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Gemma Rose Barnes has bravely opened up about her alcohol addiction as the hair stylist was inundated with messages of support.
The Married at First Sight UK star, who was paired with Matt Murray on last year’s series of the E4 matchmaking show which sees couples meet for the first time as they walk up the aisle on their wedding day, has received a flood of support after speaking out.
In a video shared with her 98,000 followers earlier this week, Gemma began: “Hi guys. I’m just coming onto Instagram to talk about something incredibly important and something that has been affecting my life for a really, really long time.
“I’ve been struggling with addiction and it’s taken over my life. This has been the hardest few years. I definitely think Covid was the biggest catalyst for all my problems.”
She continued: “I struggled to get better. I’ve been very, very poorly.
“Addiction is an illness. It’s a disease and there is just so much help available. My addiction has left me pushing away friends and family.
“Pushing people away that were closest to me and still mattered. Isolated myself. It left me in a really dark place. I promised that I would always be open and honest, no matter how hard it is and this is hard.”
She went on: “It’s really hard admitting that you have a problem. I can’t live my life with this illness anymore. My life has become unmanageable.”
Gemma shared she tried “recovery alone” and tried to stop drinking altogether and it worked for some time.
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She added her problem was assuming she could go back and have one more drink but said she would eventually revert back to her old “lifestyle”.
“I’m allergic to that lifestyle,” Gemma said. “It’s made me very poorly, mentally and physically.”
Gemma is now taking part in the 12 steps of recovery programme and has a sponsor.
“It’s changed my life already,” she said. “In this period I’ve reached out and asked for help from people who understand because they’ve been through it.”
She said about people with alcohol addiction: “People are sick, they’re poorly.” And she fears that it’s going to become more common.
“We’re listening to songs glamourising drug culture and alcohol, which is the biggest drug. I can’t ever drink again. I know that.”
Gemma was inundated with positive messages, as Grapefruitgroove applauded: “Well done. I work in addiction and it’s great to hear people like you speak openly and honest and hopefully will encourage others to come forward xx”
Jasminecharlotte told her: “The main thing people need to realise is addiction is an illness! Unfortunately pandemic and covid has had a huge impact on this. Well done speaking out about addiction, people need to realise people don’t choose addiction, addiction chooses people.”
Gemma later shared a message of thanks to her followers and loved ones for their support following her video post. “I was terrified to post but I wanted it to come from me and saying it out loud takes away the power.”
If you or someone you know has been affected by this story please contact Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).
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