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The following story comes from our friend James.

“Drink away your sorrows to experience temporary happiness even for a second.” 

I always stand by this quote, believing that I can forget all my problems and suffering by drinking alcohol. I often experience emotional instability when there is alcohol. I can never tell whether I’m happy or anxious, knowing that things can worsen when I’m drunk. Instead of facing my problems, alcohol becomes my temporary solution, a get-away from the reality that I’m facing. 

Alcohol has always been a stress reliever since I was 16 years old. As a teenager, I experienced the state in which many expect me to act decent and proper, especially since I have a good reputation and my siblings look up to me. My parents expect me to take care of my siblings’ future and be the one to provide for the family when they retire. 

My family is not that rich, nor that poor. We are only capable of buying the basic needs for living every day, but we cannot deny that there are times when we experience poverty. 

On the other hand, I was doing well in my Academics. Until, one time, our professors required us to pass a specific output, then a dance video, thesis concept, and performance tasks on four different subjects. I always thought of these kinds of stuff like a piece of cake, knowing my capabilities. However, I failed to deliver the said tasks completely, which greatly affected my grades and reputation as the group leader. I consider myself incompetent in prioritizing my studies, knowing that I have to carry other burdens aside from the bombarded outputs. 

Adding to the situation, my younger sibling got diagnosed with a respiratory disorder. We barely have any food left on our tables just to secure his medication, and I can’t keep up with my academics. 

I was lost. I got no one to blame but myself. I don’t care what will happen to my life anymore.

A week had gone by, and a group of friends invited me to their party. After what I’ve been through, I undoubtedly said yes, hoping to add some fun to my life. 

It is where my alcohol addiction began. 

We move to our friend’s house and plan to sleep there overnight. I have been introduced to drinking before. Although those kinds of drinks were just in small quantities, this time, it was different. We got brandies, gin, and tequilas all over the place, and it was the best time of my life. We started drinking at around 8 in the evening and finished by 4 in the morning. During those times, I expressed myself, and they were very attentive to me. It was nothing new for them because they had also experienced similar situations, that’s why they like to drink and party. Doing so helps them forget their problems, and to me, I started to feel the same thing. The heavyweight that my heart was feeling the whole time became lighter, and I was thankful that I let it all out. 

We bid our farewell after our drinking session, and I head back home. As I walked home, I started to remember my problems, and the pain was greater than before. I cannot deny that maybe this is reality, and for some reason, even when I let it all out, it will still haunt me, making me regret every single decision that I’ve made. 

I thought of a solution to forget my problems, even for just a moment, and alcohol became my answer. Every day after school, I would go out and buy some drinks, get wasted, and forget everything in my mind. I often cut my classes and hang out with my friends to get drunk, and slowly getting drunk becomes a part of my life. There is this indescribable feeling that whenever I cannot taste alcohol ever for a day, it makes me lose my mind, builds up aggression within me, and makes me do things that I was not capable of back then. Shouting, street fights, getting angry at someone just by getting looked at, disrespecting other people, and even trying to steal 

to have a taste of that alcohol, but for once, I am glad that I was only addicted to alcohol and not smoking or drugs. 

Alcoholic addiction has been a rough experience; many people are affected, including my family, schoolmates, and friends. To be in a current state in which alcohol revolves around your life is very frustrating and challenging. Still, I consistently disregard the consequences of my action and drink more and more alcohol. I did not think or 

consider my health and how it will affect me in the future. Every night I was all out looking to buy myself a bottle of brandy and enjoy the time of my life like there was no tomorrow. I thought to myself that there was no going back. I cannot stand a day without alcohol, which is all that matters for me. 

Months have gone by, and things are still the same, getting drunk every day, experiencing the same hangover, fighting those hangovers with even more drinking, and it seems like I was pretty out of hand on what I am doing. I care less at all about what surrounds me and whatever I do. I believe that everything will eventually be okay, and the world can revolve without me. No one would bother to change me at this point, knowing that I failed, and alcohol is my only saving grace. 

