1972: Had first drink
1980-1988: Alcohol abuse escalated until found myself homeless
1988: First 90-day residential rehab, completed, stayed sober 3 years, went to lots of AA meetings and was secretary at several "fellowships"
1991: Relapsed, drank in secret
1995: Homeless again, spent Xmas in detox unit.
1996: Second 90-day residential rehab, completed, stayed sober 10 months
1999: Went through EAP through my employer for alcohol treatment, failed at that, was dismissed from work
Mid-2000: Got job as a clerk at a liquor store, of course drank on the job
2000: Homeless again, in and out of various halfway houses
Early 2001: Third 90-day residential rehab, fled after 17 days, holed up in a cheap motel and drank until money ran out
Mid-2001: Went through my fourth residential rehab, this time 6 months, completed and relapsed a week after I left.
2002-2008: Stopped going to AA for good, drank only intermittently
Late 2008-Early 2009: Suddenly and abruptly began heavy binge drinking, hardly eating. Wound up in the hospital detoxing with Doctor telling me if I don't stop I'll die.
I haven't consumed any more alcohol since Thursday, February 12, 2009.
What's different this time? Where I work is a big factor, as my employer and co-workers have been very supportive and were I to die a miserable lonely death it would affect many people I have come to care about.
And my age. I'm in my 50s now and I'm just tired of abusing my body and living in a mental fog. I don't want to be senile before I reach 60. And I find I don't miss the "buzz" I had always craved. And I look back at all the insane things I did to obtain alcohol, consume alcohol and hide my consumption from the world, I wonder now "What were you THINKING?"
And I've learned about real recovery. Thanks to these websites:
I know that more options are available now than there were 15-20 years ago.
However, the point of to-day's post is to call attention to this article that was published in a mainstream newspaper:
Life is much better when you're fully conscious.
Enjoy your week-end.
TJS
