Almost anything can be preserved in alcohol, except health, happiness and money.
This note is for those of you who are in addiction, for those of you in recovery and those of you seeking help.
You have the power to say “this is not how my story will end”.
I’m a 55-year-old man that has drank almost all his adult life. Drinking has cost me self destruction to lose my self-esteem. It’s cost me the loss of friends and most importantly it has nearly cost me the love of my family.
As you may all have realised by now, alcohol addiction is sly, cunning and evil. It creeps up on you without you seeing it and all of a sudden, Wham! You’ve hit that brick wall.
You’ve begun to steal and lie to those that you love and those that would never hurt you. Yet look at the pain we’ve caused them.
I’ve done it all and more. The shame and guilt, it eats away at you and, if left alone, it will kill you.
Is it too late?
The answer to that my friends is no.
Seek help. it is the best thing I have ever done. Yes, I am still in the early stage of recovery but the power and love I’m already feeling inside are amazing.
I won’t lie to you, it’s going to be a dark and sometimes very long road. But, with the right help, courage and self-belief, you will do it.
I will now leave this letter here with you all. May you all find peace and freedom from that evil.
As one of my counsellors says often, “I promise you, it will get better”.
You don’t have to get drunk to enjoy yourselves. I’m beginning to smile more, laugh more and remember these times.
I’m not telling you it’s going to be easy. I’m telling you it’s going to be worth it.
Recovery didn’t open the gates of heaven and let me in. Recovery opened the gates of hell and let me out.
Remember, you are not weak for struggling. You are strong for continuing to fight.
