Antaru was a 24 year-old girl who had just started a new job in a big city. She was staying in a hostel, far away from her family for the first time. The freedom excited her. No parents to watch over her, no strict rules to follow. She could explore life the way she wanted.
In the hostel, Antaru made many new friends. They were funny, lively and full of energy. Every weekend, they planned parties. One evening, her friends offered her a glass of alcohol.
"Come on, Antaru! Just one drink. You have to enjoy life!" they
laughed.
At first, Antaru said no. She remembered her parents' advice to stay
away from such things. But inside, she was curious. Everyone else was drinking
and having so much fun. She didn’t want to feel left out. Finally, she agreed.
When she had her first drink, she felt strange but also happy. The world
seemed lighter. Her worries disappeared for a while. Later that night, one of
her friends also offered her a cigarette. Again, Antaru thought, "One time
won't hurt." She took it. She coughed a little but laughed it off with
everyone.
Days turned into weeks. What started as “just once” became “every
weekend.” Then it became "after work" and "before sleep."
Antaru felt good whenever she drank or smoked. It helped her forget the stress
of work. It made her feel part of the group.
But slowly, things started changing.
Antaru began feeling tired all the time. She found it hard to
concentrate on her work. Her mood started swinging — sometimes she was too
happy, other times very sad or angry without any reason. She lost her appetite
and started skipping meals. She also began to feel guilty after drinking or
smoking. Deep inside, she knew something was wrong, but she didn’t know how to
stop.
Antaru started to realize that alcohol and smoking were causing all
these problems. She tried to quit a few times, but every time, the cravings
became too strong, and she found herself falling back into old habits. It felt
like she couldn't break free.
One morning, after a night of heavy drinking and smoking, Antaru woke up
feeling sick and empty. Her head hurt, and her heart felt heavy with guilt. She
knew she couldn’t continue like this. She decided to seek help.
She booked an appointment with a psychologist.
Therapy Session with Psychologist
In the small, quiet room, she met Dr. Meera, a kind-looking lady with warm eyes.
Antaru nervously shared her story — about the hostel life, the peer pressure, the curiosity, the good feelings after drinking and smoking, and how everything had slowly turned into a habit she couldn’t control.
"Antaru, alcohol and cigarettes can cause many side effects on your health. Let me tell you a few common problems:"
Health Effects of Alcohol Addiction
- Brain problems — Alcohol and smoking can slow down brain functions, making it harder to think clearly, remember things or make good decisions.
- Liver damage — The liver has to work very hard to remove alcohol from the body. Over the time, it stop from working properly.
- Heart problems — Drinking too much alcohol and smoking can raise blood pressure and making it beat irregularly.
- Weaker immune system — Alcohol and smoking make it harder for the body to fight off infections like colds, flu, or pneumonia because they damage the body's defense cells.
- Higher cancer risk — Regular alcohol drinking and smoking increase the chances of getting serious diseases like cancer in the mouth, throat, liver, and even breast.
- Mood swings and emotional problems — Alcohol affects the brain chemicals that control emotions, causing sudden sadness, anger, or anxiety.
"Yes, ma’am... I find it hard to focus at work now. My mood keeps changing for no reason. I get angry quickly, then feel sad. Also, I often feel tired and don’t feel like eating properly. And... I keep catching colds lately."
"I really want to change, ma’am," she said with determination.
"I don’t want to harm my body anymore. I don’t want my life to be controlled by alcohol and cigarettes. Please tell me what steps I should follow. I am ready to take strong action to get better", she said gently.
"Good, Antaru. That’s the spirit we need. Let me share some important steps that will help you recover", said Dr. Meera.
"Understanding this is the first step to change. It’s not too late. But you need to act now."
5 Steps to Overcome Addiction
- Accept the problem honestly — Don’t hide it or lie to yourself.
- Avoid triggers — Stay away from people, places, and situations that tempt you.
- Find healthy replacements — Like exercising, drawing, writing, or joining a hobby class.
- Talk to someone you trust — Sharing feelings helps reduce guilt and stress.
- Take one day at a time — Focus on staying clean just today. Tomorrow will take care of itself.
Life is more beautiful when you are truly healthy and free.
Dr. Meera gently explained.
Antaru nodded slowly, feeling a lump in her throat. Hearing these words, Antaru felt a strong desire rising inside her.
Dr. Meera’s smile grew wider. She could see hope shining in Antaru’s
eyes.
She gave Antaru five steps to follow.
Dr. Meera
also asked Antaru to come back after one week to talk about her progress.
As Antaru left the clinic, she felt lighter. For the first time in months, she felt a small ray of hope.
Conclusion
Addiction
may start from fun, curiosity, or the desire to escape problems, but slowly it
takes control over our mind and body. It affects our brain, heart, liver,
immune system, emotions, and overall happiness.
If you ever
start using substances like alcohol or cigarettes thinking "just once
won't hurt," be careful. Addiction doesn’t happen in one day, but once it
catches you, getting free becomes harder.
The best way to stay safe is to be aware, set strong boundaries and seek help early.
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