- Alcohol
- Faith
- Friends & Family
My drinking and life had spun out of control. I didn’t care if I lived or died. Nothing mattered to me except finding that next drink. I couldn’t sleep, couldn’t eat and would shake constantly. Life had become so dark and isolated.
I went to the doctor’s on the insistence of my mom. There, unbeknownst to me, my doctor and family and friends were doing an alcohol intervention. My drinking had progressed to the point of causing acute pancreatitis, and I was on the verge of losing my job and my mind.
I was put in the hospital and spent three days in ICU for alcohol detox and five more days in the psychiatric unit. When I got out, I knew I couldn’t go back to drinking but didn’t know where else to turn. I started seeing a psychiatrist who specialized in addiction and then started attending support group meetings.
I’ve learned that alcoholism is a disease, and depression is a disease. I suffer from both depression and alcoholism. I’ve learned that if I pick up just one drink, I will die. The acute pancreatitis will return, and I will isolate and get very sick emotionally and physically. Some people seek help quicker than others. My advice is if you think you have an alcohol problem, you are an alcoholic. Seek help any way you can. Try support groups or church. After going through the steps, my spirituality is finally intact, and I have been sober for seven years as of October 27.
Life is good now. I have a great relationship with God. My children and family love me. My friends love me. Most importantly I love me. I have to learn to live life on life’s terms, and sometimes it’s easy, and sometimes it’s hard. I had to change everything about what I once was to live a sober life. Have acceptance and faith. Love yourself. Love God. Love unconditionally. I volunteer once a week at a crisis center to bring support to those who are in a bad place. If I can help just one person get sober, I feel good.
Life can be better than ever imagined, but you have to want a better life. You have to do the work to get a better life. I’ve learned that alcoholism and depression are diseases. We don’t just wake up one day and decide we want these diseases. It happens. The question is, what do you do about it? Life isn’t always going to be easy. Some days it’s a struggle just to get through the day sober, but I’ve learned I can be okay with faith, with prayer, with hanging around people just like me.