My name is Sarah. I am 23 and I live in Mukono.
After I lost my father, I stopped sleeping properly. I started drinking to fall asleep, then to get through the day. From the outside I looked fine. I was working and smiling in photos, but inside I felt empty and very tired.
Asking for help was the bravest thing I have ever done, and I am proud of it.
I found Voices of Recovery on Instagram and sent a message at two in the morning, not expecting a reply. Someone answered before breakfast. That conversation led to an assessment and a place in the outpatient programme, so I could keep my job while I got help.
The peer support circle was the hardest part at first. I had never said the word depression out loud. Hearing other women describe the same feelings made me realise that I was not broken, just hurting.
I have now been alcohol-free for seven months. I still see my counsellor and I still go to the circle. Asking for help was the bravest thing I have ever done, and I am proud of it.
