one long hangover: poetry and reflective prompts to process, heal and find your voice. written for adult children of alcoholics (ACOAs) and others affected by someone else’s drinking

Description

you didn’t drink. but you lived it too.

you watched the room.
you kept the peace.
you learned when to speak and when to stay quiet.
you grew up quickly, carried feelings that weren’t yours and became strong, helpful or responsible because someone had to.

and even when the drinking was no longer part of your everyday life, some of what you learned to carry came with you.

“this addiction hits much further
than the one who touched the drink
we can’t just get over it
despite what people think”

one long hangover is a heartfelt collection of poetry and reflective prompts for those whose lives have been shaped by someone else’s drinking – not the ones who drank, but the ones who lived it too.

through her poetry, donna smith-dale gives a voice to what can so often go unseen – the people-pleasing, guilt, fear, over-responsibility, difficult boundaries, lost sense of self and the instinct to put everybody else first.

it’s about what we carry and what we might finally be ready to put down.

thoughtfully placed prompts and gentle guidance invite you to pause, reflect and recognise your own experiences. not to tell you how you should feel. not to demand forgiveness or ask you to erase the past. but to help you understand your story, reconnect with your own voice and make space for what comes next.

for the peacemakers.
the people-pleasers.
the strong ones.
the quiet ones.
the fixers.
the ones who learned to make themselves small.
and anyone who has ever wondered why someone else’s drinking still echoes through their life.

your experience, your story matters now.

we are here too.

poetry and prompts to reflect, heal, and inspire hope.