- Alcohol
- Drugs
- Faith
- Mental Health
I was a church-going, stay-at-home mom crippled by severe depression and anxiety. After years of doctors, therapists and medicines, I turned to the only thing that gave me relief: alcohol. I felt that I had control over it at the beginning, but that was only a facade. The disease of addiction ran in my family, and it had now consumed me. I always believed I was too strong for any substance to take control of my thoughts and actions, but I was underestimating the disease. Over the course of a few years, I found myself isolated and on the verge of losing all that I held dear: my family, my friends, my self-respect and most of all my hope. Obtaining alcohol and attempting to maintain an undetectable amount of drunkenness became all I thought about each day. Thanks to the persistence and love of my wonderful husband and family, I surrendered that daily struggle and decided to go to a treatment facility to see if I could be helped. It was the scariest thing I have ever done, but when I saw how proud my family was, it gave me the strength to keep putting one foot in front of the other.
In treatment I learned how to reestablish a routine and rediscover joy in everyday life, and most importantly I gained the tools that would help me combat cravings and stay sober. In individual therapy sessions, I was able to focus on my own needs and develop a plan to help ensure success in my sober journey once I returned home. The group therapies and activities provided me with assurance that I was not in this alone, and I was blessed to be able to encourage others in their own journeys. In return those peers were there for me in my times of need, providing me with support and hope. To this day there remains a special bond between all of us who experienced treatment together, and we continue to support and encourage one another across the miles.
If you or someone you love is suffering from the disease of addiction, I would highly recommend treatment. I am living proof that the chains of addiction can be broken because of the many tools I now have in my “recovery toolbox.” Don’t let fear hold you back another day. Begin your own journey to freedom.