Recovery, in their own words

Sober Stories

Real people, real recovery. Honest accounts of what it was like, what happened, and what life looks like now — shared to remind anyone still struggling that they are not alone.

Mike 47 9 / 7 / 2008
Age 47Since 09 / 08 / 2008

Mike

Unemployable and a complete failure to my family and friends

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Lilah 36 2 / 22 / 2008
Age 36Since 02 / 23 / 2008

Lilah

I had to go to treatment twice, the second time was way better and more in depth about my issues with life and alc drug use

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Trevor 30 11 / 24 / 2012
Age 30Since 11 / 25 / 2012

Trevor

I never felt comfortable in my own skin growing up and peer pressure got the best of me. I looked forward to partying and fitting in.

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Samuel M. 52 5 / 5 / 2012
Age 52Since 05 / 06 / 2012

Samuel M.

I had no job, I was penniless. I woke up each morning or afternoon, evenings shakes, and the only thing helped me feel better was another drink, and then the entire cycle would start over. I...

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Gene Caraker 36 3 / 27 / 2011
Age 36Since 03 / 28 / 2011

Gene Caraker

Like being a prisoner in my own mind. Every day was darkness. Tired of living, tired of being a husband and father. Couldn't function each day without my poison.

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Ralf Friedrichs, ABOC 54 6 / 22 / 2013
Age 54Since 06 / 23 / 2013

Ralf Friedrichs, ABOC

Life as a drunk was like living at the bottom of a bottle, always looking up and never finding a way out. That was up until June 22, 2013 when I looked up and saw light shining through the n...

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Emily Copps 46 8 / 28 / 2007
Age 46Since 08 / 29 / 2007

Emily Copps

It was bewildering, humiliating, paralyzing. It was ugly and painful and disgusting. It was ultimately too big a burden - the lying and cheating and stealing, eventually the sweating and vom...

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Richie 47 9 / 5 / 2016
Age 47Since 09 / 06 / 2015

Richie

Selfish and self-centered to the extreme, driven by a hundred forms of fear, self-delusion, self-seeking, and self-pity.

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Charlie Radiola 63 3 / 27 / 1987
Age 63Since 03 / 28 / 1987

Charlie Radiola

Started out in typical fashion, trying booze at the age of 11. Liked what it did for me as far as feeling confident and the coolest guy in the world

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Mark 52 02-29-88
Age 52

Mark

At the time, I thought I was so cool because I could drink all night and of course blow lines til the sun came up. Then the blackouts started getting more frequent and my binge drinking was...

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Teddie 53 10 / 11 / 1990
Age 53Since 10 / 12 / 1990

Teddie

Drinking since I was 12 years old put me in a tail spin for many years. Black-outs and waking up in scared places with scary people put my life in danger in so many ways.

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