Captivating Journey to a Remarkable Transformation | An Insightful Approach by Rahul Verma, Author of “By Choice, not by Chance”

New Delhi (India), March 14: One of the biggest fallacies about addiction is that it exclusively affects those with abusive backgrounds or dysfunctional families. I wish I could tell you a tale about the terrible, harsh, and uncared-for upbringing I endured, but I have none. A well-made career, living overseas, a beloved wife, and priceless children. You name it, and I had it. I came from a loving and supportive family. 

It all started with a few minor disregards on my part. I confined myself to the four walls of my foolish choices, failing to see the bigger picture. There are several ways that obsessions develop. Some obsessions are simply undesired, recurrent thoughts that might have an extremely strong craving-like feeling. Then there is the type that occurs but lacks the associated emotion. Just a thought, really. For me, it all started when I became fascinated with making my own cocktails and martinis and said, “Well, I’ll just have a couple of those.” And it almost caused my life to be destroyed. I developed severe alcoholism.

What followed next was a series of alterations in my everyday routine. Blackouts, memory loss, hangovers, and irritability were all present, along with extreme guilt and shame. Having no memory of what is going on around me and no interest in anything else as I passed out at my office. My brain started to slowly get hooked on alcohol.

Contrary to popular belief, it didn’t take me a moment of clarity to realise what a terrible mistake I had made. My epiphany didn’t come all at once like a tsunami but rather in small waves. It took me a while to realise that I am an alcohol addict, and this is not a passing fad. It was difficult for me to work out the courage to put up my hand and reach out to those around me for assistance.