Addiction is a hideous thing.

And alcohol addiction is a real pain in the ass, the wallet, the waistline and the mind.

Some of us can have a lovely glass of wine with dinner. Others of us, well… nothing less than a martini and a bottle of pinot grigio.

ABC News anchor Elizabeth Vargas just yesterday bravely shared her story on her alcohol addiction.  Yes, THE Elizabeth Vargas.

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And I loved her before, and now I love her even more for speaking out. For another person out there attempting to bring this into light.  That yes, even wildly beautiful and successful women like her battle with addiction.

What she said stood out so big to me:

Today, when Elizabeth Vargas walks down the streets of New York City on a warm evening, passing wine bars filled with people enjoying glasses of wine, it’s a very different experience for her than it once was.

“I don’t look at them and think, ‘I want one,’” Vargas said. “But I look at them and I think, ‘I miss that.’ I miss that time when, you know, it felt so innocent and romantic.

But that’s just me romanticizing something that turned out to be really monstrous for me.”  (Source)

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The night of the last drink for me – December 11, 2015.  
There are dozens and dozens of different addictions and ways to screw up your life.  So, really, it’s a matter of picking your poison, and hoping that when you “chose,” that you chose one of the “good” addictions versus the social stigmatizing and life-destroying ones. (“I’m just addicted to pink shoes! Aren’t I fabulous?”  Why yes, yes you are. 🙂 )  I truly believe that everyone has an addiction of some sort.  Maybe yours is more socially acceptable, or perhaps it’s mild (“I’m addicted to positive thoughts!”), or perhaps it’s beneficial (“I’m addicted to meditation!” and “Running!”).  Of course, everything is probably fine–if you do a little of it–for the sake of argument.

Everything in moderation is FINE, right?

Actually not really.

Just ask me (or Elizabeth Vargas).

Addiction and moderation are really awesome together.  Like an explosion.  They usually cause a big boom, and if you are around when the boom hits–watch out. We start with “moderation” to quiet the voices, release the anxiety, to sit down, calm down… many reasons.

But then, before we know it… *boom*.  We have become unrecognizable.

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I really love the site Hip Sobriety, and especially her manifesto.  It’s a break from the traditional AA structure and mentality (which works for bazillions of people), but for those of us who didn’t quite resonate with AA…  check out the manifesto:

Elizabeth Vargas said, that it is an “act of grace that she is alive tonight.” And I, as someone who has been through this same battle, I understood exactly what she meant.

Tomorrow, I am nine months sober.

I remember finishing that awful Disney race in November, getting back at 3 in the morning… my family tucked all in.  And in the dark, I poured a glass of wine. I had one.  [And that was the only time in my life I think I had one.]  Only because I was with full knowledge that my sleep for the night would be three hours, and I was just out of time.

It was a stifling feeling. To not being able to go to bed without a drink.  To need a drink to lay down. To calm down.

Elizabeth said, “There are days when you wake up and you feel so horrible–that the only thing that makes you feel better is more alcohol.” At one point she had a lethal level of alcohol in her system, and even that– wasn’t enough to scare her.

I have also been there.  And after that night, I stood up, dusted off, and was not even scared. And kept going. Kept drinking.

So now, I have stood in my addiction and wine truth for nine months.  And it’s not pretty. It’s more than that.  It’s a miracle and a second chance.  And it’s tough, sure. But it’s also these:

A measure of grace. Forgiveness. And a never-ending necessity and desire  to keep moving forward.

And I am SO thrilled and almost moved to tears to see people like Elizabeth Vargas coming forward.

Especially women who are breaking the silence–there are SO MANY OF US who are struggling with this.

In her interview, Elizabeth said, “I would die for my children, but I couldn’t stop drinking for my children.”  And wow.  No mother wants to admit that.  So the ones who are struggling, just DON’T admit it.  But so many of us, keep on drinking–knowing this very fact.

We continue hiding. Pushing down the anxiety.

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It doesn’t have to be this way. There is more to life.

I promise.

After my post last year, I had over 150 emails and messages of “me too” or “I have been sober for __ time” and “I don’t know where to start.”  There are so many more of us out there than you can imagine.

With this post, I just wanted to put it out there AGAIN.

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I wanted to reshare my struggle. I wanted to post Elizabeth Vargas’ brave share.  And I wanted to be proud of my almost 9 months.

Because there are so many of us out there who are struggling.  And especially triathletes–wow.  So many of us. (You are not alone, trust me. You are NOT.)

Do I miss a glass of wine?  Yep.  But as I have written, I was never able to have A GLASS of wine.  Like Elizabeth Vargas, I look at that now–and know immediately that I am just romanticizing something that was a huge monster in my life.

