“I HAD to stop before I destroyed the humans who loved me through every single moment of my life.”
‘I could forget I was dumpy and self-conscious. I could forget I was ME. THAT girl wasn’t afraid.’: Mom shares emotional journey to sobriety
‘You don’t need any more.’ Wine always wins.’: Sober mom reminds us ‘addiction is not a moral failing’
“The neighbors notice me stumbling to my refrigerator, chugging from the bottle of wine by the sliver of light that sneaks into the room. They mutter, ‘What a shame.’ They watch me do this three times a night until the bottle is dry.”
‘When people asked me for gift ideas, I’d smile and say, ‘Just wine and diapers!’ How else could I unwind? It never stopped at just one glass.’: Mom shares sobriety journey, ‘I’m a better mom’
“I entered the life-changing, magical world of motherhood. I had no clue what I was doing. Breastfeeding vs. formula feeding. Crib vs. co-sleeping. It felt like there was nothing we moms could ever agree on. Well, except for one thing… wine.”
‘A car ran a red light and hit me. ‘Stop being dramatic and take a cab.’ I was DEVASTATED. I didn’t want to struggle or hurt anymore.’: Woman shares journey to sobriety, ‘I chose life’
“Alcohol was like a looming cloud. I chose alcohol over everything. I would mourn with alcohol, celebrate with alcohol, and survive with alcohol. I asked myself, ‘Do I want to spend my life mourning ghosts of a life lost, or actually live?’”
‘Starting tomorrow, I won’t use drugs.’ It was only a matter of hours before the loneliness crept in. I didn’t care if it killed me.’: Mom describes sobriety journey, ‘God met me right where I was’
“I found myself with two kids, multiple divorces, and a life in utter chaos. I still couldn’t see the problem was me. I’d promise I’d be back and never show up. My kids spent 3 years never knowing if I was coming home.”
‘Girls like her don’t come back from this.’ I left home when I was 15. I found my oblivion in the form of a needle. I always wanted MORE.’: Recovered addict shares sobriety journey, ‘I am FREE’
“I took my first drink when I was about 14 years old. For the first time, I felt okay. I needed more. On my fifteenth birthday, I took my first hit of acid. The probation officer told my parents, ‘She’ll be dead in a few years.’ My bottom was near.”
‘I’ll do it, but just this once.’ Famous last words. My body NEEDED them. I HAD to get high every 6 hours.’: Recovering addict shares sobriety journey, ‘All you have to do is SHOW UP’
“If I didn’t get high within an hour, I’d start throwing up. I’d sit in the bathroom for hours trying to hit. My veins were ruined. My probation officer was calling everyone I knew, threatening to send me to prison. I was at an all-time low.”
‘Why do you drink wine every night?’ I shrugged it off. It was my nightly ritual. This was the beginning of the end.’: Sober warrior shares alcohol-free journey, ‘It’s an amazing freedom’
“It’s 3 a.m. and my face is wet with tears. I’m Googling, ‘Am I an alcoholic?’ I never thought I’d be here. I had a glass or two most weekends during pregnancy. Why does this keep happening?”
‘Mom, that’s enough beer.’ I just laughed it off. My ‘mommy juice’ made me the most confident woman.’: Woman shares sobriety journey, ‘You don’t have to hit rock bottom to quit’
“At 20 years old, I planned my brother’s funeral. My last words to him were, ‘Don’t drink too much.’ I began to binge and purge. When I drank, I felt like I could conquer anything.”
‘I couldn’t get ‘high enough’ anymore. I went from a meeting to my dealer. Then I almost died.’: Woman recounts sobriety journey, ‘I finally accepted help’
“I remember waking up the next morning ashamed. I panicked. I wasn’t ready to be done using yet.”
