reliance on alcohol. During her time at university, social drinking became part of her identity, leading her to embrace a persona that viewed heavy drinking as synonymous with being sociable and fun. This tendency followed her into adulthood, manifesting as a coping mechanism during challenging times, and eventually spiraling into a struggle with self-control. She recognized that moderating her drinking was a relentless battle, one that offered numerous fleeting pleasures but ultimately ended in self-reproach.
Transformation and Healing Through Sobriety
The turning point for Shauna came following a particularly severe hangover, leading her to an online program that encouraged abstaining from alcohol. Through this process, she discovered a community of like-minded individuals who shared their struggles, allowing for a gradual shift in her self-perception and relationship with alcohol. Embracing sobriety changed her life dramatically, improving her temperament and relationships while allowing her to confront issues that the alcohol had previously masked. Ultimately, Shauna's journey to sobriety not only liberated her from dependency but also enabled her to reevaluate her childhood and family dynamics with newfound clarity and healing.
After a childhood spent trying to escape her father's booze-fuelled outbursts, Seana developed her own problem relationship with drinking. But by her mid-50s, Seana decided she had had enough.
Seana Smith grew up in a beautiful house in rural Scotland, and when things were good at home, they were wonderful.
But Seana’s father loved to drink, and his habit took over her family’s life.
Despite the fights, abuse and violence, Seana's mother couldn't bring herself to leave her husband, and so Seana found every excuse to get away -- from pony camp at 12 years old, to applying for boarding school without her parents' knowledge, and then to Oxford University.
Eventually Seana fell in love and ended up on the opposite side of the world, in Australia, where she started a family of her own.
But as she reached her mid 50s, Seana realised that the way she loved to drink meant she hadn’t really left home at all, and so she started her own journey of sobriety.
Seana's story deals with themes of alcoholism, substance abuse, problem drinking, dementia, family violence, sobriety, motherhood and getting sober.
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