Blog Spot with Clive Allwright

Just for Today...

Two years ago, I was kindly invited to write my first blog post for Hair Biz by our editor Louise May.

We spoke openly about my willingness to write about my own personal battles with alcohol and drugs. We discussed how we have both personally experienced how alcohol and drugs appear to be so widely accepted even glamourised within our industry.

Let’s be honest here, we have all witnessed some of our friends and colleagues being carried out of the after party.

I originally wrote a blog titled “Coming clean about sobriety” upon publication, I received so many messages of support. Many people bravely shared their own stories of having battled with all types of addictive behaviour. Either their own personal story or stories of close friends or relatives or a partner who has been through similar experiences. Thank you all for your kind messages of support and sharing your own personal stories.

Due to the overwhelming response, I feel now is a good time to start having a louder conversation, which hopefully will reach anyone who maybe facing similar challenges. Addictive behaviour doesn’t necessarily mean your drinking 6 bottles of wine a night or involve regular weekend binges on drugs and alcohol. This can affect us all in many ways.

We all have that inner voice that is constantly speaking to us… Maybe we hear, we are not good enough, or beautiful enough or our lives are not going in the direction that we once dreamed of. We can all be guilty of thinking the only way to ignore or silence it, is by either buying ourselves beautiful gifts that’s ironically labelled “retail therapy” to feel better about ourselves.

Or we could just have a drink and forget about it until tomorrow or put $50 in the pokies that ends up being $500. If the voice continues, we just surrender to eat a large tub of ice cream to distract us from sitting with such negative and destructive thoughts.

Have you ever spent a long period of time alone and just wished to be in a relationship, when that inner voice said “if only you were in a relationship my life would be perfect? Then once we attempt to have that relationship, we feel suffocated, losing our independence that we worked so hard at perfecting.

Equally there are many people that often enter relationships, then instantly feel the need to be controlling, manipulative even narcissistic to feel in control of their partners life as well as their own.

If any of the above still doesn’t resonate with you, maybe you might struggle getting through one day or a weekend without scrolling through your social media, checking to see what other salons or your friends are up to this weekend?

Addiction is a complex and challenging problem that affects millions of people worldwide. Whether it is alcohol, drugs, gambling, or any other addictive behaviour, the consequences of addiction can be devastating for individuals, families, and communities.

Breaking free from addiction requires a combination of determination, support, and professional help. In this blog post, we will explore what it means to be free from addiction and the steps you can take to achieve this goal.

1. Acknowledge the problem

The first step in becoming free from addiction is to acknowledge that there is a problem. This may be difficult, as addiction often involves denial and rationalization. However, admitting that there is a problem is essential to overcoming it. It is important to be honest with yourself and recognize that the addiction is causing harm to your life and the lives of those around you.

2. Seek professional help

Addiction is a complex problem that requires professional help to overcome. There are a variety of treatment options available, find your tribe including one on one therapy, medication, and support groups. Seeking help from a trained professional can help you develop the skills and tools necessary to overcome the addiction.

3. Stay committed

Overcoming addiction is not easy, and it requires a long-term commitment. It is important to stay focused on your goals and to continue to work towards them even when it is difficult. This may involve making changes to your lifestyle or seeking additional support, but it is important to stay committed to your recovery. There are many benefits to being free from addiction. These include:

1. Increased self-esteem

Overcoming addiction can be a tremendous boost to your self-esteem. You can feel proud of your accomplishments and confident in your ability to overcome challenges.

2. Greater sense of purpose

Addiction can leave you feeling lost and without direction. By overcoming the addiction, you can develop healthier habits

3. Develop healthy habits

Developing healthy habits can help you replace the addictive behaviour with positive activities. This may include exercise, meditation, or hobbies that you enjoy. By engaging in healthy activities, you can improve your overall well-being and reduce the desire to engage in the addictive behaviour.

4. Practice self-care

Self-care is essential to overcoming addiction. This includes taking care of your physical, emotional, and mental health. Getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet, and engaging in activities that bring you joy can all contribute to your overall well-being.

5. Improved physical health

Addiction can have a negative impact on your physical health. By overcoming the addiction, you can improve your overall health and reduce the risk of long-term health problems.

6. Better relationships

Addiction can strain relationships with family members, friends, and romantic partners. By overcoming the addiction, you can improve these relationships and develop new, healthier ones.

7. Build a support network

Building a support network is essential to overcoming addiction. This can include family members, friends, and support groups. Having people who understand what you are going through and can offer encouragement and support can make all the difference in the world.

As for me, I am always very grateful to be sober “just for today”. I follow a daily program helps me get through one day at a time. My internal fears are always going to be talking to me daily and sometimes very loudly hourly. However, I have now learnt the necessary skills to turn the volume down. I need to practice these skills daily, it’s always going to be “one day at a time” however, I learnt a great saying in recovery “for as long as I follow this path, I have nothing to fear”

If you or anyone may be effected by addiction, please feel free of judgement to reach out to me personally via email cliveallwright@mac.com or seek professional advice from Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous or Gambling Anonymous, Lifeline, Beyond Blue or the many other different support groups available for addiction to either food, sex, or co-dependency etc within your local area.

With gratitude, Clive x