I’ve woken up this morning feeling blessed that I’ve reached this milestone. I can’t believe 9 years ago I was in hospital for a month recovering from what my addiction had done to me.
From an early age, around 15, I’d always like a drink but it was more going out with friends and having a laugh, as you do at that age. Slowly into my 20’s I found myself having a drink most nights, not getting shitfaced but just enough to relax me. Didn’t think anything of it to be honest, this carried on for a few years, again not every night but looking back it was definitely too much. Then in my 30’s I met my ex husband, cutting a long story short, he had anger issues and I suffered with emotional abuse, my doctor had said this too. My drinking at this point was moderate and just in the evenings. He even went to the doctor regarding the anger as I said I couldn’t go on like this. He never got the help that was offered and eventually I found the courage to leave. That’s when shit really hit the fan for me and the emotional abuse that I thought was bad before escalated to a level that destroyed me inwardly. My best friend by this point was alcohol, it numbed everything for me. It’s scary at how soon this crutch took over my body, before I knew if I was so reliant, drinking around the clock. Hiding it so well from friends/family, at least I thought. My daughter started to guess I had a problem. Even when it got to the point where I had severe shakes, anxiety and was throwing up I didn’t think there was an issue……until one day my vision started to go, I started hallucinating badly and ended up in hospital. At this point I was struggling to walk and eventually ended up in a wheelchair. My vision was due to nutrition deficiency, swelling behind my eyes. Not walking was due to scars on my brain resulting in messages from my brain not making it down to my legs. After a month in hospital, being on multiple medication for withdrawal etc, I was able to go home. My sight had recovered as well as my walking. I had a couple of MRI scans after and the scarring on my brain had eventually healed, a definite blessing.
Since then I’ve been AF, it was a super challenging journey to begin with but one that I’ll never regret being on. One thing I’m grateful for is the fact my boys never saw me drink as I never did in front of them. My daughter however found it tough and understandably so.
Life still throws curveballs at me, as it does everyone but being sober I’m able to handle them with strength, determination and most of all being present. I try not to be complacent with my sobriety and keep myself in check if I feel off key, even now sometimes taking one day at a time and reaching out when I need to because one thing I know for sure is I’ll never go back to how I was before.
I feel so grateful for reaching 9 years, the positivity it brings to my life, being able to have the tools along side me to live my best life and love it and also loving myself again. I’m also super grateful for here and all of you. TS is a beautiful community which I’m proud to be a part of.
If you’ve got this far, thanks for reading and have a beautiful, blessed, sober day. Sending peace and much love to you all 
Huge congrats on 9 yrs sober! Thanks for the share.
Almost decade sober! So happy and proud of you 
Never heard about temporary losing a sight or ability to walk from alcohol, it sounds so scary. Glad you recovered from that! You are one strong badass. And you rocking that red lipstick 
Well done Janie, thank you for sharing your story with us, i hope you have a wonderful soberversary day, much love to you
Thank you for sharing your story with us. Congratulations on 9years!! You’re an inspiration 
Congratulations on 9 years that is absolutely insane xx
Thank you so much
Appreciate your kind words lovely, thank you 
Much love to you too Kelly, thank you 
Aww, thank you Sarah, that means a lot 
Thanks Matty, hope you’re doing well 
Huge congratulations Janie!!! What a feat. Hope you celebrate today. Well earned!!! 
Fantastic achievement. Congratulations 
Congratulations, that’s a powerful story of strength and resilience 
I often feel we get substances out of our lives, but accept deeply flawed and damaging people around us. We shouldn’t accept toxic people either, and I’m glad you are free from bs now. 
Yay! Congratulations on 9 years!
Thank you for sharing your story. It’s very powerful.
Warrior class
Congratulations on all your successes!
What a journey. Brava!!!
Huge congratulations
Wow congrats. Thats a huge milestone
So very proud of you and happy for you! 9 years sober is amazing my friend.
That rock bottom was super scary. I am grateful you have allowed your body to heal and are recovered. 
. I am blessed to have you in this journey with me. Thank you for leading the way.
. Flex them sober muscles and Keep fighting that fight my badass friend 
Well done!