Interviewer (Current Self): Thank you for agreeing to this conversation. It’s strange to be on both sides of this, but I think it’s important. Let’s start by talking about how you’re feeling right now.
Interviewee (Past Self): Honestly? I’m exhausted. I feel trapped, like I’m in this endless loop that I can’t break free from. I wake up with dread every morning, and the only thing that gets me through the day is knowing that I can drink again. But even that isn’t enough anymore.
Interviewer: I remember that feeling so well. It was like the bottle was both the solution and the problem, right?
Interviewee: Exactly. At first, drinking felt like the only way to escape everything—the stress, the loneliness, the self-doubt. But now, it’s just making everything worse. I’m losing everything—my health, my relationships, my job, my mind—and I know it, but I can’t stop. It’s like I’m watching my own life fall apart, and I’m powerless to do anything about it.
Interviewer: That powerlessness, that sense of being out of control… it’s overwhelming. I remember thinking there was no way out, that I was beyond saving. Did you ever think about asking for help?
Interviewee: I thought about it, sure. But I didn’t think anyone could actually help. I mean, who would want to? I felt so ashamed of what I’d become. And honestly, I didn’t think I deserved help. I just kept telling myself that I’d figure it out on my own, but deep down, I knew I couldn’t.
Interviewer: That shame and isolation were so heavy, weren’t they? It’s like the more you drank, the more you felt disconnected from everyone and everything. Do you remember any moments where you thought, “I can’t keep living like this”?
Interviewee: All the time. There have been so many times when I just sit there, staring at the bottom of an empty bottle, and think, “What am I doing?” But then the fear would creep in—fear of change, fear of who I’d be without the alcohol. It was easier to just keep drinking than to face those fears. I didn’t see a way out.
Interviewer: I get that. I felt that same fear when I started the 12-step program. The idea of giving up control, of admitting I was powerless—it was terrifying. But you know, that first step, admitting that we were powerless over alcohol and that our lives had become unmanageable, it was the hardest but also the most freeing.
Interviewee: I can’t imagine ever doing that. Admitting I’m powerless… it sounds like giving up, like admitting defeat. And what then? What if it doesn’t work?
Interviewer: I know it feels like giving up, but it’s actually the opposite. It’s the first step toward taking your life back. It’s about surrendering to the fact that the way you’ve been doing things isn’t working. And believe me, I had those same doubts about whether it would work. But it’s not about doing it perfectly—it’s about doing it honestly. That’s where the real change starts.
Interviewee: But what if I’m too far gone? What if it’s too late for me?
Interviewer: I used to think that too, but it’s never too late. You’re not beyond saving. None of us are. The fact that you’re even having these thoughts, that you’re questioning your life and your choices, that’s a sign that there’s still hope. You just need to take that first step, and I promise, you won’t have to do it alone.
Interviewee: I don’t know if I have the strength to do it.
Interviewer: You don’t have to do it all at once. Just take it one day at a time. That’s how I’ve made it this far—six months, one day at a time. It’s about progress, not perfection. And if you can take that first step, you’ll find that there’s a whole community of people ready to support you, who understand exactly what you’re going through.
Interviewee: It sounds so simple when you say it, but it feels impossible from where I’m sitting.
Interviewer: I know it does. I felt that way too. But I’m living proof that it’s not impossible. It’s hard, yes. Some days are really tough. But it’s worth it. I’m finally starting to feel alive again, to see a future that isn’t just about getting through the day. You can have that too. You deserve that too.
Interviewee: I want to believe you. I really do. But I’m so scared.
Interviewer: It’s okay to be scared. Fear is a part of this process. But don’t let it stop you. Let it be the reason you change. You’ve got more strength in you than you realise. And when you’re ready, I’ll be here—ready to help you take that first step. You’re not alone in this, even though it feels like it right now.
Interviewee: Maybe… maybe I can try. Just one step.
Interviewer: That’s all it takes. Just one step. And when you’re ready to take it, know that there’s a whole new life waiting for you on the other side.
Freedom is Possible
Exhausted, trapped, a loop unending.
Dread each morn, a heavy load.
Drink to escape, but the relief unending.
A bottle's solace, a heavy road.
Powerless, watching life unfold.
A solution, a problem, a vicious cycle.
Shame and isolation, a story untold.
Fear and doubt, a heavy trial.
A glimmer of hope, a chance to mend.
A step toward freedom, a new beginning.
A community waiting, a helping hand.
A future brighter, a life worth living.
