Woman Who Went to Rehab at 18 Reveals Biggest Sign Someone Has a Drinking Problem – Life

A woman who checked herself into rehab as a teenager has revealed the biggest signs someone has an addiction.

Lauren White was just 18 years old when she approached her parents to tell them she needed help.

After spending five years battling an eating disorder and debilitating alcohol addiction, Lauren, from Hertfordshire, had hit rock bottom.

Now 31 years old, Lauren has spent nearly 12 years not only working on her own sobriety journey, but helping others who are also struggling with addiction.

Here, he tells Tyla about some of his darkest moments, as well as revealing the top telltale signs of addiction.

Lauren has been sober for almost 12 years (Instagram/@iamlaurenwhite)

“I started drinking when I was 13,” Lauren tells Tyla.

“Due to my own childhood trauma and self-esteem issues, I drank to cope with life.

“I also had an eating disorder, which I think was the root of my addiction, but alcohol was like my best friend the whole time. I was also using a lot of drugs and even drinking vodka to sleep It made me hate myself. I couldn’t even look in the mirror.

“I didn’t know how to live without alcohol.”

Lauren was in college when she finally realized she needed help.

“Everyone thought I was having a lot of fun, but no one knew the truth about how much I was suffering,” she explains.

“Every day I hated myself so much and felt like I couldn’t live anymore. That was my rock bottom. I ended up telling my parents I had a problem, which got me into rehab.”

Lauren now helps others struggling with addiction (Instagram/@iamlaurenwhite)

Lauren credits her decision to seek help with saving her life, explaining: “I would be dead. Or I would be half the person I am now, I wouldn’t function, I wouldn’t be happy.

“I grew up thinking an alcoholic was a whiskey drinker on a park bench, but it can happen to anyone.

“I had a lot of trauma in my childhood, my mother had breast cancer when I was 12 and my younger brother was in hospital with cancer which affected me.

“At that time, alcohol was better than living reality.”

After spending four months in rehab, Lauren explains that she had to “step back” from her previous life, which left her friends lost.

“They didn’t understand, I had to take a step back from a lot of things I was doing. I lost a lot of friends and I felt quite alone,” he explains.

“People used to say ‘you weren’t that bad’, but actually that’s one of the reasons a lot of people don’t stop drinking – they think they’re not that bad and that it could be worse.”

Lauren checked herself into rehab after starting college (Instagram/@iamlaurenwhite)

Lauren is now a motivational speaker, life coach and addiction counselor where she helps others overcome their struggles with addiction.

Here, he explains some of the main telltale signs of alcohol dependence:

Denial

Lauren says denial is often a big red flag when it comes to addiction.

“One of the first steps is to say you have a problem, whether it’s to a friend, family member or therapist,” says Lauren.

“The feeling you get when you give up is the most incredible thing.

“There has to be some kind of background, whether it’s physical, emotional or spiritual, for someone to give up. No one else can tell someone to stop. I always tell people, ‘If you think you have a problem, you probably you have a problem problem.'”

Isolation

Isolating yourself from friends and family, or hiding how much you drink, can also be a big indicator.

“If you see someone who drinks too much and is in denial, or someone who is isolating and hiding things, that can be a big sign,” says Lauren.

“If you think you don’t have a problem, try to stop drinking first.”

Lauren shares the signs to look out for (Lauren White)

Physical changes

Lauren explains that often, people who have an addiction to alcohol will have noticeable physical changes, including a “bloated face”.

“Another sign is someone physically smelling of alcohol, or their face has changed.

“It may look bloated or bloated, that’s really big.”

Drinking too much can cause your body to retain water, which can often lead to swelling and bloating.

Drinkaware explains: “When you drink, the dehydrating effect of alcohol causes your skin to lose fluids and nutrients that are vital for healthy-looking skin.

“This can make your skin look wrinkled, dull and gray, or swollen and puffy.”

If you want to talk in confidence about any alcohol-related problem, contact Drinkline on 0300 123 1110, 9am-8pm weekdays and 11am-4pm weekends for advice and support..

Or alternatively, visit drinkaware.co.uk/alcohol-support-services.