For many years alcoholism was a part of my everyday life. I
was constantly worried, scared, sad, angry, annoyed, heartbroken, and hopeful.
I hated watching my mom change right before my eyes. The mother that was deep
down in all that pain, the mother that loved me, the mother that I loved deeply
became more and more of a stranger. I feared for a long time that I would find
her dead. I tried to distance myself from her because the alcohol mom was too
hard to be around. I could not save her, I could not help her, I could not see
her, I was angry, though that did not stop my worry. I would call and when she
didn’t answer I would worry. I was on constant alert, in constant fear that she
was going to die. That fear came true the day I found her dead. I was in shock,
I stood there in disbelief looking down at my mother’s body, shaking, crying,
at a loss for words. It is a moment I will never forget. Alcoholism took my mom’s life, it took her
away from everyone she loved, from everyone that loved her, it robbed her of a
beautiful life, it robbed my brother and I from our mom, it took so much from
us, all of us.
Though the day I found her the alcohol did not matter. I just wanted
my mom back.
I have noticed for the last few months just how easy it is
or can be for alcohol to become a problem. I notice in me the moments I crave
it, the moments when it is all I can think about, the moments I feel this need
for it and it scares me. When sadness creeps in I can feel the craving, the urge, the want to drink. I do not want to feel the sadness, the pain, the guilt. The guilt is usually the driving force for wanting a drink. The guilt of my moms last weeks of her life. I did not do enough, the look on her face haunt me, knowing she died lonely eats me up inside. The guilt of Mckenna's death can be too much to bare at times. There are days my breath is taken as the image of her feet sticking out from under the television I moved pops in my head and I am brought to my knees. I feel this panic inside me and drinking sounds way more appealing that feeling all that guilt. I do not drink where I am living, so often times when these cravings and urges happen as I am in the middle of a guilt attack I either avoid or talk my self through it, with avoiding being the my usual choice. Neither is healthy.
I also like to drink because drunk Ashley is the Ashley that I wish I could always
be sober. I feel I am more sociable, fun, funny, approachable, silly (though I
am sure many feel this way when they drink). I have very few in my world that I
can be my total authentic, full, self with sober. When I can be my authentic self it lights
up my world and I love how I can let my wall down. I was recently told (by a loving, caring friend who I can be my authentic self with) that I can be a bit rigid, not warm or approachable. This made me cry. I cried because my mind went straight to my mom who would tell me I was cold.I do not like
that part of me, I do not like that people feel they cannot approach me, that I
don't feel warm because that is not me. Alcohol will not allow me to be my authentic self or help me let my wall down. Awareness, not drinking and opening up sober
is the only way this can happen.
This is going to be a challenge for me because I like to
drink, I like the feeling, I like how I can be silly, more open and almost
carefree. I don’t want alcohol to be my liquid courage anymore, I just need to
trust in myself, believe that I am fun, silly, funny, and approachable sober. I
want someone to see me as the warm, loving, caring, compassionate, generous
person I feel I am with those I feel I can be my full authentic self with.
I do not want to end up with the life my mom died in. I want
my authentic self to shine through without alcohol being the driving force.
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