Prestala som piť a našla som samu seba. | Gréta Šestinová

Summary

Host Sonja Kopčanová speaks with Gréta Šestinová about alcohol dependence, recovery, shame, self-worth, family patterns, and building an authentic life. Gréta describes drinking to cope and maintain a level at which she could function—even at school and work—while hiding how serious the problem had become. She credits residential treatment with giving her the time and space to focus on herself. She has since stopped drinking and does not define herself by her addiction or view it simply as a personal failure.

The conversation also explores how grief, eating disorders, difficult relationships, low self-worth, and environments where alcohol is normalized can contribute to unhealthy coping. The speakers emphasize that people may use alcohol or other habits to meet emotional needs, and that recognizing a problem and wanting help are important steps toward change.

Key wellness and self-care strategies

• Seek professional support when needed. Gréta describes residential treatment, individual and group therapy, and the help she received from clinicians. She encourages people facing difficult experiences to explore what they need and who they are, rather than trying to manage everything alone.
• Create space to reflect. During treatment, being without her phone helped Gréta focus on her own thoughts and needs instead of other people’s lives and opinions. The speakers suggest that even a phone-free day or week could offer a useful reset.
• Write feelings down. Gréta says keeping a nightly diary helped her put emotions into words. Art therapy was another helpful outlet.
• Identify triggers and protect recovery. Gréta says treatment taught her to recognize situations that could prompt drinking and to avoid or prepare for them.
• Be cautious about replacing one coping mechanism with another. Gréta initially turned to intense exercise after quitting alcohol. The discussion notes that relying on a single substitute can leave someone vulnerable if they can no longer do it; broader support and self-understanding matter.
• Build self-worth and practise self-forgiveness. Gréta describes learning to take responsibility without endlessly punishing herself, and to see her past as part of her life rather than her identity.
• Set boundaries and choose supportive relationships. The speakers value partners who respect one another’s needs and create a safe space. They also suggest that being single for a time can be healthier than staying in a toxic relationship.
• Notice social and family influences. Children learn what seems normal from adults’ behavior and relationships, including attitudes toward alcohol, food, and bodies. The speakers encourage adults to reflect on the patterns they may be passing on.
• Listen to intuition and bodily signals. Gréta’s closing message is to pay attention to what your intuition, body, mind, and heart are telling you, especially when something feels wrong.
• Respond to others with empathy and respect boundaries. Questions about drinking, relationships, children, or other personal matters can be painful. The speakers encourage people not to probe when someone has not invited the conversation.

Presenters and sources

• Sonja Kopčanová — host of 50 ODTIEŇOV ŽENY.
• Gréta Šestinová — guest who shares her personal experience of alcohol dependence and recovery.
• Other sources mentioned: Alcoholics Anonymous (AA); unnamed psychologists and therapists from Gréta’s treatment; Peter Krištofovič, whose remarks on adversity are briefly referenced.