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.

Josh 26 12 / 3 / 2016
Age 26Since 12 / 04 / 2016

Josh

It was misery! Looking back at it all, it started when I began to fall in love with my best friend. I was not out as gay to hardly anyone. I thought he was gay, but he wound up being straigh...

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Perry 50 10 / 18 / 2013
Age 50Since 10 / 19 / 2013

Perry

It was like a rite. As soon as I could I would start drinking and drink until I passed out. Every day, and triple the amount on weekends. Not paying bills so I could buy.

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Barb 39 3 / 2 / 2013
Age 39Since 03 / 03 / 2013

Barb

I was miserable, unemployable and broken. I had lost everything and lived in my moms basement. I was a liar and a cheat and a thief. I would do anything just to drink.

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Gloria 37 3 / 17 / 2016
Age 37

Gloria

Drinking hard liquor for 13 years was routinely for me. I would drink to feel happy, to socialize more, drink on birthdays, deathaversaries, days my favorite shows came on, sunny days, gloom...

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Jewels L 38 3 / 8 / 2011
Age 38Since 03 / 09 / 2011

Jewels L

I felt like I wanted to die but didn't want to die. People were always telling me what to do because I had no self control over my life. I knew what I wanted to achieve but never could get t...

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Erik 39 12 / 12 / 2014
Age 39

Erik

Its still hard for me to take a look at my past, and remember the suffering I was able to handle in exchange of the imaginary relief drugs and booze gave me at the last stages.

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Rhonda 54 5 / 8 / 2011
Age 54

Rhonda

My husband passed away from lung cancer the month before I got sober. Right after his death, I was trying to do everything I could in my disease to join him. I had no hope and no will to con...

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Andrea 28 2 / 12 / 2016
Age 28Since 02 / 13 / 2016

Andrea

Pure hell. I had no dog in the fight against drugs. Isolating, empty, helpless, dark, insanity, shameful.

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Michelle 31 9 / 14 / 2015
Age 31Since 09 / 15 / 2015

Michelle

Easier than I thought. Realized I didn't need alcohol as much as I thought I did.

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Deanna Longhway 33 2 / 28 / 2013
Age 33Since 03 / 01 / 2013

Deanna Longhway

I was lost. Drinking, drugging, missing work (quit soon after relapse), promiscuous, lying, cheating... The good me was gone.

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JJ Rodriguez 37 2 / 20 / 2005
Age 37Since 02 / 21 / 2005

JJ Rodriguez

Addiction was horrible, depressive and I could not live one more day in the grip of this awful disease!

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Kim Mumford 38 3 / 16 / 2016
Age 38Since 03 / 17 / 2016

Kim Mumford

Man, it was horrible I OD on 7-15 my heart stopped 5 times kept using. I was down to my lowest ever looking gray trouble with the law had sores all over me homeless at one point man no one w...

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