Well, I don’t really know how I got here. I may have realized i’m an alcoholic years ago but didn’t want to admit it. I am ashamed and wish I could’ve fixed this years ago before self destroying this life that I dreamed of. I am 25 years old and I have been destroying/killing my self with alcohol for years. I come from two alcoholic parents and a family that is easily addicted to stuff. I never wanted to think I could possible have the same addictive qualities. I started realizing I had a problem when I would go out and drink until I couldn’t think anymore. I drank mainly to hide my pain from my childhood and my mental abuse. I didn’t think I was strong without drinking out the pain. Which led to me drinking from just on the weekend, to saying a drink during the week would not be a problem, to drinking everyday at any hour. I tried to stop and couldn’t go more than a week and wouldn’t admit I had an issue. Then I got released from a job due to coming in after a heavy night of drinking still affecting me. Then tried to hide it from my family and husband. Would buy a bottle and hide it in my car to hiding in the house. Feeling ashamed and not wanting to think about it. I drank heavy one night that lasted into the morning. Ended up vomiting on the side of the road in a cup and got an oui charge pending. I realized this isn’t the life I wanted and I really needed to change. I wish I realized sooner but a hard part is me admitting I had this problem to my self. I decided to schedule therapy, looked up AA consoling (still debating on going to one), and joined this platform. I am taking steps and it has been hard. I need to love myself before I can fix myself.
-broken but will be repaired
My name is Amanda I’m 38 years old single mom of 4 beautiful babies. I started using meth at 13 until I was 17 then I got pregnant and got sober I began using to numb the pain from SA and other abuse I quit using after I found out I was pregnant and remained sober until 2021 when my grandma passed away my boyfriend at the time committed suicide and then my brother was killed. My addiction has hurt so many around me I began lying and stealing just to feed my habit. I became someone I never wanted to be now I’m fighting with everything I have left to beat this addiction once and for all!!
Hanging in there? 
My name is Bree and I’m currently under 24hrs sober. I’ve struggled with my alcohol addiction for years off and on. I feel like I cut it off but when life gets tough I fold. I have therapy, I go to the gym. I read my bible but sometimes it’s just not enough. When I’m constantly in my head, I do easily choose a drink. I truly want to break this cycle. I deserve this sobriety and my daughters deserve a healthy mom with a healthy mind.
23 days sober and starting to struggle a little bit. I’m realizing that I need to find something to occupy my time or to turn to for stress relief. Scrolling on my phone is a waste. But I’m getting terrible cravings-a white claw after a long day of work, stopping by my local sports bar on the way home… just long ingrained habits I need to change. My mind has been trying to play tricks on me and talking into ‘just one would be ok’. I have been avoidant of exercise, and I’m not sure why I just am not a fan. I am trying to hang on but today is going to be a challenge.
Tomorrow I have a hair appt and then my friends are coming over for craft night, they are super supportive and bring ingredients for mocktails and snacks. It will be nice to distract my mind.
Thanks for listening
I got sober in 1991 @ 30 years old after drinking & using , mostly Beer, Marijuana & Cocain since I was in High School ….so I basically poisoned my system periodically for 15 years…not every day, off & on….but by the time I was 30, I had had enough & it was obvious something had to be done to sober up for the rest of my Life & stay alive & out of Prison… , I had done enough damage & was willing to do whatever it took….for me I would have to leave my good Union Job in Los Angeles after 15 years , grateful it was enough years for my partial Pension I am collecting now, and I moved to Northern California to continue my new Sober Life….it wasn’t easy starting over financially @ 30 yrs olds making good Union wages & benefits but that Life in LA was not healthy for me…..fast forward to 2026 , I’m 65 & retired…& still go to meetings , I’m sober, healthy & happy….Sobriety has taught me so much about myself & the world I Live in…..Reality which I would have never expierienced while drinking & Using Living in a fantasy world.. ….I have Learned that weather I have a lot of money or not, it could not buy me the precious Invaluable gifts & Lessons Sobriety has taught me….Today I know that even sober for many years the Devil / Satan/ Enemy is out to get me & all of us through our minds & selling us his Lies….if it’s not drugs & Alcohol , then it’s some other kind of Stinky thinking / BS….Im so grateful & thank God for AA and my Sobriety….its the best education & gift I ever could have ever given myself….Keep the faith & remember AA works
…its a miracle
I started smoking weed when I was about 12 years old. What started as just trying it quickly turned into an everyday thing. By the time I was a teenager it was just normal life for me.
