For actress Muriel Baumeister, alcohol has been a constant companion for decades. “I’ve been drinking all my life,” she said, brutally open Talk format “Turning Points” from the Potsdam self-help association SEKIZ eV “We all drank, back in the day.” Baumeister turned to alcohol, particularly in the 90s and 2000s. “It’s a miracle that we’re still alive.”

Muriel Baumeister on alcohol addiction

However, after the birth of her third daughter in 2014 and the subsequent postnatal depression, the Austrian slipped further into addiction. “If at some point you start drinking alone and are worried if there is no alcohol at home, then you should start thinking about it,” admits the 54-year-old. This highlights an important warning sign.

She also remembers an excess: “I was once out with friends when I drank ten gin and tonics without any significant effects – unimaginable for normal people,” Baumeister reported in an interview with “Colorful“.

But the carousing did not leave her body unscathed. Because of her alcohol abuse, she suffered from permanent inflammation of the stomach lining. “Every morning I threw up, but then I immediately drank alcohol, mostly white wine,” reports Baumeister at “Turning Points”. In addition, the constant intoxication had clouded her memory. “My children had to tell me things dozens of times because I forgot everything the next day because of the alcohol.”

Am I an alcoholic? Doctors name 6 warning signs

Muriel Baumeister describes typical symptoms of alcoholics – and is not alone in Germany. Almost eight million people between the ages of 18 and 64 consume alcohol “in a form that poses a health risk,” reports German main office for addiction issues. Around 1.6 million people in Germany are considered alcohol dependent.

The problem: Drinking alcohol is recognized in our society and is even encouraged in many situations. A glass of wine or a bottle of beer with friends, a toast at a birthday party, a cocktail at the club – in many situations alcohol just seems to be a part of it.

1. Priorities depend on alcohol: “For example, if someone has a lot of hobbies and suddenly stops doing them in favor of drinking alcohol or only looks for hobbies that are linked to alcohol – i.e. you tend to go to football because you always drink a case of beer afterwards, but you don’t play that much anymore – then that is a characteristic.”
2. Ignorance of health problems: “If you have health problems and still continue to drink alcohol, it is also a sign. If you go to your family doctor and your liver enzymes may be elevated due to alcohol and you still continue to consume even though you are aware of the danger, then that is also a typical criterion for addiction.”
3. Tolerance development: “Another criterion is that you always need more to achieve the desired effect. For example, being more open in your surroundings or being more relaxed in the evenings.”
4. Loss of control: “When you no longer stop after half a bottle of wine, but say ‘Oh, now I can consume the whole thing.’ This is called loss of control. That’s a warning signal that relatives also notice when you say, ‘Man, he’s drinking and he won’t stop.'”
5. Withdrawal symptoms: “More advanced is a strong addiction and so-called craving. These are withdrawal symptoms such as sweating or restlessness. People are then very thin-skinned and their personality structure also changes.”
6. Morning consumption: “One of the strongest warning signals, regardless of the substance, is if there is already morning use. If you ask the question ‘Man, does that have to be in the morning?’, then all alarm bells should ring. That’s always a marker.”

A car accident with her daughter brought a turning point

For Muriel Baumeister, it took a low point in 2016 to break free from addiction: the actress caused a car accident while drunk. One of her daughters (13) was in the car. “I felt normal and that was actually the worst part,” recalls the actress.

Baumeister realized that she had lost control – and went to therapy. The first two attempts at treatment failed. “I was trying to find a way to drink in a controlled manner,” she said. “Only when you understand that this isn’t possible will you be on the road to recovery.”

Finally, the 54-year-old checked herself into a closed psychiatric ward. “It was so terrible, I never wanted to go there again,” she remembers.

Baumeister has been sober for almost ten years now. But alcohol remains a constant temptation. “There is a moment every day when things could tip over.”

Here you can find help as a relative

Relatives usually suffer from the addiction of a loved one. And they often feel powerless. What can you do if you notice the warning signs not in yourself, but in friends, colleagues or family?

Relatives can also contact the advice centers mentioned. Further help can be found here:

Self-help groups also offer the opportunity to exchange ideas with other people in a similar situation. Advice centers help you find a suitable self-help group. The Healthcare Foundation names the following contact points: