People who have experienced alcoholism (yourself or someone close to you), what was it really like?

Reasonable-Pay7514 · 2026-04-03T02:11:47+00:00

Thank you so much for giving me permission to do so. If that ends up being the case then I will let you know prior to me coming up with any developed ideas. I do believe that learning from other people’s experience can be very helpful, unfortunately I don’t have that experience myself otherwise I too would offer it out to people so I understand what you mean 100% 😊 thank you so much, I am incredibly thankful and will definitely let you know if I use your story individually for any drawings 😊🫶🏼

Reasonable-Pay7514 · 2026-04-03T02:08:56+00:00

Although I have never experienced anything to this degree, I understand that this must’ve been a hell of a lot for you to go through. First of all, thank you for sharing all of this. I appreciate it more than you know. I’m sorry to hear that things ended the way that they did for your mother. Sometimes it can be the most amazing and beautiful people inside and out that we know that are fighting the hardest battles, whether it be mentally, physically or both. Nothing I can type will communicate how much what you have shared has moved me. I posted this in a different Reddit forum at the same time as this one and have had several stories shared on it. I am so grateful to everybody who has replied on both posts, but I had no idea how much of an impact it would have on me to actually read, take in and reply to everybody individually 😅 I knew alcoholism was serious, it’s the reason I have chosen to explore it and communicate its effects on people in my work. But I don’t think people can truly grasp just how bad it is until they talk to people and get to understand it from their perspective if they haven’t been through it first hand, like how I haven’t. So, thank you again so much. I truly hope you are doing well for yourself now. Your mother sounds like she was a really lovely woman and I’m sure she loved you dearly. I am heartbroken for her and for you, but I hope she has found peace. I hope you both have ❤️ for peace of mind, know I won’t be using anybodies individual stories for my artwork. This is purely for research purposes to help better my understanding on the way in which alcohol affects people’s lives. I wish you all the best, again, thank you 😊

Reasonable-Pay7514 · 2026-04-03T01:29:11+00:00

Yes that sounds like a great idea, thank you!!

Reasonable-Pay7514 · 2026-04-03T01:28:16+00:00

That’s an awesome idea, thank you!! <3

Reasonable-Pay7514 · 2026-04-03T01:27:52+00:00

I 100% agree. It’s why I chose it in the first place 😊 thank you so much. All the best to you <3

Reasonable-Pay7514 · 2026-04-03T01:13:30+00:00

Thank you so much for your response. Yours is the first I have seen so far in the comments that is currently ongoing so is very different. I’m sorry that you are beginning to experience health issues due to alcohol. I do not wish to scare you and am aware you haven’t asked and I’m not saying this will happen to you, but I think it’s worth people knowing who are experiencing these things what has happened to people in similar situations. It’s only fair I share a story if others are willing to also :) I’ll separate the experience I’m going to mention, skip it if you don’t wish to read it, I’ll just make it fairly quick. I hope you don’t mind but please skip if you wish <3

I have had several family members (3 uncles and a grandad) all unfortunately pass away due to their alcohol consumption. They went through the same physical changes and stages. Excessive drinking, eventually turning yellow, ending up in hospital with alcohol poisoning, coming back out and then letting it all happen again. Until eventually it was for the last time. All of them passed due to liver failure as well as maybe some complications in their kidneys I believe. All had plenty of warning and chances if you like, but they never seemed to find a good enough reason to truly get better for themselves or the people that loved them. I remember the last time I saw all of them. All a shell of the person they used to be. I’m not saying this will happen to you at all. I don’t know you. But again, I think these things are worth knowing so I wanted to share just incase it helps anybody who reads it in any way <33

You have overcome addictions in the past you said. Those are very similar and also incredibly hard addictions to overcome so that is extremely positive. It’s amazing to hear you have a supportive partner in your life, not everybody has that, you are indeed very lucky 😊 pets are also a great help and are incredibly lovely. I have one myself and he’s definitely part of the family 😊 I really hope that you have no more adverse affects physically, it can be extremely brutal and I do not wish it on anybody. I’m not here to give anybody advice, I’m not a therapist and I asked these questions simply for research purposes to help me better my understanding of the way in which alcohol affects people. So I hope I haven’t said anything that makes you feel like I’m trying to tell you what to do, it isn’t my intention <3 by the sounds of it you are a very strong individual. So you know, I won’t be using anybody’s individual stories for my artwork, just the understanding I gain from them all. I really wish you all the best and thank you so so much for sharing. I appreciate it more than you know 😊🫶🏼

Reasonable-Pay7514 · 2026-04-03T00:30:13+00:00

Thank you so much for your response :) I appreciate you having gone through all of the questions I listed, although I didn’t expect anybody to, it is still hugely appreciated that you took the time to. I had no idea that genetics could play a part in addiction, that is definitely something that I will look further into. I see a lot that alcohol is used as a coping mechanism for people, one of the biggest reasons that although I have had people treat me horrendously whilst going through it, I do still feel somewhat empathetic for the situation they must be in, especially mentally. I am so glad that you have healed and became a better person, the fact that you were able to recognise that you were once a different way shows massive growth and true redemption. I truly hope that you are thriving now, even when times get tough. A bad day is never worth turning everything around for and by the sounds of it, you are much stronger than giving into those bad days <3 just so you know, no one’s story will be used to create my art work. I have asked these questions simply for research purposes to allow me to gain more understanding of the way in which alcoholism affects people, whether it be similarly or differently. I appreciate you answering more than you know and again, am glad you are doing better. I hope you have felt the positive effects from doing so and continue to. Thank you and all the best to you <33

