Staying Sober in the Country: Shanna Whan’s alcohol recovery story | Australian Story
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- Опубліковано 17 лис 2019
- When Shanna Whan realised she was an alcoholic, she didn’t just decide to give up drinking. She started a one-woman campaign to start a conversation about drinking culture in the bush.
And she took the brave step of going public with her own 20-year battle with the bottle, as a way of encouraging others who want to change to step forward and seek help.
Now her online community "Sober in the Country" is spreading the message throughout the bush: "It’s OK to say no to a beer."
Read more here: ab.co/348Eeji
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It's a culture all over the world really.
Glad you updated this story. Thank YOU Shanna.
Going on 14 years sober. From Redding CA 🇺🇸 ❤
This is serendipitous. I was just in Redding a week ago on a driving vacation from Washington State. Talk about hot, 107 degrees. Anyway I'm going on 14 years sober myself. Congratulations. One day at a time.
I gave up smoking 30 yrs ago and alcohol 35 yrs ago when I learned about binge drinking and how "passing out" is different from "a blackout". The alcohol and tobacco industries are powerful adversaries, but they are not invincible,
Cold Turkey both tomes.
Rural women in the U.S. struggle with this, from the time they can sneak out with the neighbor kids and have keggers and well into granny-hood. It's inspiring to see Shanna step out of her alcoholism and lead others into the light of sobriety. Just a lovely video. thanks for posting.
Hi jen I am a recovering alcoholic. I live in rual PA and I can tell you I am in AA and doing well. But the problem is that around here normal drinking is borderline alcoholic.
What an absolute legend I am so impressed by her recovery and what she does for others she is so selfless I didn't know people like her and her husband existed and her husband is a great guy to what an uplifting story.
Shanna is so honest. She has a strong character, the will to change her life and the desire to help others. Quite a combination.
I have recently come out of rehab and starting a new life being sober. Shanna has inspired me and gives me the courage that I will not let the power of alcohol kill me. I am scared of this new life without my husband, but I know that God has something positive instore for me and my daughter.
Im 66 days sober
Finally a Australian Alcohol story I’ve just moved to Qld and I really do need help :-( 35 I was doing really well trying to moderate but now I’m in a full on binge story’s like this give me hope such a hard country to not drink in you really look happy I hope one day I can be there.
Are you able to contact organisations like the one they mention here, to talk to someone? You posted this comment a year ago, I hope you're doing okay. I grew up on a farm and drank s LOT, far too much, I was always wanting to continue when most had had enough. I was lucky though that I toned it down when I married in my late 20's and more when I had kids, then gradually became disintested in drinking by the time I hit my 40's, mainly because I was no longer living in a farming area, but even now I only have about 2 drinks a year because I know it wouldn't take much to become dependant on it again. I also found I had gained confidence in myself by then so that I didn't need alcohol to boost my confidence, definitely did when I was young. I can't remember ever having sober sex, for example. But I hope you're okay
What a dear, sweet, brave and courageous lady. Bravo. ❤💗❤
Shanna, thank you so much, what fabulous courage and humility to speak so publicly thank you for your service, you are bloody AWESOME
It's almost impossible to stop drinking, I respect anyone than can do it,
Almost, but it can be done
I quit drinking too, about 16 years ago.I just prayed, " Please, God,do for me what I can't do for myself." And that was the end of it right there.It's a miracle.Miracles can happen for you too!
"It's hard to fit in as a non-drinker" is one of the strangest things said out of pure honesty.
As someone who drinks about 4 times a year, this statement is very true. You basically have to change your whole life. Make new friends or just do stuff on your own.
@@gdaymates431 I don't drink much and I don't find it difficult at all. What kind of adults are drunk all the time?
@@elizabethblackwell6242 It's more what people want to do. I don't want to hang out in loud bars, for example and that's basically what adults do haha. Most people who meet up after work either go to a loud bar or a loud restaurant. I'm not saying everyone is drunk all the time it's just hard to be in those places sober. The noise is enough to drive a person crazy.
@@gdaymates431 That's true. I still go to Friday night drinks but the noise is what drives me home! It is crazy making.
@@elizabethblackwell6242 Yeah. I'll end up drinking or leaving. But these days I just don't go. Dating sober is also hard haha.
Brave woman. I identify with her story, drink, horses, wild nature, not fitting in.... Suicidal thinking.. Failed relationships. I got free in 1992, and never looked back.
