Solidarity

I took my last drink on Monday, March 18, 2019. The next day, I finally came clean with my doctor about how much I was really drinking. I winced at seeing her type “alcohol abuse” into my record. She told me about an addiction therapist whom she highly recommended. I called for an appointment right away but learned that I had to wait two weeks to see the therapist. For me, two weeks was an eternity. I couldn’t imagine going that long without a drink. That evening, I called a friend whom I knew had had a problem with alcohol, and I asked her what I should do. Without missing a beat, she said simply, “Go to AA.” I was desperate. I went to the website she recommended and located a nearby weekly meeting at St. Jude’s. That Wednesday night, I attended my first Step meeting. It blew me away. Wracked by feelings of shame, guilt, and fear, I was nevertheless overwhelmed by the collective experience, strength, and hope in the room. It was nothing like I had imagined. That meeting became my home