Well, we just found out April is Alcohol Awareness Month, and thought it was the perfect time to share with you a short skit we produced on the subject. But because of this whole COVID19/Social Distancing thing going on right now, we were unable to film it in a room with others like we had originally envisioned, so instead we recorded an Audio-Only version for the time being.
We hope this short skit will be the first in the beginning of a series of 1-3 minute plays covering a variety of social issues to help facilitate conversations for healing, encourage others, and empower people to live their best lives possible.
However, let’s get one thing clear. This one minute skit is by NO MEANS an exhaustive illustration of what alcohol abuse looks like. It’s purely a snapshot of it from my personal experience. One that has been difficult for me to admit. But I, Tiffany Grand, the founder of Femmespire Media and writer and producer of media intended to encourage others, has an unhealthy relationship with alcohol. And I am a firm believer that when we own up to and face our weakness and struggles, that is the first step to healing and recovery. (It’s also related to Step 1 in Alcoholics Anonymous)
I admit, I use it as a crutch, as a coping mechanism to deal with my many anxieties, occasional depression, unresolved anger, and to cope with my own insecurities and fears. I am a very self-aware person, so more often than not the drinking is my attempt at blocking out the inner pain instead of dealing with it in healthier ways such as exercise, positive meditation, counseling, etc. I battle anxiety BIG TIME- from social anxiety, GAD, and phobias like heights and driving. The anxiety controls many aspects of my life. Writing and trying to create something positive from it is often the only thing that calms my mind.
But on those days I don’t create and have to interact with people (especially in new situations or over the phone) – I drink. And I mean, like, a LOT. I’m known to polish off a 2 liter bottle of rum by myself in 24 hours. And I, like the characters in the skit have been notorious for bringing alcoholic drinks with me many places where I’ll have to interact socially with other humans. I’ve been the obnoxious, drunk relative at family gatherings more times than I’d like to admit.
But I’m owning up to it now. Not to shame anyone who likes to drink alcohol (hell, I openly admit to enjoying my alcohol), but to bring awareness of some of the possibly less obvious reasons people develop a substance abuse problem.
For you it might be something else. Childhood abuse, mental illness like bi-polar disorder, a family history of alcoholism, just plain boredom, or any other number of reasons. Whatever your reasons are, and no matter how much or how little you drink, it doesn’t make you any less valid. The awareness is meant to empower you, to encourage you to think differently about yourself and the root motivations behind your substance addiction - whatever it is.
And it IS an addiction. Anything that makes you think you are better off with it and scared to go without is an addiction. This month of April and this particular short skit just happens to be referencing alcohol abuse in a (hopefully) humorous way.
Thanks for reading and thank you for listening. I hope you enjoy the skit.
April is Alcohol Awareness Month and we would like to encourage anyone who may struggle with a substance abuse issue that you are not alone, you are not a failure at life, and there is help.
Substance abuse and Mental Health Hotline and Resources
https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline
SAMHSA’s National Helpline – 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
Audio Skit:
We hope this short skit will be the first in the beginning of a series of 1-3 minute plays covering a variety of social issues to help facilitate conversations for healing, encourage others, and empower people to live their best lives possible.
However, let’s get one thing clear. This one minute skit is by NO MEANS an exhaustive illustration of what alcohol abuse looks like. It’s purely a snapshot of it from my personal experience. One that has been difficult for me to admit. But I, Tiffany Grand, the founder of Femmespire Media and writer and producer of media intended to encourage others, has an unhealthy relationship with alcohol. And I am a firm believer that when we own up to and face our weakness and struggles, that is the first step to healing and recovery. (It’s also related to Step 1 in Alcoholics Anonymous)
I admit, I use it as a crutch, as a coping mechanism to deal with my many anxieties, occasional depression, unresolved anger, and to cope with my own insecurities and fears. I am a very self-aware person, so more often than not the drinking is my attempt at blocking out the inner pain instead of dealing with it in healthier ways such as exercise, positive meditation, counseling, etc. I battle anxiety BIG TIME- from social anxiety, GAD, and phobias like heights and driving. The anxiety controls many aspects of my life. Writing and trying to create something positive from it is often the only thing that calms my mind.
But on those days I don’t create and have to interact with people (especially in new situations or over the phone) – I drink. And I mean, like, a LOT. I’m known to polish off a 2 liter bottle of rum by myself in 24 hours. And I, like the characters in the skit have been notorious for bringing alcoholic drinks with me many places where I’ll have to interact socially with other humans. I’ve been the obnoxious, drunk relative at family gatherings more times than I’d like to admit.
But I’m owning up to it now. Not to shame anyone who likes to drink alcohol (hell, I openly admit to enjoying my alcohol), but to bring awareness of some of the possibly less obvious reasons people develop a substance abuse problem.
For you it might be something else. Childhood abuse, mental illness like bi-polar disorder, a family history of alcoholism, just plain boredom, or any other number of reasons. Whatever your reasons are, and no matter how much or how little you drink, it doesn’t make you any less valid. The awareness is meant to empower you, to encourage you to think differently about yourself and the root motivations behind your substance addiction - whatever it is.
And it IS an addiction. Anything that makes you think you are better off with it and scared to go without is an addiction. This month of April and this particular short skit just happens to be referencing alcohol abuse in a (hopefully) humorous way.
Thanks for reading and thank you for listening. I hope you enjoy the skit.
April is Alcohol Awareness Month and we would like to encourage anyone who may struggle with a substance abuse issue that you are not alone, you are not a failure at life, and there is help.
Substance abuse and Mental Health Hotline and Resources
https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline
SAMHSA’s National Helpline – 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
Audio Skit:
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