By: Lifestyle DeskNew Delhi | September 22, 2025 12:28 PM IST 3 min readRaja Chaudhary and Shweta Tiwari with their daughter Palak. (Source: Express archive photo)Addiction can quietly take over lives, relationships, and one’s sense of self. Yet, for many who have walked that difficult path, acknowledging the problem is the first step toward regaining control. Television actor Shweta Tiwari’s ex-husband Raja Chaudhary, who has had a long and public struggle with alcoholism, recently opened up about what sobriety has taught him — and what he wishes he could undo. “If I could change one thing about my past, it would be never to have touched alcohol. It disrupted my life, and I didn’t handle situations the way I should have,” he shared in a recent interview with ETimes, reflecting on the far-reaching impact of his drinking. Raja revealed that while the battle with addiction remains a daily effort, his commitment to sobriety since 2021 has allowed him to find clarity and calm. “Thankfully, I’ve overcome it, though it remains a daily challenge. I have to push myself to stay on track. Since 2021, I’ve been living a sober life, and I can think more clearly, stay calmer, and be happier now.”Even more than personal regret, what helped shift his perspective was the emotional mirror held up by his loved ones. “Ultimately, you live for your family, and when they’re not happy with you, it makes you realise you need to change. Once I acknowledged my mistakes and decided to surrender, I was able to work on myself,” he said, crediting his family’s support as a pillar through his recovery.Shweta had filed for divorce from Raja citing a domestic violence case against him, after the couple separated in 2007. She also claimed that he was willing to give up their daughter, Palak, for a piece of property, according to a report by Hindustan Times. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Shweta Tiwari (@shweta.tiwari) Psychologist Anjali Gursahaney tells indianexpress.com, “Surrender in addiction recovery doesn’t mean giving up — it means letting go of denial and resistance. Many people struggling with addiction spend years justifying, minimising, or externalising their behaviour. Acceptance breaks that loop.”She adds that it’s crucial as it marks the shift from fighting reality to facing it. It’s the first moment someone says, “I can’t do this alone anymore.” It opens the door to vulnerability, support, and healing — all things addiction tries to block.Speaking on how to reach this point without hitting rock bottom, Gursahaney recommends:Story continues below this adPsychoeducation: Helping people understand addiction as a brain-based illness, not a moral failure.Empathetic confrontation: Family, therapists, or peers gently reflecting the consequences of the addiction.Motivational interviewing: A therapeutic method that evokes a person’s own reasons for change.Seeing others change: Community-based stories of transformation can spark internal shifts.Story continues below this adEmotional awareness: When people begin to notice they’re not okay — even when everything looks fine externally — it can become a wake-up call.“Surrender isn’t about how far you fall. It’s about how deeply you realize that the path you’re on is unsustainable,” the expert highlights. For more lifestyle news, click here to join our WhatsApp Channel and also follow us on Instagram© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd