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.

Joseph Rowe 46 9 / 20 / 2010
Age 46Since 09 / 20 / 2010

Joseph Rowe

My name is Joe and I am an alcoholic and addict. I had my first drink at 15. I had the dream childhood. Two great parents and a great sister. A nice house in a good neighborhood. A big lawn...

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Melissa 46 8 / 22 / 2003
Age 46Since 08 / 22 / 2003

Melissa

I started drinking to cope with anxiety and to fit in. I had extreme blackouts from a very young age and things just got worse and worse as my addiction progressed.

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Robert Cable 44 9 / 17 / 2017
Age 44Since 09 / 17 / 2017

Robert Cable

I was an alcoholic.You think everything is fine. Little do you know life is slipping away from you piece by piece. When you realize what is actually happening, it's gone.

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Diana Hadley 57 12 / 28 / 2000
Age 57Since 12 / 28 / 2000

Diana

I was a social drinker at first, then I crossed that line into chronic. Once I took that first sip of alcohol, I couldn’t stop drinking. It wasn’t fun at all anymore. Alcohol is cunning, baf...

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Michael Maisey 36 12 / 16 / 2007
Age 36Since 12 / 15 / 2007

Michael Maisey

My mum was an alcoholic and my father was a heroin addict. My father left before I was 1. I experienced physical and sexual abuse and episodes of neglect. At 15 I was convicted of armed robb...

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Shelly 59 2 / 29 / 1995
Age 23Since 03 / 01 / 1995

Shelly

I grew up in a house with an alcoholic mother who had severe mental illness. She had 5 documented personalities. As a child I suffered severe abuse from my mother and her personalities. My m...

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Donna 39 2 / 25 / 2013
Age 39Since 02 / 25 / 2013

Donna

What started out as partying with friends, quickly progressed to around the clock drinking alone in my room, afraid of my own shadow.

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Bree Rowe 29 12 / 25 / 2013
Age 29Since 12 / 25 / 2013

Bree Rowe

Jails, rehabs, motels, and insanity. I lost my newborn triplets and 2 year old daughter and was consumed by fear.

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@PhillipAndrewLA 33 1 / 28 / 2008
Age 33Since 01 / 28 / 2008

@PhillipAndrewLA

I woke up in a holding cell drunk tank after being arrested for DUI which was my four alcohol-related arrest. I was entitled, egotistical, judgemental, angry, scared, insecure, defeated, etc...

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