CHARLOTTE, N.C. — For many reasons, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years and other holidays can be a tough time for people who struggle with alcohol addiction.
Now with all that comes along with COVID-19, it can be an even more challenging time of year.
“In my case not only did I have addiction, I struggled with depression,” said Tim, who did not give his last name. “And so, it’s just compounded with the holidays and with COVID and the isolation that’s required -- and isolation also being one of the biggest struggles that I had in addiction. It’s a double whammy. Fortunately, there are still plenty of methods to get help.”
Channel 9′s Elsa Gillis spoke with Tim, who has been sober for five years. He is in recovery for alcohol addiction but said he’s in a happier and healthier place.
He spoke candidly with Gillis about what the disease did to him and his family.
“I lost my wife. Lost my child. I was in financial ruin. In debt with no way to get out. Spiritually broken,” he said. “But I did manage to ask for help.”
He wants others to know that help is out there.
“You’re not alone, and asking for help is easy as just picking up the phone. As an alcoholic, I did have to make a decision and that is to admit to my innermost self that I am an alcoholic,” he said. “I can’t control it and I can’t do it alone.”
Tim is a volunteer with Metrolina Intergroup, a local group that supports people who have questions about Alcoholics Anonymous. He shared information about their annual program aimed at supporting people through these tough times.
On Christmas Eve, Christmas, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, those in need of support can find it at the annual Alcathon.
This year the event has gone virtual in the form of a Zoom marathon.
“There will be meetings on the hour. They are in structure, they’re just like all AA meetings. They are open to anyone,” Tim said. He said participants will likely find at least one person they can relate to.
Justin Perry is a therapist who told us it’s a place people can see they’re not alone.
“When we look at addiction, one of the things we’re looking at often is a lack of connection, it’s isolation; and so if I’m trying to figure out how to take this alcohol or substance that’s been toxic in my life, I need to replace it with something and sometimes just hearing other people who are navigating the same thing can be something that can be empowering and supportive for you,” Perry said.
We also spoke with Justin Perry, who owns Perry Counseling, Healing and Recovery PLLC, about mental health and the holidays in general.
“It’s an interesting time of year because it’s something we brand as the most wonderful time of year,” Perry said. “But also, I think it’s important to realize for a lot of people, whether you’ve lost family members or whether you’re lonely and isolated, it’s also a challenging time because there’s a pressure to have things look picture-perfect even when they aren’t.”
COVID-19 has been a lot to handle.
“The cumulative impact of COVID over the last nine-plus months here, I think for a lot people is probably coming to a head right now.”
And that’s not all we’ve dealt with.
“You throw in social unrest,” Perry said. “You throw in a very challenging and polarizing election. It’s a recipe of high levels of anxiety and depression. For folks that have challenges with disordered eating or addiction, all of these things may be amplified in a way that they maybe never experienced before.”
Perry said doing small things, such as sending a text to a friend or planning a social video chat, can make a difference in keeping connected. He said it’s important that we don’t put pressure on ourselves to live “perfect” lives. Recognize that no one is perfect just do the best you can.
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