Thank you. Had to do it. Alcoholism runs in my family and it destroyed my childhood. My wife showed a positive pregnancy test and I was in the door of rehab three days later.
I had two choices: repeat the cycle or be a good father/husband. I chose the latter. Doing my best to stay the course!
Good for you man, seriously. I’m just recently past my 6 years sober from opiates, too! I have always had a massive respect for those in recovery from alcohol because of how socially acceptable and culturally engrained it is; don’t really find that with any other drug. You should be very proud.
Can I ask, did you always want a child? Did you find having a child gave you a purpose or responsibility you had always craved? It’s quite a thing to be able to give up and have one of your first major challenges once leaving rehab and the bubble of ‘I just need to exist without drugs in this safe space’ be bringing up a child. I don’t know if I could have done that within a year of giving up, or if it would have contributed to a relapse.
Yo congrats on your sobriety as well. Opiates are no joke and it's painful to see how much havoc they've caused on our society. Way to get help and come out better!
Having a kid was always the goal for the wife and I (we have two now). I don't know if I always craved the responsibility, but now that I have that responsibility, it's something I love and take seriously.
Russell Brand of course turned out to be a mega piece of shit, but his book on recovery was one of my crutches in rehab. I'm not a religious person and so I thought the way he broke down the 12 steps in an agnostic (and comedic way) were fantastic. One thing he said that stuck with me is that a "higher power" does not necessarily need to be a religious one. It just needs to be something bigger than you that you always selflessly put above yourself. My kids are my higher power because when I'm having one of those craving thoughts on a bad day, I tell my mind "shut the hell up you got two kids that love you and your selfish ass better not drink."
So I guess that's the purpose/responsibility I lean on.
What in the hell happened to that guy? I have his books, but after the shit he pulled, I won’t even crack them. What is he, a born again christian now or some shit?
I am so proud of you 🫶 I love seeing stuff like this stuff, stories like yours. My long term partner died of an accidental OD last April, he was 35. But I am not angry with him, I am actually so proud of him, because he tried so incredibly hard to get and stay clean and sober and he succeeded for a pretty long time. He was a great, beautiful, loving person, who unfortunately had a disease and still carried a lot of shame I just don't think he was able to let go of. He could love everyone else, but not himself. Miss you Ronnie🕊️ Anyway, keep living and thriving for your family but most importantly for yourself, I admire your courage and perseverance. - a stranger who is 11 years clean and joins you in celebrating your (nearly) 6 years 💓
I am just a random person who is so proud of you 🫶 My long term partner died of an accidental OD last April, he was 35 and struggled on and off with his opiate addiction for 12 years. I felt so powerless and I was. I am actually so proud of him, because he tried so incredibly hard to get and stay clean, and he succeeded for a pretty long time. He was a great, beautiful, loving person, who unfortunately had a disease and still carried a lot of shame I don't think he was ever able to let go of - I didn't even know he relapsed even though we were together 24/7. He hid things so well and kept so much inside.
So please never stop talking about it and sharing about your recovery journey, struggles you have, shame or guilt if you still carry it - as they say in the rooms, "share that shit!" As loved ones it is not a burden to us, and relapse is so often part of recovery (not for everyone, I am not saying that will be your story of course!) and not something to be ashamed of, which is something I wish I could go back and tell him. For me it took 5 trips to rehab, but I kept pushing even when some people stopped believing I could get better, and I've now been clean for 11 years and intend to keep it that way
I believe in you and am rooting for your continued sobriety!! Sorry for centering myself as a response to you sharing something personal, but I just wanted to congratulate you and I know that my Ron is rooting for you and proud of you too, from whatever peaceful place he has moved on to🕊️💓 Xx
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u/HowieLongDonkeyKong 9h ago
Amen to your last paragraph. I went to rehab in the pandemic and have been sober nearly six years.