I hid my drinking from my police colleagues and family for years due to a secret shame

A fear of judgement kept Nisha silent for years (Picture: Supplied)

Police Detective Nisha Chandra became an expert at hiding alcohol. Cider was camouflaged in juice bottles. Gin masqueraded as water. However, the biggest underlying challenge wasn’t in concealing her 10-year addiction from strangers – it was from the people closest to her. 

Growing up in a South Asian household, one Punjabi phrase shaped almost everything for Nisha: “Lok ko kehn ge?” – “What will people say?” A fear of judgement echoed throughout her family and community, which kept her silent for years.

‘Within our culture, people’s opinions matter more than what you’re going through’, she tells Metro.

Nisha’s Read Entire Article