~through sickness & health~
~for better or worst~
Well done Tim for sticking by your wife through her journey
Then why doesn't Tim stop drinking?! It would sure make it a whole lot easier on her. He's a hypocrite IMO.
Gosh. I can so relate even down to the painful reality of being barren except I had (and have) no physical man by my side. Been sober since 2005. Would love a committed bloke. Glad to live life on life’s terms. The Lord God Almighty is for sure the strength that carried (and carries) me through one day at a time.
Some can handle the drink n some can't but if you can't you will know sooner or later. Nice woman, cheers for the upload
I hope the men guilty of sexually assaulting Shanna were reported to the authorities so that they weren't able to do it to anyone else & to hopefully give her some closure.
I always get harassed, bullied and spoken down to, simply because I don't drink alcohol. People tell me I'm boring, pissweak or up myself. I DO demonise drinking, alcohol and people who don't stop and think about what they're putting their family through.
Takes guts and strong conviction to stand out.
Any dead fish can float downstream with the current...
@@ianmunday7574 I like your dead fish floating down the stream with the current analogy
As a sober person the normalisation and romanticisation of binge-drinking, smoking and drug use as just “partying” is terrifying. It’s really sad what addiction can do and how few people realise they have a serious problem.
My sister is trapped in a marriage with a high functioning alcoholic. He is just living his best secret drunk life and she is slowly becoming a shadow of the person she use to be...trying to "fix" him.
Like Shanna's husband, my sister is also one those people who do not quit - once they have given their word and made a commitment. Divorce is not an option in her mind.
Both their teenage boys have serious behavioural issues because of the dysfunctional home they grew up in.
And both were diagnosed woth Diabetes 1 within 3 months of each other. The Diabetes specialist asked if the boys suffered a major traumatic experience.... the boys finally realised the true extent of their father's alcoholism a couple of months earliar - and when they confronted their dad, he basically told them he will always chose alcohol over them.
I honestly think the only way to help an alcoholic is for every person in their lives to turn their backs on them.
Just let them go - to self destruct or hit rock bottom.
And let them dig themselves out of that hole with the help of people who are trained to deal with alcoholics.
My sister is very much loved by all of her siblings and friends and it is extremely painfull to be a silent witness to emotional distruction and pain she and their kids are suffering.
SR
I hope your sister is attending Alanon. You may want to send her some Alanon books. You may want to offer to attend Alanon meetings with her. You don't need to give her any advice...
just offer your support.
I'm sorry to hear that and totally agree, they need to draw a line in the sand, and give the ultimatum, either get help or we separate until you do, even no contact with the children, the ball is then in their court. Also agree they have to hit rock bottom, some might not come back from that, but the alternative (staying and trying to help), destroys the rest of the family. Sad for her and for the kids
For some there's never a rock bottom.
👏 Kudos, Shanna! And Tim for having so much faith in her.
A powerful combination the two of them...
Hah... 13-34.. Just like me. I never went to AA but I did go to a Rehab and I decided to never drink a drop of alcohol again. To say I've changed for the better is an understatement. 1 Year 5 Months, Sober.
She is a intelligent women. And the husband deserve a gold medal too. Fortunately she is ok now, and she is a beautiful good looking women. ❤❤❤❤
No, her husband does Not deserve a gold medal. He drinks.. that would make it very hard on her. Her husband is a hypocrite.
Hmm... ok, I get what you mean about only one of them being on the wagon, and I must say the first thing I noticed in the shot of them at the races was Tim with a beer but that's HIS choice I guess, as she says she isn't forcing the message down anyone's throat (no pun intended) and if he drinks in moderation (and I can't imagine him not in that situation) then it's probably not too big a deal...
But then, I'venever been an alcoholic so can't speak with real authority...
@@SweetThing it’s not a trigger for her, and he’s not an alcoholic. If his drinking triggered her that would be a problem or of course if he had a problem with alcohol - which it seems he doesn’t
Congratulations. Going on 14 years myself, one day at a time. Keep up the good work. It works everytime.
Sad story, and sad what happened to her as a young woman , obviously that trauma, played a huge part in her drinking problems, im coping with same atm, trying help one of my eldest kids whom is a alcoholic, drinking every day , trying to suppress his depression and mental health probs, good on her for getting sober im sure it was not easy to do!
Very hard but beautiful and inspiring story.
What a great couple. She is so lucky to have that wonderful man and I'm so glad she turned her life around.
