Blog post by: Alumni Relations Specialist

For most of us, when we were drinking or getting high, we never thought we were hurting anyone but ourselves. Sometimes, we understood that we were hurting our families, but we didn’t see the whole picture. We continued in our addiction because we didn’t care about ourselves or what happened to us. We only cared about getting the next high. We numbed ourselves to the reality of what we were doing to our family. Yes, we knew they wanted us to stop. We knew we weren’t helping things financially. We knew that they weren’t happy when we didn’t show up, but did we really see the pain we caused? The sleepless nights, the fear, worry and sometimes shame that we caused? Yet they stayed by our sides. They sometimes worked two jobs and arranged for childcare because we were unable to help. Sometimes this went on for years and it wasn’t until they said enough, that we got help. The end result was often divorce or alienation from our family. Yet for those who found recovery and the 12 steps, families were reunited. Children had a parent again. Spouses worked through their relationships and parents were bragging about their kids again. Recovery makes all that possible and we know because people in the rooms share that in their stories. It’s never too late to change and we are not alone. Our families are worth it and so are you.