I am one of the lucky ones who was able to put my finger on it before it killed me. Before I lost my job.  Before I lost my family.  I am lucky, blessed, and I have this blog where I must share.  If something I can say or write matters to ONE person, just one, then it’s worth it all.

I have accepted with a full heart that this battle is now a permanent part of my life. And with gratitude it is part of my story, part of what I must share, and say and do.

I’m not embarrassed, at all.

I’m empowered.  I am blessed.  And I’m thankful.  Most of all, just thankful.

And you know what? There’s no promise that I will be sober tomorrow. Because every day is what matters. Every single choice not to drink.  I will continue to do the best I can.  That’s all any of us can do.

But I will tell you… waking up on a random Saturday morning with only a bit of sleep in my eyes (and not a massive headache in my head) –that is a gift that keeps me going.

May 2011
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August 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Love to you all,

Meredith

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For those of you who might be struggling, please ask for help.  I’m also here if you want to chat or confess or just need someone to talk to.  And I really do mean that.

Resources:
http://www.hipsobriety.com
http://www.drinkerscheckup.com/
http://www.aa.org/

Home


https://www.na.org/
https://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/addiction
http://www.addictionsandrecovery.org/what-is-addiction.html
SMART and SMART Friends and Family

(*I am not a psychologist or health care provider, and am not pretending to be. Just sharing some links. Feel free to add your own that might be more helpful in the comments below.)

5 Responses

  1. My brother in law couldn’t ever have just 1 beer and this addiction led to his death at age 56 just a few weeks ago. He loved his family but not enough to leave behind the drinking. My niece had someone pass on sympathy that she had lost her father and she said, I lost him 10 years ago, now it is just final. To be 20 and spend half your life without a dad and then to now deal with the guilt, hurt, confusion is very hard to watch.
    I am so proud of you Meredith for standing firm on your conviction to stay sober and to all the others who are also clean or trying so desperately to get there. It is without a doubt one of the toughest things you will ever do but by far the most important to the life of the loved ones in your life.
    I’m not being rude but kids of alcoholics always suffer. I see it in my own family with my niece and also from my own experience as a child of a dad and grandma who were/are alcoholics. None of the people in my family made the same courageous decisions (that Meredith and many others are and will do)and how I wish that they would have.
    You are my hero?

  2. Love you….and thank you!!!!!!!! YOUR posts are the ones that helped me realize I COULD DO IT TOO….really and truly give it up all together and FOREVER. Thank YOU for always responding to my messages. Plain and simple ones. I have so much love and gratitude for you and the warriors your writings have brought into my life. Holly and Laura specifically. Through them….Meadow and Glennon and the OTHERS. The most beautiful thing? There is a huge online community of brave, strong women sharing their stories when one is ready.

  3. Thanks for this. I have to admit, I was a little excited when you blogged about your sobriety. Not excited that your battling addiction, but you are my triathlon inspiration and I feel more connected, because I am sober 7 years. I have always struggled with finding people who want to train together because when I was learning how to ride a mountain bike, I was learning from a group of guys who always wanted to go drink after each ride. So I quit. There are a lot of running clubs here in Southern Oregon, who run then drink after, so I don’t run with them.
    Last April I ran my first 10 mile race and a few miles in someone set up a table for runners to take tequila shots. At 9am. It was frustrating. Also, here in the PNW most races are using alcohol to bring in more racers. Cosmos or beers at the finish line.

    I am a member of AA, I struggle with it too, but I love the concept of the 12 steps. I get to look at my behaviors, clean up my past and work daily on becoming a better person and connecting with a higher power.
    Thanks for being real, speaking your truth and giving hope to women.

  4. I really needed to read this. Thank you. I recently realized that I can’t just have one drink either, and I can’t even go a few days without a drink. I joined Hello Sunday Morning a couple of weeks ago, but I’m going to look at the resources you posted too. I need to get sober and stay sober for my kids and my health.

  5. I am so freaking proud of you. You know my story. I am now 7 years and 7 months sober. BEST. THING. EVER.
    I have a life. I don’t hate myself. I can take on each day with a clear head (after coffee of course). I have learned that it truly “is what it is”. We have no control over anything in life and if we try to control anything we will make ourselves completely insane.
    I occasionally have flashbacks of stuff I did. I get embarassed… then realize, I am not that person any more and carry on with my life, with who I am today.
    Today I am a nurse, a friend, an aunt, a dog mommy, a sister; I am a responsible individual that lives life one day at a time and loves life!
    You keep going on with your bad self Meredith. I love you girl! SO SO SO SO SO SO PROUD OF YOU.

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