- Alcohol
- Faith
Pam attended the Heroes in Recovery 6K run/walk in Memphis, Tennessee. This is her story, as told to Susanne J. outside of the race.
I lived in many places: St. Louis, San Francisco and Houston, before family brought me to Memphis, where I now live with my sister. I drank for 41 years and smoked for 60 years and by the time I made a change. Pam is now alcohol-free at 70 years of age.
Booze is my drug of choice. As I said, I drank for 41 years and never made a serious attempt to stop join a group or fellowship to help me stop. Finally, in 2008, I was diagnosed with acute pancreatitis and that’s when I knew that I needed to do something different in my life. It was time to change my lifestyle. I felt that death was actually possible. I asked God for help. I believe that my faith helped take away my cravings and desire to continue with the addictions.
You see, I started smoking cigarettes as a very small child, and the alcohol followed in my adulthood. Those were my main drugs—I can count on my hands all of the times when I tried other drugs. I remember that I became very paranoid every time I tried to smoke pot and I thank God that I never developed a problem with prescription drugs or other substances. I saw the effects of heroin on others– I saw a person sticking a needle in his arm, and I did NOT want to stick a needle in my arm
Faith helped lift my cravings for alcohol, and it also took away the craving for cigarettes as well. It’s amazing and I’m grateful for this! God is so smart!” He knows that these addictions go hand-in-hand and that one will trigger the other. He put his hand on me on that day and said “you are mine now, baby.”
I eventually recovered completely from pancreatitis and was introduced to a 12-step fellowship. I entered a treatment center in Memphis and attended seven meetings in my first three days there. On the third day I was picked up by my sister to go home to attend to some personal matters. The people at her treatment center were frustrated about my choice to move and told me that I should go at least to make 90 meetings in 90 days when I went home to take care of things.
Instead of sitting in front of the computer playing games, that time I went home and sat on my computer to look for 12-step groups and fellowships. I easily found nearby meeting schedules. I started to attend them on a regular basis and found enjoyment in it.
I know that almost all people who leave a treatment center before they are officially discharged eventually end up under a bridge and right back in the addiction, back where all of the problems began. I believe that my short visit to the treatment center was God’s will and way to introduce me to the 12-step program, where I belong and feel comfortable.
Now, I have entered a 6k run/walk to help break the stigma associated with addiction. I was never quite athletic in my life, but the cause is worthy. Before I entered sobriety I never felt or saw a purpose in my life. I was a jack of all trades, master of none. Today, I love to walk and stay active in my recovery and with my fellowship friends.