The Break-Up

Alcohol can be a way to celebrate the highs and soothe the lows – and manage the moments in between. Sarah Lamb, co-founder of Raw Artistry, opens up about her journey from alcohol addiction to recovery

For a long time, alcohol was my friend. It was the way I connected with girlfriends, socialised at work, commiserated and relaxed. I wasn’t alone in my relationship with alcohol; it really was – and still is – the social drug of my generation. I partied hard through Otago University and a London OE while growing my marketing career, and enjoying all that being on the doorstep of Europe had to offer. It was a magical, carefree time filled with great memories, including meeting my beautiful husband of 12 years, Matt. But looking back, this was also the training ground for my difficulties with alcohol later on. Alcohol was my answer to everything – good or bad – and an essential part of a happy life. Until it wasn’t.

Cracks began to appear when Matt and I were living in Melbourne and had just had our first daughter. I’d gone from having this independent life to being at home all day with a baby. While I adored this time with our new baby, I also felt isolated and exhausted a lot of the time. My perfectionism set in, so I went superhuman during the day and rewarded myself with wine at the end.

I fell pregnant again seven months later. I stopped drinking during pregnancy and we moved back to New Zealand shortly after to be closer to friends and family. I figured my ‘blip’ with alcohol was over. But I found myself at home with a new baby and toddler, and a fledgling start-up business, which was financially challenging and stressful to say the least. I felt under enormous pressure and the real battle began as I started to lose control over how much I was drinking.