FIRST PERSON BRAVERY –
April 16, 2024 – When I was 14 years old, I became aware that I wanted to feel the effects of alcohol. I had a few drinks at a friend’s house when his parents weren’t home and quickly felt relaxed, uninhibited, and fearless. I was convinced that alcohol was the cure for what bothered me at that time … Twenty years later, I was aware that I was dying of alcoholism.
I’ll spare you the details from two decades of active alcoholism, but I will share that my dependency issues got progressively worse. They stole my joy and purpose. They eradicated my moral and ethical codes. They created mental anguish and compounded existing emotional turmoil.
They discouraged positive hygiene habits or any form of self-care. They cost me hundreds of dollars, or more, every month as I consumed many bottles of liquor a day. They lead to co-addictive issues with other harmful substances and unwholesome behaviors. They wrecked my body and severed any conscious contact I had with my soul or spirit. Ultimately, they eroded my human will to live.
ai There can be a lot of shame and stigmatization associated with addictions. This is the main reason those who suffer from substance use disorders do not seek help. However, we must become aware that alcoholism affects all types of people.
