In this series I would like to share what finally happened as a result of 23 years of destructive drinking. Simply put, I was beat. It seemed like alcohol had won the battle and I was doomed for a slow death.

I recall laying in a hospital bed of a mental institution I was admitted to after a suicide attempt . I had been there before so I was all to familiar with my surroundings. Earlier in the day my counselor informed me that I had exhausted my options in terms of treatment there and at previous rehab facilities I had been admitted to. They had informed him that I was not welcome back because of my lack of following the program and of my distracting behavior there with counselors and patients alike. So with all that said I lay on that bed counting ceiling tiles all afternoon wondering what was to become of me. Scared to death, is all I could describe my feelings as.

The next day a blessing would come my way. The counselor found a rehab in a small North Texas town. Apparently he convinced my insurance company to cover yet another stay at rehab. Upon hearing the news I was relieved of my fear. I did not know it at the time but Devine Intervention was picking me up from despair. By this blessing I began to surrender to the fact that perhaps I could go to this facility and stop drinking. to be honest I was looking for a quick fix. I would soon learn the commitment and work it would take to  begin the road of sobriety.

I attended the program from the start. I had previously allowed the facility to pick me up and transport me to the rehab facility. Previous stays would find me taking my own vehicle in case I had to bail, so to speak , to find my next drink.

Well as fate would have it I fell into the program and followed all instructions. I began to learn more about myself and felt there was a glimmer of hope for recovery from alcoholism. It was there that I met a wonderful counselor who would change my life and way of thinking. I am forever in debt for her participation in my recovery. I truly believe she was a gift from heaven. At the same time another patient there had befriended me and we went to the program together. We shared the ups and downs of our stay there. I could not of done it without his friendship. We stay in touched and have both  been recovered from alcoholism for some years now.

Upon my release after some 35 days I was fortunate to attend an outpatient treatment for the next six weeks. All was not great though as I was surrounded by temptation to drink as I was now exposed to it at what seemed at every turn, I wanted sobriety so bad but was weary. I recall stating to a counselor there that if I could not stay sober this would be my last attempt. I stated I would accept a slow death rather that participate in more recovery attempts. It was other alcoholics there who encouraged me to think otherwise as so it worked. It was Devine Intervention all along.

That is what happened in terms of my beginning years of sobriety. I would participate in the program of Alcoholics Anonymous for several years and a good foundation for recovery was put in place.

By the grace of God I was able to get sober and so far after 15 years stay sober. It has taken a lot of work and conscience contact throughout the day with God. It began with the acceptance that God would get me through the good and bad times and then grew into daily communication with him. God, family and a lot of good people along the way have been my saviors. I am eternally grateful.

In the next and final part of the series I will discuss the beauty of sobriety as well as some of my struggles.

Thank you for reading and please feel free to comment on this topic and others. It may help save the life of one of our struggling brothers out there still bound by the chains of addiction. May God bless you and those still suffering.