“I thought I was a work-hard, party-hard girl, living the dream. But I was a slave to alcohol. My drinking escalated to the point where it consumed my weekends, leaving me depressed and anxious on Sundays,” recalls Verena Titze, now in her 30s. Verena’s battle with alcohol began in her 20s, a time when her life was dominated by late-night parties and endless workdays in Austria’s media industry.
“An alcoholic is not just a person who drinks vodka in the morning. That’s one end of the spectrum, but it’s a broad spectrum,” she explains. As her dependence on alcohol deepened, Verena found herself trapped in a cycle that became increasingly difficult to break.
The turning point: burnout and rehabilitation
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Verena’s fast-paced life came to a screeching halt. She experienced a severe burnout, which she describes as “losing the ground under your feet”. Unable to function, she moved back in with her mother, where she was so debilitated that she could not perform basic tasks or care for herself.
“My mum picked me up and took me to the supermarket. She asked me to get some milk, and I didn’t even know what milk was or how to get it. That’s how badly my brain was struggling.”
Verena then entered a rehabilitation facility, a decision she now describes as the best she ever made.
“I needed that distance from my old life,” she says, “In rehab, I began to unravel the reasons for my dependence and realized that alcohol was just a stand-in for dealing with some of my deeper issues. I spent my days walking in nature, reflecting on my life and undergoing therapy.”
This period marked a crucial turning point. Verena began to see a path forward, one that did not include alcohol.
“After rehab, I rediscovered the things that truly brought me joy. I spent a summer kitesurfing, reconnecting with nature, and pursuing hobbies like yoga, tennis and music. All the time I was spending in bars, I suddenly had that time back,” she says.
“You start to find new things. You also have the headspace because you’re not always hungover.”
Feeling fresh and grounded
After years of therapy, rehabilitation and self-discovery, Verena has forged a new path – one that is free of alcohol, full of creativity, and driven by a mission to destigmatize addiction and burnout.
“I am so much more stable in this world. That is the biggest gift I’ve received,” she shares. “Of course, life still happens. I’m not happy 24/7 just because I don’t drink, but I feel more grounded, like a tree with roots firmly planted in the ground.”
On a side note, she adds, “People tell me I am glowing all the time. Seriously, alcohol makes you puffy and sweaty. When you drink a lot, every pore of your body shows that something is not right.”
Today, Verena uses her voice to raise awareness about alcohol issues and inspire others to seek help, sharing her story through her book, podcast and solo stage show in the hope of helping others who are struggling.
“Recovery is possible and life without alcohol can be richer and more fulfilling than you ever imagined. If you keep an eye on your consumption, maybe you will never get as lost as I did,” she advises. “But, if you do, know that there’s a way back – and it’s a life worth living.”
Finding support and more information
If you or someone you know is experiencing harms from alcohol, it is important to reach out for help. You can find support on your national Ministry of Health website, or by consulting your doctor.
Verena shared her story with us for the “Redefine alcohol” campaign. This campaign is part of the WHO–European Union Evidence into Action Alcohol Project (EVID-ACTION), which aims to increase awareness about the harms of alcohol across 30 countries (the 27 European Union Member States plus Iceland, Norway and Ukraine) from 2022 to 2026.