Alcoholism - The deadly truth about its stigma | Sarah Drage | TEDxFolkestone

In a deeply personal talk, Sarah Drage shares why she believes the stigma attached to alcoholism killed her Dad. Challenging society’s current stereotype against alcoholism by drawing from her family’s lived experience, Sarah’s story is powerful, hard-hitting and emotive, and certainly gives her audience something to think about. Her aim? To break down the stigma attached to alcoholism and empower alcoholics to recover openly and freely, rather than shaming them into silence and anonymity.

Disclaimer - Please note that the speaker is aware of the current language changes that are being made to break down the stigma attached to alcohol use disorder. For the sake of majority understanding and to make her point as clear as possible, the speaker has chosen to use colloquial language, and will use the terms alcoholism and alcoholic when referring to alcohol use disorder. Sarah Drage is the founder and CEO of the charitable organisation WarriorKind. She is a devoted daughter on a mission to quash the stigmas attached to mental illnesses. After losing her Dad in 2017 to alcoholism, Sarah leveraged her own lived experiences of loss, anxiety, OCD & PTSD, and channelled her trauma into founding the mental health support organisation WarriorKind, where encouraging healthy conversations around mental wellbeing is core in their mission to breaking down stigmas and supporting their community.

Sarah has found the strength, resilience, and passion within to triumph over adversity and raise awareness around the dangers of societal stigmas attached to mental illness; ensuring that her beloved Dad is not just another statistic, and that his death can become a catalyst for positive change.

[VanessaTorres-Veetee]

I was an alcoholic for 11 years, age 20-31 and now sober 1.5 years. When I admit it and tell people I am a recovering alcoholic they dismiss it. My family especially will try to convince me I can still drink and I was never an alcoholic. Those same people also judged me for drinking too much. I was fighting this lonely battle everyday and still fighting. I thank God for pulling me out of it. I pray for those who are fighting this battle, I pray they find the help and support to fight this.🙏🏼

[Good.London]

The problem with alcohol not to mention the deadly withdrawal is that there's a dealer 10 minutes down the road in any direction you go.

[GinAmber]

I 8months sober and finally starting to be aware how clearly I can see and feel life

[sailorgreer]

Alcohol—Cunning, Baffling, Powerful. I was in denial for decades. As a high performing alcoholic, no one else questioned my drinking. I didn’t drink from a brown paper bag while wearing a trench coat. I’m like 80% of alcoholics—right in your midst suffering from a cruel disease. Thankfully I got help and now have over 13 years of sobriety.

[senaax]

My dad died due to alcohol. He was a successful doctor. He retired, divorced, my mom got so sick of it and he would hide bottles all around the house. He was the best dad tho. I am now suffering from that and struggling... Thank you

[Nay]

I am an alcoholic from across the sea. An American. This hit heavily.
Thank you to the speaker for your bravery in addressing this heavy subject. It is a beacon of hope for someone as lost as I.
I wish you the best.

[Kaniac]

I have been struggling with alcoholism and ptsd for nearly 30 years. Yesterday was 90 days sober for me and I have been grappling with morbid and depressing thoughts- the same thoughts that fueled my alcoholism for all of those years.

I can relate to everything you said, and have empathy for your father. Thank you for making such a beautiful and eloquent video. It brought tears to my eyes and has given me some hope and acceptance. Your video helped this alcoholic stay sober today.

[ashsmith]

I never hid a bottle in a brown paper bag, I never wore a faded old raincoat or lived on the street. But I was an alcoholic and I’ve been a recovering alcoholic for sixteen years. The stereotypes are alive and well.

[YolandieJansevanRensburg]

Your father's death was not in vain. You are doing such an amazing thing in his honour. May your message reach billions.

