Felicia’s Journey through Alcohol Addiction and Recovery

From a coma and organ failure to four months sober, Felicia’s journey through alcohol addiction treatment is nothing short of extraordinary.

Alcohol has always been the substance of my addiction.

I started drinking in my mid-teens. For a long time, I believed my addiction began seven or eight years ago, but when I truly reflected, I realized I have never been able to have “just one drink.”

From the age of 16, I drank to get drunk. I was still in school, already living out of home, and drinking at parties religiously.

When I was 10, my mum separated from my dad and met my stepfather. From that point on, my sister and I were exposed to a new culture where the goal was just to survive the week, so you could drink on the weekend. A continuous cycle. My dad didn’t drink – we had always had a wholesome, stable childhood, completely separated from any substance use. But he passed away when I was 12.

As a teenager, I was surrounded by binge drinking and weekend parties. It was all I had seen over the last few years in my home environment and so I continued to carry those habits into adulthood.

After finishing school, my sister and I lived together. At 18, we each received an inheritance from our dad’s passing, which meant I didn’t need to work if we didn’t want to. We lived off that money, spending our nights partying, and our days recovering. Life was fun.

At 19, I got a job and I had my first daughter at 22. During my twenties, my drinking felt “manageable” – mostly social and on weekends, similar to my life before. But by my mid-thirties, things began to shift. I started drinking during the week. What began as a few glasses of wine in the evenings slowly escalated too more and more. I didn’t notice much change at first. Life still seemed functional at that point.

But in my late thirties, everything started to unravel. My relationships and work began to deteriorate. I constantly felt hungover and anxious. I was just doing the bare minimum to get through each day, driven by cravings and guilt. Eventually, every time I drank, I would pass out. My anxiety became overwhelming.

When COVID hit in 2020, the isolation and stress made everything worse. I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety and prescribed medication. I stopped exercising; something that was once a huge part of my life, training 5-6 days a week. My body couldn’t keep up anymore and I no longer had the effort in me.

At the end of 2023, while drinking one day, I intentionally overdosed on paracetamol. I had already been living away from the family home for a couple of months and I felt alone. The consequences were nearly fatal – kidney and liver failure, 10 days in a coma, two weeks in ICU. I had to learn how to walk again and I was told I could never drink again. I went through withdrawal and detox in the hospital. When I was discharged, I no longer needed to be medicated for my mental health. For the first time in years, my anxiety had completely lifted.

I continued to avoid alcohol after this and had seven months of sobriety.

But then I separated from my husband and moved out of the family home again. I went from running a busy household, raising three kids, to again living alone. The loss of purpose hit hard. With no one watching, I tested the waters and had a glass of wine. It spiralled almost immediately. It wasn’t long before I was drinking a bottle and a half of wine a day.

My children and I have always been close, but they could always tell when I was drinking. I’d go quiet. Harder to reach. I started missing important moments – sporting events, social activities. When my drinking worsened, they pulled away. That was always difficult to bear.

In October 2024, I travelled overseas with my youngest daughter. I didn’t drink once. But when I returned, the loneliness crept in again, and I picked up alcohol. One day, a friend came to visit and saw how badly I was struggling. She told me I needed help.

I had done detoxes before at Damascus – but this time, I knew I needed something different. I was tired of the cycle: white knuckling through cravings, weeks of hangovers, broken relationships, and unstable work. When I saw that the Hader Clinic Queensland followed a 12-step program, it felt like the right fit.

I called them on a Monday and was admitted by Thursday. If I’d been put on a waitlist, things might have turned out differently. I spent four weeks in detox, then transitioned into the 12-week residential rehab program.

Initially, I was anxious. It was a new environment, but it helped to be surrounded by people. I rarely stayed in my room. I craved connection. At first, I only planned to stay four weeks. But after the first week, I knew I needed to commit to the full program.

I gave it everything.

The staff, especially Mark and Jason, were incredible. They shared their own stories, weaving their experiences into the program content. That made all the difference. I felt safe to talk about my past without fear of judgment.

I had gone to AA meetings before, on my own – it was overwhelming and scary. But at Hader Clinic Queensland, they walked me through the AA process, introduced me to groups, and made the experience a lot less intimidating and more healing.

I wish I had found Hader Clinic Queensland sooner. It showed me how vital connection is and how much I needed it to stay in recovery.

As I prepared to leave, I was excited to return to my family. But I also had fears and a greater degree of caution. Could I do this on my own? Could I build a life worth living without alcohol? The staff helped normalize those feelings. I had a clear exit plan and I am So grateful I continued with outpatient care program three days a week, which really helped me with accountability.

At times, it felt overwhelming. I was stepping into a brand-new life. But I left feeling strong in my recovery, and I still feel strong today.

I have now been sober for four months.

For the first time in a long time, I feel peace. In the past, I was always chasing something – more, better, bigger. Now, I’m simply happy with who I am becoming. I’m at peace with the fact that I never have to drink again. Sobriety doesn’t feel like a chore – it feels like freedom.

Names and photographs of this client may have been changed to protect their privacy.

Dr Mel Symon

Director, Hader Group QLD

Dr Mel Symon is the Director of Hader Group QLD, leading both Hader Clinic Queensland and Hader Clinic Queensland Private. With more than 30 years of experience in human services and over 20 years as a founder and business leader, Mel has played a central role in establishing and growing Queensland’s leading addiction treatment services.

Mel holds a PhD in Addiction Treatment from the University of Queensland, along with a Master of Mental Health, Master of Professional Management, and a Bachelor of Social Science. Since 2016, she has overseen the development of the 40-bed Hader Clinic Queensland residential rehabilitation program and, in 2021, the creation and opening of the 25-bed Hader Clinic Queensland Private Hospital.

Passionate about lifelong recovery, Mel is dedicated to evidence-based care, meaningful change, and supporting individuals to rebuild their lives through sustainable recovery pathways.

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