Letter: My Story of Recovery

Don’t be afraid to ask for help; it will save your life.

I started drinking recreationally, but I quickly lost the power to control myself. I was angry and irritable constantly, and it tore up my family to watch me go through that. I put my family in danger many times over the years, and caused more emotional pain than I could fathom. Despite all of this, I couldn’t figure out how to stop. There is nothing worse than wanting to quit, but not being able to.

After many failed attempts, I returned to treatment with the willingness to do whatever it would take to save my life. I knew that if I continued the way I was going, it wouldn’t be long until my life completely unraveled, and something had to be done. I took all the things I thought I knew about living sober and left them at the door. When I let go of my own ideas and started taking suggestions, things changed almost immediately.

Recovery has allowed me to regain the respect for myself that I had lost for so long. It wasn’t easy, but I have been able to build a life without alcohol that I can be proud of. Being clean and sober has reunited my family. That is, by far, the best gift sobriety has brought me. Anyone who is struggling should reach out to the We Do Recover Movement. Change can be scary, but I thank God every day for the gift of desperation, and I thank Ambrosia for helping me before it was too late.

William Scannell, West Palm Beach