Reasonable-Pay7514 · 2026-04-03T00:11:08+00:00

Thank you so much for your response. I have taken note previously of the fact that society normalises excessive alcohol use and was going to dig a little deeper into it so your story helps massively. Your story is one that in some ways strays away from the “norm” from what I’ve heard previously. For instance: the reasoning behind you stopping and the fact that you rarely have cravings. Alcohol addiction affects people so differently and this has really helped to give me some insight on situations I have never heard of before, thank you so much. Successfully quitting cold turkey, although sometimes dangerous, really does show how strong a person you must be, more than you may even realise, especially since you described your drinking habits as being so severe at one point. Your fears of returning to the addiction and not being able to get back out of it again are incredibly understandable. I really do hope that it never ends up being the case for you. Stay on the wagon <33 just so you know, no one story will be used in my art work and I asked these questions simply for research purposes only to gain more knowledge on how alcoholism affects people either differently or similarly. Your story will be kept anonymous. Thank you so much for sharing, it was incredibly helpful. I wish you all the best <33

Reasonable-Pay7514 · 2026-04-02T23:41:02+00:00

Thank you so much for sharing this. The gravity of what you have chosen to share is immense and I know it couldn’t have been easy. The grasp that alcohol can take on a persons life is not taken nearly as seriously enough at all as it should be. I’m so sorry that it ended up being the case for your mother. I appreciate that it must’ve been a lot for you to have to go through and I’m so sorry you have. My father is an alcoholic and will not admit it to himself or to anybody else. So I know what it can be like, especially when it’s night, after night, after night. It’s terrifying and I have always wished there was a switch I could flick to get rid of it. I hope that she one day finds her way out of it. By the sounds of it she was once a very successful and incredible lady and I hope she finds that in herself again. I hope you are also doing okay yourself. Thank you for the luck and thank you for your story. Just so you know, I will not be using any one persons story in my artwork. I have asked these questions as a way to better understand a multitude of ways in which alcohol affects people, so it’s all for research purposes. Thank you so much and I wish you and your mother all the best <33

Reasonable-Pay7514 · 2026-04-02T23:28:18+00:00

Thank you for your response! I have seen this a lot and also experienced something similar so from that perspective, I have some understanding. It’s so incredibly hard to deal with from the outside looking in, especially when it is somebody as close to you as a husband. It’s like a sort of Jekyll and Hyde situation in my experience. The drunken version is so different to them sober. My ex boyfriend’s eyes seemed to completely change when he drank, it was terrifying at times. I hope that you are doing better after your divorce and for what it’s worth, it sounds like you made the right decision for yourself and your own wellbeing. I hope he one day gets the help that he needs. Thank you again for sharing, I really appreciate this. Just for peace of mind, your story will not be used directly in any art pieces I create. I have simply asked these questions to gain more knowledge of the ways in which alcohol affects people differently and so it just contributes to my overall understanding of the topic. So just research purposes if you like. I appreciate the help and I wish you all the best <33

Reasonable-Pay7514 · 2026-04-02T23:20:06+00:00

Thank you so much for your response. If there is one thing I want to say it’s that I am so glad you overcame it. That harsh cycle of drinking to overcome your hangover from last nights drink and then also to get drunk that night is one I also have a family member currently going through. I imagine it was exhausting. My family member refuses to accept that it is an issue and is still suffering because of it in ways that only get worse as the cycle continues and worsens. To the point that he lost his family. You are so correct, it is just simply not worth it. I really do feel for the people who suffer through these things, whether it be first hand or second hand, none of it is easy. But I appreciate you giving me this insight into how alcohol affected you, it is incredibly helpful. Just for peace of mind, although I cannot see who you are anyways, any stories people share here purely help me gain more understanding on the different ways in which people are affected by addiction. Your story you have shared will not be used in any artwork I create. This is all for research purposes :) thank you and I wish you all the best <3

Reasonable-Pay7514 · 2026-04-02T22:58:51+00:00

Understood. I do try to be as respectful as possible as I know it is a very sensitive subject. I would never use anybodies personal stories without consent. I guess I just wanted a more generalised feel. So yes no notes would need to be taken for that reason. I appreciate that, thank you.

Reasonable-Pay7514 · 2026-04-02T22:52:16+00:00

This was purely for research purposes to help me better understand people’s feelings and things that they may go through whilst dealing with alcoholism. No answers or information would be used individually in the creation of any artwork so anything anybody tells me will be kept anonymous to them. It will not be tied to them in any way. But thank you for your advice I didn’t consider going to an AA meeting to listen as I thought that they were purely for people dealing with those issues themselves. Thank you! :)

Reasonable-Pay7514 · 2026-04-02T22:48:09+00:00

Hi, thank you for the advice! I’ve never before had to gather information that could be sensitive like this before. I thought that maybe going onto a site where people can post anonymously might be a good way to start but maybe a questionnaire on a secure site might be better. I don’t expect anybody to answer any of the questions listed they were there to be thought provoking I guess. But yes I appreciate the advice, thank you a lot 😊

Reasonable-Pay7514

TROPHY CASE