Lulu Reveals Struggle Against Alcoholism: 'I'm Not Ashamed Anymore'
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- Penyanyi veteran Lulu, 77 tahun, secara terbuka mengakui dirinya seorang alkoholik dan telah bebas alkohol sejak rehabilitasi pada 2013.
- Ia menegaskan tidak bangga dengan masa lalunya, tetapi menolak rasa malu yang dulu membelenggunya, dan menyebut penulisan memoar sebagai terapi yang traumatis namun katarsis.
- Kesaksian Lulu menyoroti pentingnya dukungan kesehatan mental dan spiritual dalam pemulihan kecanduan, sekaligus menginspirasi diskusi tentang alkoholisme fungsional yang sering tersembunyi.
Legendary Scottish singer Lulu has surprised the public with a candid admission that she is an alcoholic. The 77-year-old stated that she no longer feels ashamed of her condition, although she is not proud of the dark journey she has endured. This confession was first shared in her memoir titled If Only You Knew, which she later elaborated on in an interview with the newspaper i.
Lulu, who has been active in the music industry since the 1960s, revealed that she underwent rehabilitation in 2013 and has not touched alcohol since. The decision to open up was not without risk. Writing the book, she said, was like "going to hell and back"—an intense process that forced her to confront past traumas. However, she described the experience as cathartic. "Now that I've been honest and vocal about being an alcoholic, I'm not proud, but I'm not ashamed. Because I used to be so ashamed," she stated.
This confession is more than just a celebrity's personal story. Alcoholism, especially functional alcoholism, often goes undetected because sufferers can still maintain their daily routines. Lulu herself admitted to being a "highly-functioning alcoholic"—she could perform on stage, record songs, and meet work schedules, but every night she would go to sleep drunk. "I was very secretive, I was very ashamed. I'd go out, have a few drinks, come home, have more drinks. You know you're an alcoholic if you can't stop," she recalled. Even her son and close friend, Elton John, were unaware of her internal struggle for years.
In an interview on the On The Mend podcast hosted by Matt Willis, Lulu spoke about her fear of relapse. "I have a healthy fear of relapse, but I'm not constantly anxious. I'm aware it could happen," she explained. She admitted that being around people enjoying fine wine can sometimes be tempting, but she knows the price she would pay. "It's like cutting off your own arm... I would just collapse. It would be the end of my life."
"I've always had incredible faith. I call it more spirituality than religion. Every morning I get on my knees and thank God for what I have... I believe there's something bigger than myself." — Lulu
Lulu's journey also highlights the importance of mental health in the recovery process. She confessed that writing her memoir was so emotionally unsettling that she had to return to therapy. "I needed to go back to therapy, seriously. The book traumatized me," she admitted. This experience shows that speaking openly about addiction can be a double-edged sword: on one hand liberating, on the other, reawakening old wounds.
In Indonesia, the issue of alcoholism is often still viewed as a taboo and a source of shame. Data from the Ministry of Health indicates an increase in alcohol users among adolescents and young adults, yet rehabilitation services and mental health support remain limited. Lulu's story can serve as a mirror, showing that addiction does not discriminate based on social status or profession. Spiritual support and professional therapy, like what she underwent, are key to sustaining recovery.
Moving forward, public figures like Lulu being open about their struggles can reduce stigma and encourage more people to seek help. However, challenges remain: how to ensure adequate access to mental health services, especially in countries with strong cultures of shame? Lulu's story reminds us that recovery is a lifelong process, and the courage to be honest is the first step towards healing.
