Nies’ friends, who have known each other since the 80s, are knocking on the door of Ewout Genemans together with daughter Sharon for help. According to the women, Nies always liked to drink a glass of wine, but not as extreme as now. Her alcohol problem develops when Nies is often alone with their two children due to her husband’s work. Secretly she starts to drink more and more. “But if we had a birthday, she would come and she would not drink. Then she would just drink a soft drink, but would go home on time,” says concerned friend Sandra. “I think to make up for the damage.”
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When the husband of Nies then files for divorce, things really get out of hand. From that moment on, her children grew up with a heavily addicted mother. Because daughter Sharon and Nies’ friends are afraid that she will harm themselves one of these days, they hope that Nies will be admitted to the clinic. But she thinks otherwise. That is why Ewout tries to persuade her: “We actually think you should just do this Nies. (…) Your daughter is worthwhile, isn’t it? She is very clear about what she wants you to do.”
Finally Nies decides to agree, but before they go to the clinic Ewout wants to know from her how she made it this far. “You don’t want it and you think: I will stop. But there is no one there anyway, so what do I care? Then I can just have a drink, but then it goes wrong again. I just don’t have a stop and then I drink. until I fall asleep. “
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After four weeks of hard work, Nies is finally allowed to leave the clinic, and that causes an emotional reunion between mother and daughter. “This is a new time for our family”, Nies promises her. But whether she can keep that promise is the question. In the coming period, Nies has to prove herself and regain the trust of her friends and family. “I’m not there yet because the recovery takes a lifetime, but for me this is a very good start.”
Addicted can be seen every Tuesday at 8.30 pm on RTL 4. Watch the episode with Nies here back.
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