Alcoholism a Story of Recovery, Picking up the Pieces.

News Type: Other — Fri May 22, 2009 2:06 AM EDT

Alcohol does do interesting things. I

Photo by [Flickr User]. (License: Creative Commons Attribution)

This is a difficult subject/story told from my point of view regarding my bestfriend "picking up the pieces." I have her advise and blessing on this article.
I would like to add while you are still reading it that I was very opinionated regarding Alcoholism, until I met my bestfriend( when we met she was still hiding it well). In my younger years I worked with a wonderful person she had a husband and two small children. On the way home from work one night she was hit and killed by a drunk driver. I was adamant against drunk drivers and druggies after that there was no room for negotiation. So I am not condoning this illness nor making an excuse for it. I have felt the loss and the pain associated with it.

I moved here approximately 5 yrs ago and met my soon to be bestfriend we did a lot of things together and I never really saw her drinking, maybe one or two here and there. What I did not know is that everynight she was drinking. She was a binge drinker. She functioned at work, home and out in the public until she was by herself in the safety of her home . Her family did not even know how much she was drinking until the last year of her illness, then she binged in the morning and at night. She knew she was an alcoholic and said she kept asking God for help. But sure enough she would start drinking that night. She told me that one Friday night she was drunk by 7pm in her car driving to the store to buy more, only remembering bits and pieces of the whole event there was a receipt telling her the time. Apparently no one stopped her, The next morning she rolled out of bed and said"I am done". Those 3 words saved her life. I saw her that day I knew she had been drinking more lately and she said to me "I can never pick up another drink" and left it at that and I did not ask but said "okay". I at that time could have turned away from her but I instead held out my hand and watched her struggles from day to day to stay sober.
It took almost 9 months for her to say "I am an Alcoholic" to me she had been going to meetings that have had over 70 years of experience with Alcoholism and it works, I watched my friend grow with the program and her family was healing. I even went to the meetings with her for support and WOW these people are the most kind and caring individuals you could meet. Better than Church on Sundays, they mean what they say and not only that they have been there, Different people that have nothing in common but the desire to stop drinking, have come together and reached out to each other, they laugh together play and cry together. They help heal each other all you have to want is to STOP DRINKING they will and can help with the rest. and it is FREE.
My friend when we finally sat and spoke of her illness voiced her desire to have stopped a long time ago but she had not hit her bottom at that time. Everyone has their own bottom and when they fall hopefully they will realize they can no longer continue to kill themselves with this disease. There is somewhere to go and people like you who can and will help. The shame, pain and selfworth of my friend had hit its bottom and she said "I am done" and being a believer in God she felt he lead her to the computer that day and she found a meeting, she said she was so hungover at the meeting it was painful but something happened there she heard her story over and over. People were laughing and talking about how their lives had changed and all you have to do is want that. She said she sat on her hands that night and made it 24 hours. She went back to the meeting and stated "My name is x and I am an alcoholic" and received her 24 hour chip. To admit to others her dirty secret was one of the most difficult things she did. She said "I'll take another 24" meaning take it one day at a time. The months past and her struggles lessened. She says there are times when it hits me but I look at what I have gained "Respect for myself, I am not ashamed, I am functional and if I wake up and feel bad well dammit its not because I am hungover its because I do not feel well"! I am so proud of my friend, I know more about Alcholism now and know its not just because they want to drink but they can't stop. My friend is going on 15 months sober she looks better and looks people in the eye and life is great! She learned the consequences of her drinking and has chosen not to drink and is taking it 24 hours at a time.
She is hoping with this story that it will reach those who have a drinking problem ,there is help you do not have to feel lost, ashamed, worthless or be in pain anymore you have to put the drink down and want the other life you can have.. Please remember the code don't be hatin! Thanks for stopping by and reading the story.

16 Votes
Enjoy this article? Help vote it up the 'Vine.

Published to:

Sherry working hard's Column, All of Newsvine
Groups: none
Regions: none

Public Discussion (42)

What's this?

Who's leading the conversation?

This visualization below allows you to see the impact that each user has on the current conversation. The top row contains the group of users who have had the most impact, the 2nd row the group of users who have had the 2nd most impact (et cetera). Users with similar impact are grouped together, and the average score of the group is shown to the left of the group. The author of the article is also shown on the left, in their corresponding group. Each user's score is based on the number of comments the user has made plus the number of votes their comments have received. The scores are calculated relative one another, so while their absolute value is not particularly important, their relative difference does indicate a larger difference in impact on the conversation.

154