Of course, my parents were very disappointed in me; it hurts them to see me in a state where my life is going nowhere. All the dreams and expectations they have made are now very far from reality. They have tried consulting me about my situation. Who wouldn’t want to see their child being a nobody in life? They want me to realize that it is not too late to change and become a better version of myself. But I was ignorant. All I hear are the same words that go through my ear every time I go home drunk, and after that, nothing eventually changes; alcohol always wins in my mind. My siblings, who looked up to me in the past, don’t want to go near me anymore. They are all afraid of what I will do to them whenever I get angry. The brother that they have looked up to and loved so much is now a monster in their eyes. They cannot understand the 

situation knowing that they are young for it. Still, they have seen me becoming angry even on small things, which seems idiotic and terrifies them. One time my sick sibling was coughing too much, and my parents tried to contact me to buy the medicine while I was out, but I was too drunk that time to even try. As a result, they had no choice but to rush my sibling to the hospital and blame my actions for their suffering. 

I deliberately ignored them and went on drinking again. Five days straight, I did not go home and just drank until I had no money left in my pocket. 

After wasting myself up drinking, I came back home late at night. When I opened the door, I saw my mother crying. She told me that my youngest sibling was diagnosed with complications in his lungs, and he needs to get surgery as soon as possible, or the worst may happen to him. She asked me if I was listening if I still cared about our family and the future of my younger sibling. She said that if I do not care about my life, then at least consider my sibling’s life. 

The tears in my mother’s eyes strike me deeply, knowing that I have been a burden to them and have not been the son they expect me to be. Even when I was drunk at that time, my tears suddenly flowed. I felt ashamed of myself and tried my best to comfort my mother. I contemplated what I had done over the past few months, all those selfish acts and the chaotic pursuits. I was a coward. I do not have the guts to face my problem, I tend to run away from them by drinking and drinking, but the thought of getting rid of the pain through drinking was just a mere illusion. Problems became more complicated, and things were not getting better. They had become worse and worse. 

I have lesser friends than before. My grades were on the brink of failing, I’m a disappointment, and failure and my sibling’s life might end. The moment of realization hits me hard like a truck. It was a night full of tears and regrets. All the money that I have used for alcohol may have been helpful for our situation right now. Things should have been better if I had been productive like 

I was in the past. Still, I was lost. I do not know how and where to start. I do not know what the first step was, but I was eager to change. I was keen to become better. I want our life to improve and help my sibling recover. I know that I cannot live a day without the taste of alcohol, but I will give it a try. I tried to tell my parents about it, although I was hesitant about taking alcohol entirely out of my life. I just wanted to ease their feeling, even with just simple words. I want to give them hope that I am ready to change my lifestyle and become the person they want me to be. 

Day 1 was a rough start. My habit became unnecessary. Instead of going out of the house, I think of a job to generate money. I forced myself to stay in and do some chores. It feels so long since I’ve repaired the kitchen sink, cleaned some furniture, fixed my bedroom, and washed the sheets. I tried to forget about the alcohol. 

It was tough to control such addiction, your mind felt like it was going to explode, and you were thinking of crazy thoughts. Being addicted is painful, not only physically but also mentally. The mental part is the most difficult to handle since you cannot determine when it will end or ever get out of your mind. My body is shivering the whole time as I smack my head to snap out of it. It was only day one, and it already felt like hell. 

I tried to entertain myself by searching for things that I could sell. Maybe my old clothes, or shoes, so I’ll earn some cash. I posted a few online, but no one bothered to buy them. 

During the night, I delivered some supplies to the hospital for my parents and siblings. I told my other two siblings to go home so they could rest peacefully, and I’d look out for them, but they were so afraid to follow. 

I went back home by myself and planned to sleep, but the sensation of alcohol tempted me to get up and buy something to drink. It was an awful feeling that made me want to commit suicide. 

I could not think straight or decide what to do since I could sleep peacefully over the past months because I was too drunk to care about my problems. But in such a moment, it was already 3 in the morning, my mind was awake, and my eyes were still wide open. 

