Ioan | Ōtara
“The last time I felt stressed, yesterday. It was my nephew’s court case. He’s on trial. He got found guilty.
He’s looking at six years. He’s only just turned 21. I felt real stressed about that, because some people he’s with, did the crime with, they’re much older. They should know the game, but yeah they’re dropping his name. Pretty stressed out about that.
Oh yeah, well I come from an alcoholic family. My background is around alcohol. I drink on a daily basis. It’s parties and stuff, you know?
Why was I drinking? It was because of hiding. I was hiding my emotional things, my feelings. It was just the way it is, and that’s what I was doing. I was hiding. Wake up and I feel like shit again, so I have to drink again. You know? I was pretty much running away.
Alcohol was pretty much was taking over, you know? That was my number one before family and all their stuff. I had a baby, and I wanted to change, but it took me to do some crimes and actually think about where I’m at, why I want to change, and who I wanted to do it for, and that would be for my kids. I’m spending much more time with my kids. I’m out of jail anyway, had enough of jail.
Sometimes I go for a mindful walk, when I’m feeling stressed, or just having a talk with my family, letting them know where I’m at, that stuff helps me out heaps.
The process of rehab is, it’s the behaviours, eh? It’s the behaviours. Noticing your early warning signs, your high-risk situations – all this stuff. It’s going good, it’s going great, actually. I’m aware of everything that’s around me, in my environment.
If I lash out, they’re just going to send me straight back to jail. One of my bail conditions is no threats or violence towards others. So, I had to come up with a plan, that gave me the same buzz as alcohol, that alcohol gives me. Failed a few times, but I’m only two months clean now, and I guess my plan is working right now. I’ve been in recovery for three years now. I’m still going strong. Still got much to learn. Recovery never stops.
I feel for everybody. I can’t really help out have to help myself first. Rehab was pretty good. I reckon it’s awesome that they’ve got these type of things for us. You know, for people seeking help.
What I value in life will be my family. They support me with my recovery of rehab. They’re the chains in stopping the cycle. “
**NEED SUPPORT?**
The alcohol drug telephone helpline is only a call away. Call 0800 787 797 or text 8681 to speak with a trained counsellor 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
**FEELING STRESSED?**
Check out these resources from the Mental Health Foundation: Stress and how to Handle it and the Five ways to Wellbeing. Need to talk to someone? Free text or call 1737 anytime.
