Mom’s Alcohol Use Was Hidden for Years—Then One Night Changed Everything

A mom whose alcohol abuse almost caused her to lose everything spoke to Newsweek about the realities of living with alcohol use disorder, and her pride after turning her life around.

Taylor Krajewski, 31, from Denver, was just 14 years old when she had her first taste of alcohol. She started partying as a teenager and developed an “unhealthy relationship” with alcohol. While many of her friends knew when to stop, Krajewski could not draw the line.

This pattern of drinking continued throughout her late teens and 20s but did not seem concerning to Krajewski. After all, she was just young and having fun.

That was, until she wasn’t.

Krajewski told Newsweek that her drinking became more of a problem in 2022 after her daughter, now 7, was diagnosed with diabetes.

“I didn’t know how to cope with all the fear, uncertainty, and new way of life following her diagnosis, so I turned to alcohol,” Krajewski said. “My addiction progressed slowly at first, and then eventually alcohol became something I needed.”

Despite battling alcohol use disorder, Krajewski convinced herself she was fine because she was still functioning. She went to work, took care of her daughter, paid bills and maintained a façade of normality.

Yet, what was once an outlet to unwind turned into something Krajewski needed to get through the day.

“What started as drinking to relax turned into drinking every day, and eventually it was constantly on my mind,” she said. “I would plan around when I could drink, make sure I had enough alcohol at home, and feel anxious if I was running low.”

Krajewski continued: “I knew it was hurting my relationships, my mental health and my ability to be a mom, but I couldn’t imagine getting through life without alcohol. That was probably the scariest part—knowing how much it was costing me and still feeling completely dependent on it.”

According to the 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, nearly one in 10 people aged 12 and older exhibited alcohol use disorder in the U.S.—equating to 28 million people. The CDC highlights that binge drinking for women consists of four or more drinks on one occasion, and five drinks at any one time for men.

The long-term effects of alcohol use include an increased risk of cancer, high blood pressure, heart disease, digestive problems and depression. In order to reduce the health risks, the CDC encourages people to drink less or to avoid alcohol completely.

At the peak of her alcohol use disorder, Krajewski drank three or four bottles of wine a day, and would often add shooters of vodka. At her lowest, Krajewski believed she had destroyed everything in her life and it would never get better.

“I lost jobs, went through an eviction, had to surrender my car, damaged relationships with people I loved, and came dangerously close to losing everything,” Krajewski said. “I became someone I didn’t recognize. I wasn’t dependable, I was constantly anxious and ashamed, and I was just trying to survive from one day to the next.”

While she knew something had to change, that moment finally came on December 27, 2025.

She was “belligerently drunk” and accidentally scared her young daughter, forcing Krajewski to see that alcohol was not just hurting her, but her family too. It became clear that something had to change, and Krajewski was determined to make it work.

“I realized that if I continued down that path, I was absolutely going to lose the people I loved. The next morning, something felt different. I knew I was done. I didn’t know exactly how I was going to get sober, but I knew I couldn’t keep choosing alcohol over the life and family I loved,” she told Newsweek.

Krajewski made it her priority to get sober after that. She took one day at a time and stopped centering every decision around alcohol. She found support groups online, talked openly about her alcohol consumption, used medication to stem her cravings, and built healthy routines.

Gradually, she began to rebuild everything that alcohol had taken from her.

Change did not occur overnight, but by choosing not to drink, Krajewski began feeling present and dependable again.

Krajewski has been sober since December 27, 2025, and is so proud of the progress she continues to make. Of course, she still has bad days, but now she has positive coping mechanisms to work through the challenges.

“I’ve lost over 35 pounds, I work out, focus on eating well, and I have more energy,” she said. “I’m dependable, an active and involved mom, and I enjoy my life instead of constantly trying to escape. I feel stronger physically and mentally, and for the first time in a long time, I’m genuinely excited about my future.”

Now, Krajewski documents her sobriety on social media (@sobrietayyy on TikTok) to share the realities of alcohol use disorder and the strength that can be found within. A video captured during “peak addiction” has gone viral with 754,300 views on TikTok, leaving many shocked by how she managed to appear seemingly fine at the time.

By sharing her experience, Krajewski hopes to remind others that it is never too late to turn things around. Sobriety may seem impossible at first, but she urges others to find out who they are without alcohol.

“There is a life on the other side that is worth fighting for. Life is so much more beautiful when you actually experience it instead of numbing yourself,” she said. “I spent years feeling ashamed, and today I’m proud of the woman and mother I’m becoming. If being open about the darkest parts of my life helps one person feel less alone or believe that they can change, there is purpose in everything I went through.”

To learn more about treatment for all types of substance use disorder, see FindTreatment.gov or call the national helpline of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, a branch of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, on 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

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Contact Newsweek editors for this story: Marc Vargas and Anthony Murray.