[stevekozle]

I’m an alcoholic, a dad, has a family who loves me and my name is Steve. The only difference here is that I stopped *just* before I died. I was a severe drinker - 24/7, vodka straight from the bottle, food was of no interest. I love sobriety these years and one good reason I finally quit for good is that I came to understand, after my last encounter with acute alcohol withdrawals, delirium tremendous and hallucinations, that if I am ever to drink again I will die. There is no doubt in my mind. None. I touched death, I was so close to it the last time. So I continue to live a sober life.

Thank you for this talk, it so easily could have been me. I’m very moved by what you said.

[christianbarrow]

Not being able to tell anyone one I was an alcoholic. That is the one thing that kept me in my addiction, my nightmare of a cycle or alcohol and drug abuse. I felt like I couldn’t tell anyone because they would disown me. Judge me, treat me like a criminal, a deadbeat. Now I look at my past as a blessing for other people I may be able to help.

[AbbyS.Pumpkins]

Thank you for this. It’s so true. My heart goes out to you. My husband is the sweetest, smartest, compassionate, loyal, hard-working, high-functioning man I’ve ever known (besides my own dad), but he’s an alcoholic. He has FINALLY suffered life threatening consequences of his alcohol use that landed him in the hospital on 5/26/22. He had a Mallory-Weiss tear which caused intestinal bleeding and the vomiting of large amounts of blood. He was jaundiced on top of it, very weak, and very tired. They found out he had/has alcoholic hepatitis and possibly cirrhosis, but we won’t know for about 6 months as his liver is too inflamed to see the damage just yet. He’s done so well with withdrawal and now he’s getting physical rehab therapy to get stronger after 8 days in ICU and another week in general medical. He’s doing so well and he’s committed to abstaining from alcohol. I’m committed to abstinence as well. I wasn’t a big drinker to begin with since hangovers kill me. But I will do anything to help him. To everyone out there reading this, please be advised about how dangerous alcohol can be. It’s too easily available and it’s one of the most fatal drugs on this planet. Please be careful and learn to recognize the signs of someone with potential alcoholic liver disease so you can ask them if they need help. One of the signs I learned about (a bit too late) were my husband’s bright red palms! He tried to tell me it was from typing on his keyboard for work (he works in IT). I believed him, but I later found out it’s a sign of liver disease. Now that he’s getting medical care, his palms are no longer red. He’s 15 days without alcohol and he’s got a new outlook on life. He’s been drinking way too much for 20+ years. He’s 40 years old, but this whole crisis might’ve actually saved his life if we can get his liver to heal by removing alcohol permanently and changing our diets/increasing our activity. My condolences to anyone who’s lost a family member to alcohol. ♥️

[shelbywilliams]

This is so true. I have struggled w alcohol and have family members who still judge me even though I’m in recovery, meanwhile, they are overweight and addicted to junk food. It doesn’t make sense.

[thatguycraig]

I’m an alcoholic who in the next 3-4 weeks should be in residential detox (God willing). This video and others like it really help. Thank you

[brockgrimes]

Im drinking a beer while watching this… i know i need to change and it’s why I’m here.

[clausforsberg]

I am an alcoholic, and I'm figthing to be sober. Still haven't figured out yet.
But thanks for this amazing video, it made me feel understand for a moment

[tracy]

I've been sober for almost 10 years. What you said is absolutely 100% true. I wish everyone knew this.

[CG-fyjz]

Great talk. I am an alcoholic in the UK and I am currently getting treatment. Because I don't fit the profile of a stereotypical alcoholic my partner did not believe I was addicted and thought I can just stop. I decided I needed treatment and done it anyway, I am so pleased I did. Bless your father. X

[samuelslater]

The day I stopped drinking was the day I broke the spirit of alcoholism in the name of Jesus the Son of God, the King of the Universe and commanded it to be GONE. I tried literally EVERYTHING else, including AA, which I still attend. But without the power of the Son of God, I was never, ever able to heal. I feel like someone needs to hear this.

[ashleyodell]

I started drinking when I was 12, tried to quit around age 22 and couldn't. I battled the urges and giving in for 10 years until I gave my life to Jesus. Been sober ever since with not one craving. About 7 years now. All glory to God.