Meet Women Who Didn't Think They Could Quit

Hi, my name is Barbara. I used to drink a lot. I started at a young age, and everyone I hung out with drank like I did. My entire life revolved around alcohol. If someone suggested that I quit, they weren't part of my circle. I didn’t have anything to do with people who didn’t drink. It never occurred to me that I would ever stop drinking. It was such a significant part of my life. However, life had a different idea, and as time went on, my life spiraled out of control because of my drinking. At first, it was everyone else’s fault. The job had to go. The relationship had to go. Everything had to go. But my drinking didn’t have to go. I blamed everything and everyone else. Eventually, I had to face the truth that my drinking was the root cause of my problems. Quitting alcohol is the most challenging thing I have ever done. But my life depends on it. I had to make practical changes, like finding a sober friend to talk to during tough times, keeping a cold drink like lemon water or ginger ale around, and learning to eat healthily. I also found that doing things like making my bed every day and keeping my space clean helped me avoid slipping into depression. Journaling and running helps me release pent-up emotions and anger. As an alcoholic, I cannot drink, and I need support to overcome my addiction. Trying to do it alone is a nightmare, and I am grateful for the help I received. I have sober girlfriends. My coach, Janet. My family. My online meetings. I have a fantastic life that I would never have had if I had continued to drink. I do not regret being sober for a minute, and I wish anyone who is struggling with addiction the best of luck.

Hi. My name is Lee. So, alcohol has been in my life from a very young age. I would say that the blueprint was already there, coming from a long line of alcoholics, and it just waited for me. I never thought that I could ever quit. Not in this lifetime, so to speak. However, I had to consider, with all that had happened in terms of losses—relationships, jobs, friends, family; how alcohol was at the center of why my life was unravelling. As things progressed and I found myself alone and full of immense guilt, shame, remorse (it was awful), I began my journey to quit. Throughout my journey in recovery, there have been many difficult situations that I have had to go through. The most difficult was the loss of my mom and the deep grief, and being around my family in grief and turning to alcohol (and I was not using alcohol). What is very helpful is to be in contact with my recovery coach, Janet. She affords me the ability to talk through my issues, my anxiety, grief, so that is an immense help, as well as other women in recovery. Truthfully, life is always going to throw curve balls and I don't want to drink. Living a sober life means learning to live on life’s terms without using alcohol. I’m grateful to this second chance and I  also rely on my culture and traditional ceremony to help me on my healing journey.

Hi. My name is Pam. Both my parents were alcoholics, and I had a chaotic and traumatic upbringing. I had my first drink when I was ten or eleven and remember thinking it was cool to be a grownup. I was young when I quit school, left home, and became heavily addicted to cocaine and heroin. It seemed the most natural thing to do. I worked as a stripper and lived the high life, and it was fun for a while, until it wasn’t anymore. My mom died when I was 22 and that was a significant loss. My dad disappeared into a bottle of Southern Comfort and never came out. I sunk deep underground and never thought I would ever surface again. But being a mother gave me the strength to pull myself up and turn my life around. Today, I have an amazing life. After years working as a cosmetics manager for a high-end department store, I met my husband at a tattoo shop where I was apprenticing in my spare time. I feel so blessed that I married into a loving, supportive family.  A big part of my recovery is getting outside in nature and finding a sense of purpose. My husband’s career allows me to be a housewife and pursue my artistic passions and philanthropy. I love it. Janet was a huge help to me when I was going through the darkest time of my life. I wouldn’t have survived without her love, wisdom, and support. I have been free from addiction since 2006.

Hi there, I'm Donna. I am 85-years-old with a long history of drinking. As a teenager, drinking was a beloved pastime. Everyone around me drank too. It seemed harmless, and we got away with it for a long time. I continued drinking, believing I was in control, until my late twenties when I realized I couldn't quit. Me--who is strong in so many ways. I tried self-control and vitamins, but nothing worked. My health began to deteriorate, and I was on the verge of losing my job. I even thought people were following me to work. As a married mother of four, I wasn't being the best mom anymore. Finally, I saw the reality of my life and situation and hated myself for it. I knew I had to work hard to quit. I stopped saying I would quit tomorrow and haven't had another drink since. To prevent relapse, I remind myself that if I drink again, I won't make it back. When I got sober, there were no treatment centers, so I relied on friends and joined AA. The most significant factor for me was developing friendships with other women who had gone through the same thing. We call each other when we are feeling down, and it really helps to know that someone understands.  If there had been courses like Janet's back then, oh my God, I would have taken it. I am proud of myself for making it through with hard work. I left my marriage after 25 years and have had a wonderful life since then because, at 38, I got sober. Please, seek help every step of the way. You can't do it alone.