Raised in ALATEEN

[Evie.Lou]

Most of my family were Alkies, so that is pretty much what I thought people did when they grew up. My mom started our local Alateen group so that us kids would understand the disease. I am a child of the 60s so started college in early 70s. All my life I have been afraid of FIRE. I am no goody two shoes but never smoked anything because of this fear. I think that is the only thing that kept me from drugs. I drank on weekends but not a real problem. The first time I can say that AL took over my life was when I left my home, friends and business behind in the aftermath of 3 mile island disaster. My kids were preschool and we were ordered to leave by the govener. We fled back to our old home town, not knowing if we could ever return our home. We found a small farm near our families and moved back there. It sounds like it should be a happy ending but it turned into a nightmare. My husband had to travel for work and my kids started school. I was left alone and that is when the drinking started. I was good at hidding it but it started to kill me inside. After several years of trying to control it I decieded that suicide was the only way out. I stoled pills from grandma and plotted my own death. Some tremendous power shook me so hard that it knocked me out of bed and onto my butt. I heard a voice say you are going to dedicate your life to helping your fellow man !!!!! What the hell did that mean??? It meant that I would never drink again and that I would become a minister. Who Me ??? YES...ME !!!! I did not drink again for 17yrs. I used my Gifts as best that I could and traveled the world studing and teaching. My life started to fall apart when I realized that I was no longer in love with my husband of 27yrs. He did not want a divorce but I could not live with him anymore. The kids were grown and I wanted my freedom. A terrible divorce followed. Even thought I was glad to be free I felt tremendous guilt because I was happy and everyone around me hated me for being happy. No one would speak to me and I became the most hated person in my world. I moved to a new town but could not seem to put this behind me. I think that I began to drink again to punish myself(again suicidel but in a slow torturous way). I am now married to the most wonderful man that I have ever known. He begged me to get help. He would cry and beg me not to die and leave him all alone. He loved me thru it and I could not stand the pain that I saw in his eyes. Something in me snapped, sort of like the first time that I stopped. I became a new me!!!! I do not believe that this new person that I am will ever drink again. I can see myself as a very old woman still cherishing this wonderful man, the love of my life and remaining healthy and sober for the rest of my life.........

[brittzak]

Raised in ALATEEN

Evie, thank-you for sharing. That is a very inspiring post.

[Doggygirl]

Raised in ALATEEN

Evie, I am so glad you are here with us, and so glad you are happy in your marriage and life - despite the rough patches you went through to get here. I'm glad you're alive!

Our AF futures really are very bright - despite whatever problems we will have to deal with along the way.

Thank you for sharing your story.

DG
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