Something that had moved in and was causing total destruction to my mind, body and life. In the throes of untreated addiction, I really did feel like I was being compelled by a supernatural force. They continue, 'Sounds like the plot of a horror film, but what I just described was my personal experience with alcoholism and addiction. And no matter how hard you try and fight, you are completely powerless against the unseen, invisible and hungry It.' It has taken complete control of your body and mind. The things you loved are no longer as important as It. It tells you to isolate, to ignore your friends and loved ones, to neglect your own health and well-being. You start doing self-destructive things, putting yourself in dangerous situations, taking unnecessary risks, all in the name of feeding It. Soon you’re devoting your time, energy and money to making sure The It stays fed. But The It inside you is never satisfied, and always wants more. It’s not so bad at first the poison causes a state of euphoria.

It lives inside your head and talks to you in your own voice. 'Imagine being possessed by an invisible force. They offered a powerful description of their connection to the topic:

So I asked my best friend Ashley Christine, a writer based in Los Angeles, to share their thoughts and insights on horror's depictions of alcoholism. Alcoholism and addiction are another topic horror has explored from multiple angles, and it’s compelling to see these struggles depicted in any genre, but especially horror. I recently read someone call horror “the empathy genre,” and I think that’s why it’s such a relatable tool to explore human experiences, from grief (Ari Aster’s Hereditary) to broken relationships ( Midsommar, another Aster joint) to racism (Jordan Peele’s Get Out) to female coming of age (John Fawcett’s Ginger Snaps).

Doctor sleep the shining