Rachel Hechtman’s Triumph Over Adversity: A Former Alcoholic’s Journey
Drinking turns into an addiction in the blink of an eye if you don’t keep it in check. This is a common theme you will notice in young adults. But what causes such irresponsible drinking?
Getting drunk is often an easy way for young people to deal with their life stressors. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism states that about 855,000 American teenagers aged 12 to 17 are diagnosed with some type of alcohol use disorder. This is exactly how it started for Rachel Hechtman.
Rachel’s first experience with alcohol was at the tender age of 14. This drinking quickly became a source of sweet relief for her. After all, life wasn’t always kind to Rachel; she had to deal with her parents’ divorce and childhood trauma. Alcohol offered her an escape from it all, even if just temporarily.
On top of these challenges, Rachel was also diagnosed with ADHD. She went to boarding school, hoping for a fresh start, but college brought new struggles.
Dartmouth College introduced her to a culture of heavy drinking, leading her down a dangerous path. During those years, she also faced a traumatic incident that added to her struggles. She found herself depending on alcohol even more than before.
Fast forward a few years out of college when COVID hit, and Rachel realized she was in a dead-end relationship and had to face a terrible breakup. She became unemployed and unwilling to find another job. The anxiety was at an all-time high as Rachel struggled to stay afloat.
Alcohol had become an important part of her life. It kept her stress and loneliness at bay. In school, she led herself by believing that if everyone was doing it, it was okay. This mantra was an open gateway to addiction. As time passed, she began feeling unmotivated.
Rachel felt stuck in this constant loop of unproductivity. During COVID, a thought came to mind: how do people have those active, healthy, workout-everyday kinds of lives? The answer was an alcohol-free lifestyle.
This was a turning point in her life. Scared for her life, she decided to pull a complete shift, emerging stronger as she successfully completed her Dry January challenge and followed it with an alcohol-free summer. To say the least, this changed her life course for the better.
Trying to get over addiction was no piece of cake. She expressed her intention to quit drinking by practical means. Her first step was to start going on walks, and Central Park welcomed her. If she wanted to stay sober, she knew she had to keep going. She also knew she had to let go of people holding her back.
Soon after, Rachel started paying more attention to being healthy and lost about 100 pounds as part of her physical fitness journey by cutting out alcohol. Dropping weight gave Rachel confidence in herself that she didn’t know could exist. Getting active and fit improved her mood.
“Waking up on Monday morning without any semblance of a hangover is still one of the favorite parts of my alcohol-free journey,” says Rachel.
Today, Rachel works as a life coach and content creator to inspire others to reclaim their lives. Moreover, Rachel hosts community events and works with non-alcoholic brands to help them reach their audience.
If you are looking to find support in your recovery and want advice, check out her website and Instagram to become a part of the ever-growing sobriety in Central Park.