Courageous country gal, best wishes to you and Tim
What a wonderful and courageous story!! It is a problem in many places and can be difficult to overcome. But it CAN be done. Thank you for sharing, beautiful lady.
Great to see an Australian story especially with the country drinking culture
What a wonderful intelligent forward thinking woman. We need to look at addiction differently as a whole. That the idea that having a good time and using are synonymous for a lot of people. That is incredibly hard to curb.
Wow I'm in USA almost anywhere here we have help or meetings small towns big towns anytime anywhere. What a lovely woman.
There is a diverse range of attitudes to drink in the US which can be a help or a hindrance. I have seen a multitude of crowded pubs on the borders of "dry" counties and cities where total prohibition is still in force. Likewise corporate advertising at major sports events of alcohol is still the fashion. This gives the illogical idea that drinking is healthy and a sporty thing to do. You can bet that top sports people do not abuse alcohol at the top of their game or they won't be at the top for long.
Thank you.
Wonderfully inspiring- thank you so much!😍
What struck me (sober) about this story, is how the drought has affected that area. Kinda like endless Covid, right now, in November, 2020. A continuous downer for many, world-wide.
"What it was like...What happened...and What it's like NOW". Without question, sobriety has been the greatest adventure of my life! ✌❤ Mark 5/8/1994
Terrific work Shanna
Shannon I grow up in Narrabri and started drinking early years and then moved to the coast and continued to drink and finally hit rock bottom back in I think 2007 and have been sober since however we have moved on since and thanks for sharing
There is something to be said in regards to how rural boredom leads a lot of people to alcoholism. I know that the outback is a magnet for tourists, but may be insidiously boring for people living there. I am from a small rural town , with not many jobs, zero industry and not many things to do entertainment wise. So the people there drink heavily to entertain themselves.
Self love, care whatever you want to call it. I've been contemplating / meditating on that very fact. At Xmas time a very old friend committed suicide. Alcohol dominated the last few years of his life. For some time I had lamented the fact that I did not try hard enough or do what was necessary to stop that outcome. At the time I was powerless against alcohol myself and while drunk entertained many thoughts of killing myself.
Then the realization came to me that I couldn't have saved anyone without saving myself first. Self love is most import,
Brian Strow Sending love to you Brian, it sounds like you are heading on a great path for yourself.
Well said Brian. It's not so much the words we talk as the life we walk that speaks.
God bless you Shanna
I don't want to be shallow but, what a beautiful necklace!! Kudos to her, brave woman.
great work shann. this helpped me
What a great story. If you want to hear more voices of people with addiction to alcohol, drugs, gambling and food you need to head to the 3CR site and listen to the show Living free.
Thankyou for a good news story about recovery. And for it to be about a woman and alcohol.
Love it.
A strong husband with morals and convictions. What a man.
Like most men
Who drinks. Wouldn't you hate to think, after all this work she did, she starts drinking again because her husband has to have a beer? He's pathetic.
@@SweetThing but he drinks beer and her thing was wine so she’s probably not interested in what he’s drinking eh
Nice to see that Danika Leys spells her first name in the best way.
Brave woman... Respek! x
Thats so good
Hey just saw your story thanks for sharing and congrats on your turn around a big shout out to Tim well done mate great name by the way...i would like to chat some time if that's ok
Recovery is possible everywhere!
Legend brave women who believes in herself and others love ya
SO courageous Shanna. Gosh you come from good blood. You and my Pumpkin.
Thankyou hopefully I will get better
Awesome. Stuff
Fabulous, happy for shanna
It should be stated thought that, for drinkers at shanna's level, 'just stopping' is not only painful, and difficult, it is DANGEROUS. You can for fro. Alcohol withdrawal so if at all possi or get help to do it.
TSM, the Sinclair method, will retrain you whilst you still drunk, drinking becomes unappealing you don't crave and it allows you to keep drinking to avoid withdrawal, you simply want to drink less and less, you dont want to drink.
I relate to drinking to cover pain of loss and loneliness when you're In a relationship with a living person and you should feel happy. Same reason pretty much. People don't realise how painful being around certain situations can be particularly at holidays.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is what helped me not self medicate with alcohol due to anxiety. It's also worth looking into and 'The Happiness Trap' by Russ Harris is a good starting point.
@@pauljordan4452 I've been hearing /seeing things written, about ACT...something to look in to
It is now known that very few people suffer seriously dangerous withdrawals !! It is difficult but not life threatening for the vast majority !! Sinclair is still poisoning your liver !!
