Alcoholic mum Justine Whitchurch reveals how she lost ‘dream’ career in the music industry

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A mother of two whose crippling addiction to alcohol nearly killed her has revealed how she lost her “dream” career in the music industry because she had to drink endless shots of vodka for “liquid courage” before a performance.

Justine Whitchurch49, from the Gold Coast, got into a brutal spiral with her drinking habits when she was in a successful band that toured Australia at its peak with Kylie Minogue.

This battle with the booze — with Justine doing shots of vodka and whiskey before a performance on stage and “taking more and more to get off the edge” — led her to pursue her dream of becoming a pop star. give up before they ever hit it big:

‘I gave up; I threw everything in it, I couldn’t handle it,” Justine told FEMAIL.

“My dream career ended up in the ‘too hard basket’ and I returned to medication and booze.”

A mother of two whose crippling addiction to alcohol nearly killed her has revealed how she lost her 'dream' career in the music industry because of her need to drink endless shots of vodka (Justine Whitchurch now pictured)

A mother of two whose crippling addiction to alcohol nearly killed her has revealed how she lost her ‘dream’ career in the music industry because of her need to drink endless shots of vodka (Justine Whitchurch now pictured)

Justine Whitchurch, 49, from the Gold Coast, fell into a brutal spiral with her drinking habits at the age of 16 when she was in a successful band that immediately toured Australia with Kylie Minogue

Justine Whitchurch, 49, from the Gold Coast, fell into a brutal spiral with her drinking habits at the age of 16 when she was in a successful band that immediately toured Australia with Kylie Minogue

Justine Whitchurch, 49, from the Gold Coast, fell into a brutal spiral with her drinking habits at the age of 16 when she was in a successful band that immediately toured Australia with Kylie Minogue

Justine explained that as a little girl she always “dreamed big” and hoped that one day she would get her “dream career in the music industry”.

‘Music was my life. It infiltrated every moment of my being. From the moment I woke up to the moment I fell asleep, I closed my eyes and saw myself on stage. I would open my eyes and see the spotlight,’ she said.

But being a musician and performing made her anxious.

‘Cue alcohol… The social lubricant. The liquid courage. The tonic ‘takes away the nerves,’ Justine said.

1667241824 927 Alcoholic mum Justine Whitchurch reveals how she lost dream career

1667241824 927 Alcoholic mum Justine Whitchurch reveals how she lost dream career

This battle with the booze — with Justine doing shots of vodka and whiskey before a performance on stage and “taking more and more to get off the edge” — led her to pursue her dream of becoming a pop star. give (now pictured sober)

In the worst case, Justine (now pictured sober) drank as much as three bottles of wine a day to get through

In the worst case, Justine (now pictured sober) drank as much as three bottles of wine a day to get through

In the worst case, Justine (now pictured sober) drank as much as three bottles of wine a day to get through

In the worst case, Justine (now pictured sober) drank as much as three bottles of wine a day to get through

In the worst case, Justine (now pictured sober) drank as much as three bottles of wine a day to get through

When she first started drinking at age 16, Justine remembered taking vodka shots before taking the stage.

“Usually it went well, but there were times when an extra sip caught up with me halfway through the performance and I would forget my words and immediately look away.”

This situation exacerbated her anxiety, and she soon turned to “religiously swiping” a bottle of whiskey before taking the stage.

“That calm, warm and fuzzy feeling made me feel like I could do anything,” she said.

“But then the cycle of drinking and relief got shorter and shorter and I needed more and more to get off the brink. Nothing good happens on stage when you’re p*ssed.’

Before she knew it, Justine said she was too scared to even do her performance, and so she gave up on her dreams of becoming a pop star.

The 49-year-old (pictured onstage) said the drinking and relief cycles were getting shorter and shorter and she had to drink more and more to take the edge off

The 49-year-old (pictured onstage) said the drinking and relief cycles were getting shorter and shorter and she had to drink more and more to take the edge off

The 49-year-old (pictured onstage) said the drinking and relief cycles were getting shorter and shorter and she had to drink more and more to take the edge off

Justine finally gave up alcohol when she was 40 years old, having spent most of her 30’s “handling alcohol 24/7”.

At her peak, Justine and her band (pictured) toured with Kylie Minogue

At her peak, Justine and her band (pictured) toured with Kylie Minogue

At her peak, Justine and her band (pictured) toured with Kylie Minogue

“The only turning point was when my nine-year-old daughter looked at me with tears in her eyes and said, ‘Mom, I’m afraid you’re not getting better,'” Justine said earlier.

“I lost 14 kg in six months, my liver value was about 2500 (it should have been 42), my triglycerides were so high that I was at high risk of heart attack, my platelet count was so low that I had bruises from head to toe and my hair fell out.

“It got to the point where my father saw me for the first time in months and said that if he hadn’t known it was me, he wouldn’t have recognized his own daughter.”

Doctors also told Justine she had only a few months to live if she continued the way she was doing.

Before she knew it, Justine said she was too scared to even do her performance, and so she eventually gave up on her dreams of becoming a pop star (pictured in her teens and 20s)

Before she knew it, Justine said she was too scared to even do her performance, and so she eventually gave up on her dreams of becoming a pop star (pictured in her teens and 20s)

Before she knew it, Justine said she was too scared to even do her performance, and so she eventually gave up on her dreams of becoming a pop star (pictured in her teens and 20s)

Before she knew it, Justine said she was too scared to even do her performance, and so she eventually gave up on her dreams of becoming a pop star (pictured in her teens and 20s)

Before she knew it, Justine said she was too scared to even do her performance, and so she eventually gave up on her dreams of becoming a pop star (pictured in her teens and 20s)

1667241834 202 Alcoholic mum Justine Whitchurch reveals how she lost dream career

1667241834 202 Alcoholic mum Justine Whitchurch reveals how she lost dream career

Justine explained that when she first quit, the first few months were the “hardest,” but she’s been a wellness coach (now pictured) ever since and loves a healthy lifestyle

Justine explained that when she first quit, it was the first few months that were the “hardest.”

“The first stage of recovery is a lot about self-protection,” she explains.

“You can’t expect to be exposed to social situations with negligible effect.”

She added: ‘Alcohol removed my ability to fly. Getting sober allowed me to rise.’

For support with alcohol related problems and addiction you can contact one of the many services available, speak to your GP, local health service or call a helpline. Trained telephone advisors are available in every Australian state and territory.

Justine’s recovery story and the steps she took to get sober are detailed in her book, Sobery Delivered EVERYTHING Alcohol Promised, is available on Amazon and her website.