When I think about what kept me going through my recovery journey, one word comes to mind: family. Not just the people I’m related to by blood, but the people who stood by me when I couldn’t stand on my own. For a long time, I let alcohol pull me away from those connections, but today, I’m proud to say I’m back — sober, focused, and more grateful than ever.
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Getting to that point wasn’t easy. I tried before, but I wasn’t ready. After my child’s mother and I broke up, things spiraled. I was working at UCLA, raising my baby, and mourning the loss of my father — all at once. Drinking became my way of coping. When I got a DUI, it felt like my world was crashing down. That’s when I first tried treatment — but I wasn’t ready to admit I had a problem. I checked in, but when I saw people using meth in my room, I walked right out the door.

I told myself I could handle things on my own. But I couldn’t.