The creative young lady managed to secure jobs in advertising and marketing on and off, despite the circumstances. But alcohol would continue to wreak havoc in her relationships and work.
Her father kicked her out of home in 2015 for the late-night drunken attics she would often pull. Although she struggled to stay afloat, Rebecca was soon homeless.
"Eventually I fell into depression because my drinking was affecting my work and my employers began to complain," she said. She lost her job, or rather, walked out on it while in a bad mental state.
WebMD notes that although alcohol may provide temporary relief from stress, anxiety, and depression, it does not last long.
"The feelings of bliss wear off, and they can worsen your depression symptoms," the website notes.
From 2016 through to 2020, a homeless Rebecca survived by offering to DJ at clubs in exchange for food and drinks, a skill she had on the side, specifically as a Reggae and Dancehall DJ.
"During this time I had had two abortions, one that almost claimed my life in 2018, she said, adding, "My lowest moment was in 2019 when our oldest brother died. He died of alcohol complications. When I got the news that day, I broke down and cried. That is the week I decided I am going to drink to die," she said.
Her recovery journey began during the pandemic in 2020 when she was forced to sit alone with her thoughts for the first time in years.
"You know how they say rehabilitation is a place? No, it is a process. During the Covid-19 lockdown, I went through my rehabilitation. The government compensated our family for some land they took in part for road construction, and with that money, I finally got a place to live, although it was a tiny one-roomed place," she said.
"I did not step into rehab but went through an excruciating process of mind renewal. Change cannot come unless acknowledgment comes. A person must make that conscious decision that something needs to change."