Finally, I closed my eyes, and in the eternal silence of air, I began to pray. I know anything could be overcome with the help of prayer and faith in God. I was a firm believer of the Lord before I started drinking, and I want to apply the idea of faith to my comfort. I know each one has their problem, but the problem will never be greater than God. 

I was crying, seeking help and a chance of redemption to start a new life and remove this alcohol addiction haunting me. I fell asleep around five and woke up by 10. It was a short sleep, but it felt good because I did not feel any hangover for the first time in a long time. My head was feeling lighter than ever before. 

It was a significant achievement, but it also bothers me if I can maintain it. Alcohol was the last thing in my mind when I slept and the first thing in my mind when I woke up. It feels like love, but in reality, it’s an addiction. 

In the following days, I could still stop myself from going out and buying alcohol to make me drunk again. I sold some shoes and sent them to my parents for their food. I also tried to apply for a student loan to help with my sibling’s medication. 

Five days had passed, and it was becoming more difficult for me to conquer what I felt. So I thought to myself, maybe if I try to taste it one more time, just to satisfy my thirst for alcohol, it will get out of my mind forever. Although I have second thoughts on what will lead to further addiction, there’s only one way to find out. I left our house and found something to drink at a local store. There I bought one bottle of Chivas Regal. On my way home, I saw a poster that seeks individuals to join community gatherings and rehabilitation to help their mental health, 

and it was pretty interesting for me. Still, I ignored it and went straight to our house. I want to drink the bottle all by myself to think things through carefully. I poured it on a glass, and by taking the first sip from it, my heart was jumping from joy, but my mind was all like, “No, no, stop it.” I took a few more shots, then after it was half done, I slowly put my glass on the table and began to think. Will I continue with this life where there will be no alcohol, and this will be my last shot, now that I am satisfied with a few drinks that I had taken, or would I go back to drinking since it feels like heaven for every single sip. Suddenly, my parents and siblings got home and were shocked to see me drinking again. My younger sibling, who just finished his surgery, tend to avoid me, and my parents sway their head in disappointment. 

I know they might be thinking here he goes again, with his old habit, drinking that bottle until he gets drunk, wasted, and starts to be in a rage, but I broke the silence. Ma, Pa, this will be my last shot. I raised my glass to them and took the shot. I then stood up still, smiled at them, and said, “From now on. I will be entering the community gathering and rehabilitation for mental health located just two streets from here. I know that you guys are disappointed in what I’ve become, and I realized this addiction is hard to deal with, but I am persistent to change and be better.” 

The mental health rehabilitation was beneficial for me since it opened up my mind and allowed the presence of our Lord to become stronger. The The concept of alcohol is one factor that affects the mental health of many individuals these days. It has also been the reason that deprived these individuals of improving themselves. Alcohol addiction and abuse cannot be controlled easily, but they can be lessened and stopped by 

following processes that can significantly enhance their lifestyle. 

Alcoholism is an illness that can be managed but not controlled. Most importantly, what saved me was my faith. As it became the essence of my existence, I affirm that it has given me a chance to start a new life. God has a way of doing things, and the more He put us through, the 

higher He will lift us, as long as we do not deny him and follow his guidance. We may not be able to see what He truly wants to happen, but in doing things, always remember to choose it carefully think it through. 

A good decision will lead to a fortunate turn of events, and a wrong decision will lead to a catastrophic turn of events. But, we cannot deny that there are things that we unconditionally do which is terrible, but as long as we repent and ask for forgiveness, ask for peace of mind and guidance, in which whatever trials and problems faced, you will tend to understand and make it through the situation. 

I have been lucky and blessed that despite being addicted to alcohol, I was able to redeem myself through the kindness and will of God and with the help of my family and community. 

It was difficult initially, but for almost two years now, I have been controlling myself from drinking, and my perception has changed from being a drunkard to being someone who has a dream for a better future. 

In the end, I conquered my addiction and became the person I was 

destined to be. Now I am back at school, and I am trying my best to step up my game, graduate, and be someone in the future. 

Ending this, I would like to share the most important lesson I learned from this experience “Mistakes can be made, but it is never too late to change. Addiction might be tempting to go along with, but being addicted to alcohol is like losing your life without a cause.”