Singer Sia Celebrates Six Years of Sobriety

Despite what many people might believe, addiction can happen to absolutely anyone. It is an illness, just like diabetes or cancer is an illness; it is not a condition that affects just individuals with poor morals or no willpower. However, the term ‘addiction’ is often misused these days, with many referring to themselves as being addicted to something simply because they like it.

The real definition of addiction is a pattern of behaviour that a person has no control over, and which causes adverse consequences in their life. There are many types of addiction, including alcohol and drug addiction, and these illnesses can wreak havoc on the lives of those affected.

Overcoming a Battle with Addiction

Australian singer/songwriter Sia has talked candidly in the past about her battles with addiction and depression, and she has now taken to Twitter to celebrate six years of sobriety with her fans. She tweeted, “Six years sober today. Thank you to all those who have contributed knowingly and unknowingly. I love you, keep going.”

It is not the first time she has tweeted on the anniversary of her sobriety; when she hit the five-year milestone for staying clean, she tweeted a message to encourage others who were battling their own addiction issues. The tweet read, “5 years sober today. If you’re newly sober, keep at it, it gets so, so awesome. YOU CAN DO IT.”

Famously Private

Sia is famous for wanting to protect her privacy and often dons wigs to hide her face from the media. However, she spoke to The Late Show host James Corden and said, “I don’t wear this thing unless there’s cameras around. I only wear this to just try and maintain a modicum of privacy. I was a singer already for like 10 or 11 years to mediocre success, and I was an alcoholic and a drug addict, and I sobered up and decided I didn’t want to be an artist anymore because I was starting to get a little bit famous and it was destabilising in some ways.”

She said she then decided that mystery was something that did not exist in pop music, and that is where the idea for the wigs came from.

Suicidal Thoughts

Sia has also admitted to considering taking her life in 2010. She said, “I was extremely depressed at the time, that was one of my lowest points. I don’t think I ever would have stopped drinking had I not got hooked on Xanax and OxyContin. I don’t think I was taking them for more than maybe ten months before I hit rock bottom.”

Thankfully, a phone call to a friend helped her to reconsider her decision, and she added, “There was a small voice [in me] that wanted to live. And the only thing I knew how to do was to call someone who was also in the program, and then I just did what I was told, and I’m still sober now, so I am really grateful. I’d look at other people and think, ‘They look fine and happy; they even have families and have kids, how do they do it? They seem to be enjoying this ride called life’.”

Beating Addiction

Sadly, addiction often causes individuals to struggle with depression, and many people do end committing suicide because they fail to get the help they need in time. The good news is that addiction is a treatable illness.

With the right help and support, it is possible to overcome this devastating illness, as Sia has proved. Professional counsellors and therapists can help those who want to beat alcoholism or drug addiction, and with a programme of detox and rehabilitation, those affected can go on to live healthy and happy, sober lives.

Source: ‘Thanks to those who have contributed knowingly and unknowingly’: Singer Sia celebrates six years of sobriety with heartfelt tweet (Daily Mail)