3 More Incredible People Supporting Addiction Recovery

Karen Mock, Art to Recovery

“One late afternoon, I was sitting on my front porch spending some quality time with my Higher Power. I was praying and listening for some answers to my prayers.  All of a sudden a great white cloud formation appeared in an otherwise clear blue sky.  My spiritual, alcholic brain interpreted these clouds as a doodle that looked like Hope to me.

I came inside and started drawing and low and behold within just a few minutes my feeling were on paper, right in front of me.  My sense of relief was awesome.  I felt alot better.  If I can give Hope to one person in recovery, I will be forever doodling.  I just celebrated my 7th sober birthday…nothing short of a Miracle…one doodling day at a time.”

Two examples of Karen’s art:

FREE AT LAST

Filling the hole in my soul with spirituality was my key to freedom.  Drinking never filled it, though I kept pouring in down that hole.

 


STEP INTO LIFE’S LIGHT

I was thinking how working a twelve step program got me this far on my journey back into the light.  I walked from the darkness into life’s light again, one step at a time.  I’m amazed at how alive and bright I feel today.

Joseph G., Rum Radio

I came to the rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous because my wife had become unmanageable. She had insisted that I was an alcoholic; I insisted I was not, no way, no how. After an ongoing barrage of accusations, insinuations and ever uglier threats, I relented and agreed to go to a therapist. You see I was willing to go to any length to prove that I was Not an Alcoholic. After several months of therapy, the therapist suggested that I quit drinking alcohol for a year. I told him that was an absurd idea; I could stop drinking at any time, just not right now.”

“Like most of us in recovery, life happens on life’s terms. I have suffered the loss of two of my daughters to this deadly disease: Juliann my oldest in 2001 at age 29, to an accidental overdose, and my youngest Christina in 2008 at age 22, again, an accidental overdose. To help stop this tragedy from occurring to others, I have dedicated my time talents and treasure to increasing the tools that I have found to be useful in being the most effective sponsor possible that I can be. As sponsors we have other people’s lives in our hands, who are suffering from this disease of mind, body and spirit. I do not take credit for this work; this is God’s and the fellowship.”

Brad Mersereau

Welcome! Our mission is to have the memory of my sister, Laura, matter. Laura’s story is valuable. We offer drug and alcohol sobriety resources. We offer music, and we offer information on how to proactively avoid the initial steps to her addictive dance.

Sadly, Laura made choices that led to her death. It was a slow suicide. Arm yourself with knowledge. Learn about social and genetic factors. Communicate your thoughts and feelings in a loving trusting environment. Avoid family secrets. Pursue your passions. If substance abuse is already a part of your life, take action now. Get the help you deserve!

Be Well.

“Alcoholism‚ I have no Control”

(This is a Guest Post by Graham Phoenix of Male eXperience’.)

The phone rings… my heart drops… will it be ok this time? Will things be better?

I have never known how to be with the alcoholic in my life! I have never been able to make it better! I only seem to make it worse!

Even though she is no longer in my life, she is still a presence that won’t completely leave me. No matter how much I think our lives are separated, the looming presence of the alcohol always finds its way back to me.

A long time ago when I first went to Al-Anon (twelve step group for friends and family of alcoholics) I wanted to find out how to make it better, how to help the alcoholic get cured, how to restore normal life. I learnt, like everyone else, that there was nothing I could do. No matter what I tried, I was powerless to change the alcoholic or even help her.

I got used to this idea, no matter how much it hurt me. My obsession was control and the idea that life could be just as I wanted it to be. When a control addict meets an alcohol addict… there are fireworks, conflict, anger and hurt.

So I changed my life, separated myself from her, let her live her own life, re-built my own.

It worked for me, life got better… amazingly. But for her… the alcohol is still there… the obsessions are still there…

We wanted to be friends, but alcohol intervenes… friendship is impossible.

So I am left with the guilt! What did I do? Where did I go wrong? Why doesn’t it get better for her?

Again the phone rings, this time I switch it off. I remember there is nothing I can do, there is nothing I can change!

I so love to be in control of my life, even while I know the Universe laughs at my arrogance. I need to flow with life, learn to be the man I am, learn to let it be.

I remember now… I am not in control…

But I can choose what I do, I can choose how I react, I can choose who I speak to, I can choose…

I choose to live my life and be strong in my belief in myself. I choose not to be hurt and dragged back into an abusive relationship.

I choose life.

(Graham Phoenix is divorced from his alcoholic wife of 35 years. He also has an alcoholic brother who has been in recovery for over 10 years. He writes on Men, Life and Relationships at ‘Male eXperience’.)

What are your thoughts about having no control over alcoholism?