At 16, my life changed forever. My girlfriend at the time—who is now my wife—and I had our first child. We were just kids ourselves trying to figure life out while raising a baby. Over the years we went on to have three more kids together. Being a young dad wasn’t easy, but my family has always been the most important thing in my life.
When I was 21, I decided to quit smoking weed. The first two weeks were rough. I started having really intense nightmares and wasn’t sleeping properly. Instead of pushing through it, I made a decision that I thought at the time was smart—I smoked again to “self-medicate.”
That decision turned out to be one of the biggest mistakes of my life.
I had a panic attack. The next day I woke up with the worst anxiety I’d ever experienced. It felt like I was constantly on edge, like another panic attack was about to happen at any moment.
So again, thinking I was being clever, I tried another way to self-medicate.
I had a drink.
About six drinks in and suddenly I felt normal again. I could go down the street, see friends, and function. But as some of you probably already know, that’s how it starts.
After six months those six drinks turned into twelve. After a year I was drinking a whole carton. The anxiety came back, the depression got stronger, and my life slowly started falling apart.
I would sleep most of the day and stay up alone at night listening to sad music, feeling lower than I’d ever felt in my life.
This went on until I was 27.
Over the course of about a month I wasn’t feeling great, but to me it didn’t seem that different. My solution was the same as always—drink more. Then things got really bad. I started hallucinating and seeing things that weren’t there. I don’t like talking about that part too much. I don’t remember much of it, and the parts I do remember I try to forget.
The next thing I knew, I woke up in the ICU after being in a coma for a week.
My kidneys were shutting down. My liver was failing. One of my lungs had collapsed from RSV. I had bacteria on my heart. Several doctors later told me they honestly didn’t think I was going to make it.
When I woke up and saw my wife standing there, I couldn’t speak because I had a breathing tube in. But I could cry. Seeing how scared she was… that was the biggest wake-up call of my life.
That moment changed everything.
I’m now over three years sober.
I still struggle with anxiety, and some days are harder than others. But now I push through it for my wife and our kids. Life isn’t about me anymore—it’s about them.
Thankfully I didn’t end up with permanent damage, and about six months ago I got a clean bill of health, which I’m incredibly grateful for.
In a strange way, I was lucky. Being in that coma meant my body went through most of the detox while I was unconscious. After the panic attack with weed, I was too scared to ever touch it again. And after everything that happened with alcohol, I never wanted to go near that either.
My hand was kind of forced—but I still work every day to stay sober.
I have huge respect for anyone who is trying to quit on their own. That takes real strength.
I’m still young and still learning a lot about life. But if sharing my story helps even one person start their own path to getting better, then it’s worth telling.
God bless everyone here who is trying. You’re stronger than you think.
Thanks for sharing that 
and well done on your sobriety
Hey everyone! 
I’m Brandi, and I’m so happy to be here. I have been sober since March 18, 2022.
I spent years in addiction after it started when I was 18 years old. (Yep… that’s almost two decades ago. 
) During that time, I also found myself in multiple abusive relationships and genuinely believed that was just what my life was going to be.
But here’s the beautiful thing about recovery…
It doesn’t just help you stop using. It helps you rebuild your entire life.
Today, I’m sober, married to an incredible man who’s also in recovery, and together we’re raising our family while proving that cycles can be broken. I’m back in school studying Addiction Studies because I want to help others find the same hope that was given to me. Every semester I finish is another reminder that my past doesn’t get to decide my future.
Recovery gave me my voice back. It gave me confidence, purpose, and a life I never thought I’d have. These days you’ll usually find me laughing at dark humor, cheering people on, and reminding anyone who needs to hear it that healing is possible—even if it doesn’t feel that way right now.
I’m excited to get to know everyone here, celebrate victories (big and small), and be someone you can cheer with or lean on when things get hard.
If you’re reading this and you’re struggling today, I’m really glad you’re still here. Keep going. One day at a time. We’ve got this.