I’ve talked about drinking a lot.
Drinking alcohol is something we are all introduced to.
Sometimes it can even become a problem.
It’s hard to say whether or not I had an addiction.
It’s even harder to admit to myself that I have it.
I believe I did, and needed to face the darkness I have created head on.
I’ve described my mental hardships growing up.
That alone was a big factor in why I started to drink more.
My high school friends at the time told me that they drink all the time.
I was encouraged to try it myself.
Alcohol was my comfort, it was a mask I wore.
It was my outlet when I needed an escape.
I didn’t realize at a young age what this would do to my mental health.
My father has always loved a glass of wine.
However, growing up, he never knew self-control.
As a result, I would grow up to see my father drunk on multiple occasions.
Both of my grandparents were very heavy drinkers too.
It seemed as if I was constantly surrounded by it.
I never thought much of it growing up.
I thought I was just being normal like my friends and parents were.
As we grow up, we can become more curious to push our limits.
I entered high school and became a heavy drinker to express myself.
It carried into college where I would drink after work days because of stress.
Slowly but surely, I was turning into an addict.
Alcohol was now my medicine for depression.
It was my secret weapon to talk to women.
It was also the reason my depression and mental health became worse.
It became so consistent, that it eventually led me to my first DUI.
My DUI was the reason I quit drinking.
I was faced with the consequences of multiple decisions and had to make a choice.
I had looked back to realize the problem I have created for my well-being.
Now, drinking is not a bad thing.
When you get older, you’ll be introduced to it too.
If you use too much of something however, it can turn out to be unhealthy.
Even before my incident, drinking was ruining my health.
I developed a need for it because I sought to escape my own reality.
I needed an escape from the pain I grew up feeling.
When my DUI happened, I attended several AA meetings.
I was resistant to this at first, but had finally realized I needed help.
It was comforting to be around others who have gone through what I have.
It inspired me to do better, it motivated me to continue my life.
I immediately threw away my bottles of liquor after my incident.
I don’t regret moving on from it.
If you or someone you know is experiencing addiction, support them.
Encourage them to get help, alcohol addiction isn’t easy to beat.
Use the resources around you.
I hope and pray you never face a situation like I have.
However, if you’d like to seek a healthy fresh start, know you are never alone.