A young woman from Wolverhampton shared her battle with alcoholism, which started during her teenage years and escalated into a life-threatening addiction. Lacey Davis used alcohol to cope with severe social anxiety, leading to a daily consumption of a bottle of vodka by the age of 22.
Initially, Lacey hid her drinking by carrying gin in her bag, drinking before job interviews, and even consuming spirits from disguised water bottles while working. Her dependence on alcohol grew rapidly, with her entire monthly income going towards buying alcohol, amounting to about £750 per month by the time she turned 20.
Lacey admitted that she felt the need to drink to feel normal and confident, eventually realizing that her teenage experimentation had turned into a full-blown addiction that she couldn’t control. Despite appearing fine on the outside, she was struggling internally.
As she took on different jobs, her alcohol consumption intensified, especially during periods of heightened social anxiety. She resorted to alcohol to handle panic attacks and relied on it to navigate social situations. Her addiction worsened when she started a job that triggered her anxiety, leading to excessive drinking even during work hours.
The turning point came when Lacey’s health deteriorated significantly, and she ended up in the hospital due to alcohol-induced psychosis. Despite attempts to quit and periods of sobriety, she struggled with relapses and terrifying hallucinations, consuming large quantities of alcohol daily.
Lacey’s journey to recovery began when her mother gave her an ultimatum to get sober. This pivotal moment pushed Lacey to seek help and eventually achieve sobriety. Through faith, community support, and professional help, she managed to overcome her addiction and rebuild her life.
Now sober for over a year, Lacey is committed to helping others facing similar challenges with hidden addictions. She emphasizes the importance of seeking support and not isolating oneself, highlighting that recovery is possible with the right help and determination.