Sober Talk SA - Irene

Sober Talk SA - Irene

How do people find strength in their journey to sobriety? This episode of Sober Talk SA centres on Irene, who openly calls herself "an alcoholic" and talks about how alcohol turned her thinking into "hell" and how AA helped her change course. You’ll hear Irene explain that she didn’t start drinking until her late twenties, but quickly made up for lost time.

She shares how she never liked the taste, but "loved the effect" because it gave her confidence, helped her relax and feel sociable. Drinking alone at home, hiding bottles from her family, blackouts and daily wine became her norm, even as she tried to hold down work and be a mother. Her raw admission — "an alcoholic, how can be a good mother?" — will resonate with anyone wrestling with guilt and family fallout.

The heart of the episode is Irene’s relationship with AA. She describes going to her first meeting thinking she just wanted to "moderate" her drinking and being startled to find people who looked "normal and happy" and yet didn’t drink. Simple phrases like "don’t take the first drink" and "keep coming back" became lifelines as she counted her sober days.

A painful relapse after ten months sober, and her son’s tears as he smashed her wine bottle, mark a turning point. Irene talks about the courage it took to be honest with her group and how their support, phone numbers and the suggestion to get a sponsor changed everything. She links this to finding a "power higher" than herself, describing a very down-to-earth, personal sense of God that helps her hand over problems and rest.

Now, Irene says, "today I'm living the best years of my life" with fewer needs, more freedom and gratitude for a second chance through AA. If you’re curious how someone moves from secret drinking and shame to connection and a "new way of life", this story may give you a lot to think about.