In Australia, drinking alcohol is invariably a rite of passage into adulthood, an intrinsic part of our culture for better or worse. It’s fun, relaxing and a social lubricant; sometimes, it becomes a coping mechanism to deal with stress, anxiety or unpleasant emotions. What happens when you’re compelled to drink even though you know it’s causing you problems?  Guided by the host, Beth Armstrong, three articulate women share their stories of how drinking alcohol became problematic and the steps they took to get help, recover and grow from the experience. Speaking anonymously, they share misconceptions, silver linings and pitfalls and offer advice for others embarking on the process.  * Content warning - adult themes. If you need help, please call Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Share women's wisdom worldwide - for everyone. To help, please write a review on your platform and share episodes. And please donate to help us record accessible and advert-free episodes via PayPal using this link. https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=7KGVGCLPX45K8 We appreciate your feedback and suggestions. Contact Beth at: [email protected] Sound production: Unison Sound. Producer: Luke Mynott, Beth Armstrong Host: Beth Armstrong Editor: Tom Herdman, Mija Healey. Sound Engineer: Micayla Laurence, Cihan Siral. Composer: Biddy Connor Artwork: wisebrownfox https://www.instagram.com/curveball_media/