Be the Best you: with Angie & Calum Best
Calum:
My father was one of the greatest footballers whose boots ever graced the pitch. He was also an alcoholic. Addiction is a disease, and one addict’s problems can level an entire family. I should know – I’ve seen the devastation.
When my editor asked me to write about addiction, I shouted, ‘I’m not an addict!’ But, when I’d calmed down, it was food for thought. I am not an addict but, sadly, yes, I could have been.
Addiction comes in many forms – drink, drugs, food, gambling – and it can happen to anyone. There was a time that, when I drank, I binged. I have an addictive personality.
I was lucky to have an amazing support system – my mother, who moved back from California to London to take me in hand. She was fierce, but also loving. My mother made me see the person I was becoming. She showed me that addiction had beaten my dad and it wanted me, too.
What is it like battling addiction? I can only tell you from watching my father that it is the worst, the ugliest, the most loathsome monster. But it’s a battle that can be fought and won.
The first step if you fear you may be addicted to something is to acknowledge it. The second is to seek help. Then, accept that help.
If you’re worried about your own or a loved one’s behaviour, then you need to act. I’m a patron for The National Association For Children Of Alcoholics (nacoa.org.uk), which runs a helpline on 0800 358 3456 for children and adults. But, whatever you do, get help.