My Alcohol Addiction

For years, I was always a drinker. Whether at home or out for the weekend, I never thought how drinking could affect anything or anyone.

But when my partner had kids, we had a happy life raising them, and a good life at that. As they got older, something changed inside me. The more I drank, the more I wanted. I kept pushing my family away. I didn't care. I wanted the alcohol and nothing else.

For years, I lost all contact with my kids. I didn't care. I had a new family, which was my addiction. I loved it. Nothing to worry about, just me and the alcohol.

All contact was lost for eight years. It didn't bother me until one night, drinking at 43 years of age in my local pub, drinking Guinness, my heart gave up. No warning, just like a balloon popping. That was it, dead on the floor. My heart couldn't take the pressure anymore.

When you wake up in hospital and the doctor says you almost died due to alcohol poisoning and your heart couldn't take it, that's when I realized I needed help for my addiction.

So I did three months in recovery rehab and haven't had a drink for four years now.

WHAT THEY BUILT AFTER

What I built afterwards was a friendship with my best friend, who always stood by my side no matter what, until one night she kissed me and said she was always afraid to ask me out in case I said no.

We are now happy, and have been in a relationship together for the last six months.

Only for her, I would be back in addiction again. I have also rebuilt my bond with my kids. It's going to be hard getting those years I missed with them back.

Only for my partner now, I would have died again in some place where I wouldn't be found. That's how much pain I would have been in.