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One day it suddenly clicked for her, and she realized she was having a problem with her drinking patterns. “From that day on, I went cold turkey,” shares Jada. More than anything, it was her description of a functioning alcoholic that still serves as a warning sign to many today. “My makeup wasn’t smeared, I wasn’t disheveled, I behaved politely, and I never finished off a bottle, so how could I be alcoholic?
Without their help and guidance, I know that I would not be here writing this email to you. Treatment is the time where you have the most access to tools and people who are willing to help you. Be sure to make sure every second count. That this is a program I have tried for 30 years to do alone. I have to maintain support and work the program. I learned to believe in myself and to ask for help from others when I need it.
What I Learned in the First Year Sober
And most recovery stories are through the lens of rehab, where you might not get to see the beautiful life that you find in sobriety. And the fact of the matter is that now I don’t have the option to run away or not pay attention to something that’s bothering me. I have to be present and I have to self-reflect and commit to being a better person for the people around me. Alcoholism is a disease that affects relationships, not just the person suffering.
- After 6 months of sobriety, Becki attended Narcotics Anonymous.
- I remember at one of these forts, at the age of ten, finally feeling like I belonged because someone gave me a cigarette to smoke, or more accurately, choke on.
- It hindered her from doing the things she loved, it certainly damaged the relationships she had with her loved ones.
Today I do H&I meetings at detox centers and I sponsor other men who want the relief I have found. That’s why it’s imperative I share my message. I do look like an alcoholic, because we look like everyone. Drive-through workers, on-camera reporters, teachers, grandmas, doctors—we are everywhere.
Client Success Stories That Make Us Proud
I couldn’t understand why the good lord could take the greatest person I ever known away from me. My problem came to a head when my house was flooded and I had nowhere to go but live in a house that had no water or electricity. By this time, I didn’t care about anything or anyone especially myself, I had pushed everyone away. I was to the point I was drinking before work during work and after work on the days I actually went to work. In June, 2011 alcohol had become a poison I could not find an antidote for.
What is the average length of sobriety?
27 percent of AA members stay sober for less than a year. 24 percent of AA members stay sober between one and 5 years. 13 percent of AA members stay sober between 5 and 10 years. 14 percent of AA members stay sober between 10 and 20 years.
Recovery has made a significant impact in my life in many wonderful ways. It really all started with the day I was admitted to Valley Hope. My life became the life I used to have before this horrible disease took control of everything in my life. Now, instead of being unsure and fearful, I walk forward one step and one day at a time with hope and confidence. The day I discharged from treatment, I hung my patient cup in the lecture hall. As I walked up in front of my fellow alumni, all my fears about being myself lifted.
The Stigma Surrounding Substance Abuse
She was angry — especially about the lies. She didn’t realize how much lying is an integral Top 5 Questions to Ask Yourself When Choosing Sober House part of alcoholism. She then began to question me about any other lies I told in the past.
What happens to your body after 1 year of sobriety?
After a year of sobriety there will be a noticeable change in your physical appearance and general health. If the substance of abuse was alcohol, you will likely have lost weight. Nutritional deficiencies are a thing of the past. You feel stronger physically, and feel good overall.
These stories of overcoming addiction detail the lives of everyday Americans with very unique journeys of recovery. You’ll see clearly that addiction doesn’t discriminate, and that anyone can become addicted. After seventy days, I was discharged and was soon able to return to work under a monitoring contract with PHS. I quickly joined AA and obtained a sponsor.
I included the words acceptance, faith, healing, joy, my sobriety date, and most importantly, God. I added daisies and butterflies because they represented my favorite “simple” things in nature and I was desperately seeking simplicity after my life becoming so chaotic in my disease. And, I added a mirror from a makeup compact that just happened to – I don’t believe it was a coincidence – fit perfectly into the bottom of my cup. That mirror would remind me to always look inward for what I knew was inside of me, for what had always been inside me.
When I got back to NYC, I found a therapist – who I still work with to this day – and weighed my options of inpatient rehab, outpatient therapy, or doing it at home with her support. I decided to do it at home and finally stopped drinking a couple months later on April 12, 2021. Some of the best times of my life have been partying. They are some of my happiest, funniest memories that I do look back on with fondness.But also, some of the worst times of my life happened as a result of using drugs and alcohol. I first started drinking in high school and from the moment I had my first sip, something clicked in me.
What Is Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT), & How Does It Work For Addiction Recovery?
Most alcoholics and addicts don’t want to be the way they are. Running has been critical in my recovery. Like I previously mentioned, I’ve been sober since November 2008 and it wasn’t until 2013 that I found running. Although I know deep down inside I will never use or drink again, I still had a void in my life that needed to be filled.