@@wendycarter5718 respectfully disagree... because people do STOP DRINKING.
the amount decreases significantly sometimes instantly for some people, such as myself. And your BRAIN IN CHANGED.
The brain returns to pre addicted state.
Its difficult to grasp, but that's what happens.
@@wendycarter5718 i sense a bias here for a very personal reason?
Good on her for getting sober,
Congratulations 🎉❤ I wonder if it helps to educate our young and adult population and update drinking age to 21 and over. Would it help reduce drinking problems or postpone it?
Alcohol kills people all over the world everyday .My ex drank himself to an early grave & I've got a sister that was so bad that she would drink rubbing alcohol if that was all she could get .It's just sad what alcohol does to people & their family's .
My sister did the same. She would drink gallons of mouthwash also. She was so desperate at the end she drank windshield washer fluid which quickly ended her life.
@@fluffyanne2396 I'm so sorry for ur lose of ur sister but she's got to be in a better place than here suffering .My sister is in the pen now for her 3rd. time .Both our parents have passed on & she was in jail both times couldnt come to her own parents funerals .I just hope this time she gets something out of this stay & don't start back again .Only time will tell .We live in america is that where yal live too ?
Jackyblue67 Same I’m in Ontario Canada. My sister also had 2 stints in jail which we all thought was the best place for her. The day she got out she got so drunk and I have no idea where she stashed her booze. She was a very beautiful woman with a great husband and 3 wonderful grandchildren. The alcohol had a very tight grip on her. I miss her every day but I don’t wish her back to live in the hell she created for herself.
No words so very sad
😢 it's a shame there is a stigma of alcoholism for rural people. Please no more. Reach out there is hope
I wish I could help my grown child..I stop 15 yrs ago.
If you find when you drink you have little or no control over the amount you take you are probably one of us
Other words once you start you can’t stop could be binging or could be every day night etc
AA saved my life
❤
This story suggests alcohol is the problem and in so doing distracts from the actual problem, that is, the difficulty for individuals to act and speak honestly without fear of negative repercussions, including being ostracised. If people felt free to not drink, or drink only when they wanted, alcohol would be less a problem. In fact alcohol is not the problem here.
Turn on comments for ALL ABC video`s!
Selective commenting is disgusting. Taxes pay for it, let us be able to speak.
Amen brother.
I agree
love this shit
Australians...need to look hard at themselves...do you have a problem then there is always a person to HELP.
She was lucky she met a good man to help her turn a corner. She probably wouldn't be around if it wasn't for him and his support
It's not all about you action not words
I love my vbs
what a sad story with a very happy ending two bute aussies mate
The government should be held accountable for supplying the alcohol
love this story
Alcohol = $$Profit in almost 95% of outback pubs, clubs, horse racing and the annual events of historically generational patrons. So what is the solution to breaking the alcohol cycle or reliance to businesses that the sale of alcohol is the only money maker locals survive on. Without sounding ludicrous the outback needs a massive population shift to be sustainable if you want to reduce alcohol reliance in order to survive in the harsh and isolated outback. Mining towns have often proven to be a financial wind fall when the sustainability is based solely on the mining industry and the longevity it provides. Problem is as Port Hedland has exposed is the FIFO worker and not the drive in, stay locally visitor is a curse as the town quite often has an overwhelming population of male workers of 95% of the work force which in turn is more than likely to have a huge alcohol and illicit drugs environment which can have an adverse affect on the local health department and police presents with crime and domestic violence being the result of the working visitors that a FIFO workforce creates. Tourism is only as good as the attractions pulling power can create and most outback towns have very limited resources and/or attractions interesting enough to be financially viable for the tourist. But, what kind of tourist will make that journey miles away from civilisation? Well it would be short sighted if the landscape itself is not a wonder nowhere else in the world. The diverse habitat and fauna or sand hills that are a unique ecosystem to animals plants and insects only found in those particular areas of Australia. The more people discover the Australian Outback the less they realised they didn't know. It's such a vast , wild and unique continent. That's not found ANYWHERE else on the planet. Promote and market it as such. It needs to be pushed to the point where local and federal must spend wisely and predominantly if they are to get that particular individual, company or business opportunists or entrepreneur's and environmental groups willing to take the bold risk and be the first of it's kind in Australia. First and foremost, local aboriginal traditional owners must be at the forefront and the managers of all business ventures bar none. They are to be in total control of who, when, where and how they permit any business to operate.
