I started drinking in college, and it was a happy feeling. I come from a closeminded family with a lot of limitations and expectations.
Drinking freed me up. I became outgoing and popular. I had a sense of freedom that I could do almost anything, from spending hours at a bar, to singing at midnight in the street, to talking to strangers. My shyness and constraints disappeared, I could express myself in any situation, and I thought I was discovering the ‘real me.’ I met my husband at a party. We got married and started a comfortable life.
I’ve changed a lot since then. I used to drink socially, but now I also drink by myself to unwind from the pressures of the day, to avoid thinking about tomorrow, and to relax. I didn’t realize that I was developing a bad habit, that many of my daily routines were related to drinking.
Still, I was the center of gatherings with friends, girls’ weekends, parties, and celebrations, all of which were organized around cocktails. The anticipation of drinking was a happy and comfortable moment, like being in a place you know, where you feel at home.
In reality, nobody knows how much I usually drink. I cross the line almost every night. Long story short: I knew that I had a problem, and I decided to quit drinking. I’m enduring this difficult time. I’m hopeful and positive about my life changes and trying to learn what can help me in this process.” —Marni
Lamberghini-West, A., & Karlen Triplett, P. (2025). Tipsy: A Woman’s Self-Guided Method for Managing Alcohol. US: Aysen Wellness.