I’m incredibly grateful for a second chance at life!

Cheryl

Instagram: @soberhobbit

Recovery Date: 01/04/2020

Drug of choice: Alcohol

Give us a little background information: I grew up in the Bay Area, California. I also lived in Seattle for about a decade and loved it. But I moved back to California to be close to family. I’m passionate about my family, my niece and nephew, my two cats Ash and Sky, gardening, sewing, and crocheting.

Describe your experience with addiction: I started drinking in my early twenties as a way to feel more outgoing and relaxed in social situations. At the time, I didn’t know I was an introvert and a highly sensitive person. So I used alcohol as a buffer and to help me cope. It became a habit to drink, mostly on the weekends, before and during social gatherings. I think I became addicted to alcohol sooner than I originally thought. Because there was definitely a turning point when I needed alcohol to cope on a regular basis. And I was finding excuses to drink throughout the weekdays. I was also the kind of person who couldn’t stop drinking once I started. I would binge drink on the weekends and try to moderate throughout the week. But moderation was becoming harder.

When did you realize your life had become unmanageable? Life started becoming unmanageable when I let all boundaries around alcohol go. I didn’t care what day it was or what responsibilities I had the next morning. Alcohol became a priority. I was hungover at work on a regular basis. And my relationships suffered. When I moved back to my hometown, I thought I would drink less, but I ended up drinking more. I even thought after I got married, I’d be able to moderate. But my drinking escalated and eventually became destructive to my health.

What did your recovery look like? I started out being alone in my recovery because I didn’t know any other way at the time. All I knew was that I had to get sober to save my life and everything I loved. So I took it one day at a time. It was 2020, so being home a lot removed me from outside temptations. And I was actually thriving for a while. But then all the temptations came back as I went back out into the world. I was at risk of drinking again, so I started doing the Reframe App. And that led me to Sober Instagram. I decided to start a dedicated sober account. And from day one, I was blown away by the support and encouragement. I realized for the first time that I wasn’t alone. And I’ve learned so much about recovery from the most amazing people!

How are you doing these days? These days I’m doing really well. I’ve changed my lifestyle significantly, and it helps support my recovery. I now prioritize my mental health, rest, and time to recharge. I have also worked on creating a reliable sober toolbox, new habits, or go-tos when cravings pop up. This took time, practice, and patience. But eventually reaching for these tools became easier. I still get cravings. But what I realized is that I’m not really craving alcohol but rather escape. So it’s in moments like these that I try to figure out what I really need: Rest, support, help, a listening ear, less on my to-do list, etc.

What do you do to maintain your recovery? I maintain my recovery by connecting with a sober community on a regular basis. I have the Sober IG community as well as several friends I can trust and be accountable with. I also keep tabs on my mental health through journaling and sharing what’s going on with my doctor, friends, husband, and sister. I find this openness and ongoing communication helpful. I also have several books that I review from time to time. One is about recovery, and the other is about recognizing the signs of relapse. Having this education at my fingertips has helped me a lot over the years.

What are you grateful for? I’m incredibly grateful for a second chance at life! I was on the road to losing my life because of addiction. Sobriety and my recovery journey have given me not only a second chance but a whole new perspective on life. Every morning I wake up hangover-free and alive is a gift. Life has become so precious.

Any goals or aspirations you'd like to share? My goal is to keep going and not give up. I’ve seen how good life can become, and I want to see where my sober life takes me.

Any advice you would give to newly sober folks? I think the greatest advice I could give is that you don’t have to do this alone. There are so many recovery plans and groups out there these days. But you have to put in some effort to find the recovery program that works for you. But you are worth the effort! And connecting with a support group will give you the tools you need to be successful in your recovery. Connection is what I was missing in the beginning. But now that I have support, my recovery has become much stronger!