DRY July is almost finished, and while the event is touted as a great way to improve your health while raising funds, for some it may have exposed a problem.
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If you found that alcohol has a stronger hold on you than you thought, it may be time to visit Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), or at least visit their webpage.
For two local women, AA is the reason they are still here and they want others to understand that alcoholism is a disease that can only be treated with total abstinence.
F drank for 30 years, and said the last five were the worst for her.
"It was not my choice to drink. I really didn't want to, but the craving was too strong," she said.
"People look at alcoholics and assume they have no will, but the will is extremely strong - it is just pulling you in the wrong direction."
F had tried to fix her problem: hiding the alcohol, changing to light-alcohol wine, and even detoxed twice in Bowral Hospital.
"But no-one had ever taught me about the disease."
Her rock-bottom came one day after she started drinking in the morning and knew her husband would be home at lunch.
"I looked at myself in the mirror and the truth was there," she said.
"I couldn't stand the see the look on his face when he came home."
Her husband must have sensed she was suicidal and followed her when she left the house and asked her to see a doctor.
She ended up at Wesley Private Hospital where she was introduced to the AA program.
"I didn't go willingly - I guess I still thought I could beat it on my own," she said.
"However at AA I could talk to alcoholics and see that I could live a happy life sober."
F has now been sober for 13 years.
"I lost my son, my grandchildren were in a bad car accident, I've been through a divorce and bought a house - and did not need a drink to get through any of it," she said.
"Having the support of people at AA means I am able to think it through when I consider having a drink.
"They have also helped me regain the respect and trust of my family."
S has been sober 29 years, but says any alcohol, such as mouthwash, can still trigger a craving.
"Accepting that you are an alcoholic is 99% of the solution, and at AA we understand it is not shameful to have this disease," she said.
"We know that you would never have picked up a drink if you knew the consequences.
"AA doesn't tell you what to do, and we don't have any rules - the only requirement is a desire to stop drinking. "We provide support, can do house visits, pick people up for meetings and your sponsor will be there at any time of the night or day if you get a craving."
S said that AA meetings attract a variety of people - from professionals to people just out of prison - and everyone identifies with each other's story.
Everything is confidential and the organisation does not take any money from the government to ensure it can remain independent.
Each group runs itself and is not affiliated with any religion, institution or political organisation.
"You need the meetings otherwise your ego will tell you that you're OK," F said.
"But you hear of people who have been sober for many years, and then pick up one drink and need to start from scratch again.
"AA is our medicine to keep us sober."
S said that apart from all the laughter and friendships formed at AA, the good part is seeing people change.
"You can see the light return to their eyes, and you watch them blossom and start to smile again. I wouldn't change it for quids."
There are AA meetings in the Highlands every day except Wednesday.
For details, visit www.aash.org.au
Everyone is welcome, and you don't need to have stopped drinking to join in.
Friends and family of alcoholics are also encouraged to attend.