Peaky Blinders star Tom Hardy knows all about battling drugs and alcohol. His teen years and early twenties were spent fighting charges of delinquency, excessive alcohol use, and drug addiction. It cost him his marriage and almost cost him his life. “I went entirely off the rails, and I’m lucky I didn’t have some terrible accident or end up in prison or dead because that’s where I was going.”
His addiction to crack cocaine got worse after his five-year marriage to Sarah Ward ended, and he was going steadily downhill. Finally, there was nowhere further to go, and he sought help in 2002 after completing the movie Star Trek: Nemesis. “In a blackout, I could end up anywhere; I might wake up somewhere on the other side of London, or in another country or in bed with someone I didn’t know, not knowing how I got there. Bleeding. This was on a daily basis, and I was going to work, I didn’t want to appear rock ‘n’ roll, I didn’t want anyone to know I was out of control, but I couldn’t hide it.”
How Do You Know When to Get Help for Addiction?
Tom said, “Eventually, the body gives up, my body told me – I was completely kaput, I was lucky I didn’t get hepatitis or AIDS.”
It is time to get help the moment you realise that you have a problem with drugs and/or alcohol. Tom allowed it to get out of hand and had to eventually literally choose between life and death. The sooner you get help, the sooner your life will get on track again. Waiting until you hit rock bottom is only making your life unmanageable and difficult for yourself.
The moment when you realise that the urge to use again or have another drink is irresistible is the moment that you need to ask for help. When drugs and alcohol take hold of your life is when you should look for help – sooner rather than later.
Where Do I Get Help for Addiction From?
There are large networks of rehab clinics where therapists and counsellors are ready to help you. Recovery Lighthouse has the expertise on hand to offer you the treatment and therapy that you need from the moment you start detoxifying to your ongoing quest to stay sober. Our staff is friendly and trained to deal with any problem that you present them with. Our clinic is well-equipped and modern, offering you the comfort and security that you need on your path to recovery. We also have an extensive relapse prevention strategy to help you stay sober after you leave rehab.
How Will I Know That I’ve Beaten My Demons?
“Now I know my beast, and I know how to manage it. It’s like living with a 400lb orangutan that wants to kill me. It’s much more powerful than me, doesn’t speak the same language, and it runs around the darkness of my soul,” said Tom. He is now more confident of his ability to recognise the danger signs. He is also able to recognise situations where he may face the temptation of using again.
Once you reach the point where you can make informed decisions about whether you are going to drink or use drugs again, you have beaten your demons. From then on, it is maintenance. Preventing a relapse is a daily battle with conscious decisions not to use again, not to drink, not to put yourself in a position where you’ll be tempted beyond your ability to resist.
How Do I Get Help for My Addiction?
The first step is admitting to having an alcohol or drug problem. This is a very important step. If you do not see that there is something wrong with your actions, you are unlikely to want to change them.
Calling Recovery Lighthouse is your next step. Our counsellors are ready to answer any questions that you may have, and we are more than ready, willing, and able to help you immediately. Start talking. Then take action. We are here for you and every minute you delay is a minute too long. Change your future now and live your best life for the rest of your life.