Shanna I am so pleased to have known you then Tim and to see both of you its some years ago that you came to me in a Cafe in the tourist hotel before it was remodelled I have followed you ever since the reason I left Narrabri and the running bare retreat was loveless 4 of my 5 kids live in qld and now 6 of my grankids to I left down there at end of July 20 and shifted to Goondiwindi then moved up here to emerald the best move for me ever I now have plenty of friends and some one will come in to my life to complete the picture as time goes on remmber God has a plan for all of us and how 2 half years how far one can shot forward if you come to emerald please message me I would love to meet you and Tim again how's flee bag going love peter
Great story....She looks like Stephanie Gilmore
I just clicked the 'like' to become no.666...
The devil made me do it!😂😈
Congratulations on your fantastic Aussie Day award today, Shan. Nobody more deserving!👍👍
(There's two more for good measure...)
"We measure men by how much beer he can put away" not in my circle of people we don't. Women drinking that way is a disgrace.
That’s a very sexist remark.
I agree. I’m Aussie and don’t date fat, slobby Aussie men who binge drink. European men are so much more refined and classy. I look after my body and expect the same.
@@katsoriano9262 I agree. I prefer European men for the same reason. They know how to worship a woman, as opposed to a beer lol
Damn Australia is basically Texas
She was talking about alcohol abuse and tons of women were drinking 😂
She is not against drinking ,just to excessive drinking.She personally as an alcoholic has to give it up completely .
Get pissed
Lol
Gez Louise....Principles before Personalities....Attraction not Promotion.
3 days having a rest
nothing wrong with tea totalers, as long as they still buy their round.
Legalise marijuana!
Nah. Just get high on life bro. Healthy living, exercise, outdoors etc. Try it you might like it.
Why are services needed, just stop drinking
Are you kidding? You apparently know nothing about the nature of addiction. *rolls eyes*
Hahaha
Ignorant.
Why are people homeless? Just go buy a house lol 😂 😂
@@remiacab8229 or pay your bills
It’s unAustralian to not have a drink every once and a while.
Aussie Life
Oh really?, I’m life a long teetotaller (I have been drunk rarely), and that does not make me any less Australian.
Look, I have nothing against people drinking alcohol, but in moderation.
Master Yoda you are genuinely offended how thick r ya!
Just like skincancer and liver diease
Respect choices,,,of course one is still australian if they choose not to drink..
Some people cannot take an odd drink, they have no choice but to abstain completely from alcohol forever in order to survive. "One day at a time" is a song that says it all. Lucky people can take a drink and then refrain from drink for long periods without any effort, others can not. Several of my male relatives died prematurely from diabetes and alcohol related heart disease and high blood pressure. Its something that is not talked about openly in Ireland.
I don't feel sorry for her. She chose to drink, and drink to excess. Lots of people have addiction problems, they don't put it on the net for the world to feel sorry for her. .
Tom Sheehy,
You missed the point. You clearly have no formal training if you think "Alcoholics choose to drink".
One of the traditions in AA is "to help other's suffering from Alcoholism". She put her story on line so that IT MIGHT HELP OTHER SUFFERING ALCOHOLICS, not for others "to feel sorry for her".
As a former family counselor addiction, including Alcoholism DESTROYS FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES. She is trying to support her own marriage and her community by reaching out to other alcoholics. Additionally, shame often drives compulsive, self destructive behaviors like drinking alcohol. By "telling her own story" she has created "a safe place" for other suffering people to share theirs.
Before the creation of Alcoholics Anonymous by Dr. Bob and Bill W. most Alcoholics would succumb to a premature death or be admitted into an asylum. Both alcoholics and their families were desperate for a solution that worked. AA created a safe fellowship, and a safe space for one alcoholic to share "their own experience, strength, and hope with others" suffering the same affliction. Clearly her approach is better than those outcomes.
Children who grow up in Alcoholic homes suffer terribly. While she briefly mentioned the sexual abuse she was subjected to as a young woman; approximately 2/3 of Alcoholic Women and 1/2 of Alcoholic men have also been sexually abused.
If anyone is struggling with any kind of addiction I'd encourage you to read BRADSHAW ON THE FAMILY, by John Bradshaw and look for an appropriate group or therapist with experience in Addictive Family dynamics.
If you LOVE someone who drinks too much or has another addictive behavior like gambling, shopping, working or Codependency I recommend you read Codependent No More by Melody Beatty. I found the book life changing.