If you watched Eastenders last night (Tuesday) you would have seen Linda Carter reaching breaking point.
This storyline is a good depiction of how a person can treat underlying trauma with alcohol and/or other addictions.
Linda Carter, once a strong, happily married, nurturing mother and landlady of the Queen Vic has undergone her fair share of trauma over the years. From being raped by her brother-in-law and struggling with bulimia to losing her husband, there have been affairs, blackmail, lies, broken families and murder.
In last night’s episode, her son Johnny, who is acting as her legal team for her impending court case where she grapples to get justice for being raped by Dean Wicks, gave her alcohol to help her through a meeting with the trail’s prosecution.
But Linda couldn’t stop at one drink to calm her nerves which resulted in her being taken off the case.
Another attempt to stay sober the following day was scuppered after Linda was given alcohol by Bernie, whose motive was to get her drunk and admit to lying about Keanu’s murder.
After a blazing row, a distraught, disappointed and disgusted Johnny found his Mum drinking in bed and told her he wished she had died instead of his dad, Mick, before storming out. By the time he had returned to talk things through, she was unconscious.
Could this be Linda’s rock bottom?
This is a soap opera and Eastenders is renowned for being dramatic, but if we are living with addiction our reality can be like this, and it disturbs everyone around us.
If you relate to Johnny and your life is being affected by somebody else’s addiction, we can offer you free group counselling in our Family Carer’s Groups.
If you relate to Linda, we can help. We offer free, time-unlimited day-time group therapy to adults living with addiction in Hertfordshire.
Recovery is possible. Since 2000, we have successfully helped over 7500 clients into recovery from an addiction that was ruining their lives and the lives of those around them.
We can help you too. Call us on 0300 365 0304 to find out more or self-refer online.