Selma Blair: ‘Don’t know if I would have survived childhood without alcoholism’

Alcohol soon became a dangerous mainstay for the adolescent. “I don’t know if I would have survived my childhood without alcoholism,” admitted the 49-year-old People-Magazine. “That’s why it’s such a problem for a lot of people. It’s really a great comfort, a great relief in the beginning.”

It was a consolation for her in the early years to be intoxicated. She started using alcohol as a coping mechanism at a very young age.

The actress writes in her book that in her early drinking years she didn’t get drunk, “only taking quick sips when my anxiety struck”. “I didn’t usually get tipsy. I became a seasoned alcoholic who was adept at hiding my secret.”