MY PATH OF SOBRIETY

In just a couple of weeks, I will be celebrating my fifth year of sobriety, marking a significant milestone in my journey.

However, my sobriety encompasses much more than simply abstaining from mind-altering substances; it has become a profound transformation.

During the tumultuous period of my life, when I drowned myself in alcohol and drugs, I naively believed that these substances were my salvation.

I convinced myself that they held the power to make my problems vanish into thin air. Little did I know that I was only spiralling deeper into chaos.

Over sixteen years ago, I received a diagnosis of manic depression, a revelation that I initially struggled to accept.

In those early years, I stubbornly refused to take my medication responsibly, hindering my own recovery.

My self-destructive tendencies were a desperate attempt to maintain control, even if it meant my own downfall.

In my selfish pursuit to end my own life, I failed to consider the profound impact it would have on those I held dear. The weight of my actions still burdens me, especially knowing that my Beloved Father, who lost his battle to cancer, could have benefited from the years I so recklessly wished away.