True Stories of Addiction: Vicki
Vicki’s story starts with her parents, both of who suffered from the disease of addiction. She lost her mother many years ago to the disease, and her father only a few years ago.
Vicki was first introduced to Alcohol when she was with her grandma, drinking wine at a restaurant, and she fell in love. She loved the way that Alcohol had made her feel, and soon, she started stealing more Alcohol from her grandfather, putting it in her Wonder Woman thermos, and taking it to school – she was in the sixth grade.
By the time she was 17, she was binge drinking constantly, and using drugs if people around her offered her some. She didn’t start buying her own drinks until she was in her early 20s, when she entered the bar scene.
Alcohol and Drug Use
Vicki was that girl, the one that was taking her top off, throwing up, starting fights and getting thrown out of the bar. Needless to say, she was drinking and driving all the time, but surprisingly, only was stopped by an officer once.
When she acquired her DUI, she didn’t see it as a sign for her to change, but rather, she blamed everyone from the police officer that gave her the ticket, to her boyfriend at the time who didn’t want to drive. This wasn’t the first time, nor was it the last time she had ever driven while under the influence. It was just the only time that she was caught.
Vicki knew that she had to change this cycle of addiction for her three children, but she didn’t know how. She believed that no one could ever understand, let alone help her out of the hole that she had dug for herself. Vicki ended up staying in a basement for 2 years, filling herself up with drugs and alcohol.
The turning point for Vicki came about when, during her time in the basement, her eldest daughter, who was eight years-old at the time brought her food. Vicki wasn’t eating a lot during this time, and so her eldest daughter would routinely bring food on occasion.
When her daughter had returned to pick up the dishes, Vicki had nodded off, face first into the food. Her daughter had believed that her mother had died and was in hysterics.
It was after this eye-opening moment that she finally decided to stop living the life that she was and to finally get the help that she needed.
Living in Sobriety
Vicki ended up going to a state-funded treatment center; she was hesitant, but willing as she knew that she couldn’t keep on living the way she was. She went to meetings, connected with other people, and went into aftercare. Soon, after the fog over her had started to lift, she realized that she did not like the way she was living her life and dedicated to living in sobriety
She ended up divorcing her husband, but lost custody of her children for nine months due to her past. Losing your children can bring anyone down, but Vicki knew that she had to keep moving forward. She didn’t stop and she got a job, her own apartment and ended up graduating college in sobriety. She also regained custody of her kids, who now have a great relationship with her.
There have been hiccups along the way, and she has had to go back into recovery in 2009, but she hasn’t let this keep her down. She knows that mistakes happen and that addiction is a disease without a cure: you have to work on it every day.
Today, Vicki is recovering with her spouse that is in recovery. There are those days that she feels down, but she has learned how to accept life and stay strong during those times.
