How can childhood trauma shape someone’s relationship with alcohol—and why can addiction remain hidden even when life looks successful from the outside?

In Part 2 of Marci Hopkins’ story on Addiction Talk, Marci takes us back to where her relationship with alcohol began and shares the painful experiences that followed her from childhood into adulthood.

Marci recalls having her first drink around age eight and getting drunk for the first time at 12. She also opens up about childhood sexual abuse, feeling unsafe at home, struggling with her self-worth, and eventually using alcohol as a way to escape. As she got older, drinking became an increasingly constant part of her life.

But from the outside, Marci’s life could look very different.

She built a successful career in media, moved to Los Angeles, got married, and continued moving forward professionally—all while alcohol remained a regular part of her life. Marci describes herself as having been a high-functioning alcoholic, even though at the time she would not have identified herself that way.

Marci and host Joy Sutton also explore how comparing your drinking to other people’s drinking can make it easier to convince yourself that you don’t have a problem. Marci explains how she surrounded herself with people who drank like she did—or more—which made her own drinking seem less concerning.

In Part 2, Marci discusses:

• Childhood trauma and alcohol use
• Drinking at an early age
• Using alcohol to cope and escape
• How trauma affected her self-worth and relationships
• Building a successful life while continuing to drink
• What high-functioning alcoholism looked like in her life
• Why comparing your drinking to others can be dangerous
• Addiction and family history
• Forgiveness and letting go of the past
• Why feeling wounded doesn't mean you're broken
• Rebuilding your life in addiction recovery

Marci ultimately shares an important shift in how she came to view sobriety: instead of thinking she was giving up alcohol, she began to see recovery as getting her life back.

As she puts it, a life built on an unstable foundation can come crashing down—but recovery provides an opportunity to rebuild that life one brick at a time.

In Part 3, Marci explains what that rebuilding actually looked like for her, including changing her thinking, navigating cravings and triggers, finding support, practicing gratitude, and learning to live one day at a time.

If you or someone you love is struggling with alcohol or addiction, help is available.

Continue with Part 3 of Marci Hopkins’ recovery story on Addiction Talk.

Addiction Talk is brought to you by American Addiction Centers, a leading provider of addiction and mental health services.

Addiction Talk is brought to you by American Addiction Centers. If you or someone you know needs help, call 866-407-4130, or visit our website at AmericanAddictionCenters.org