Hi, my name is Tia, and I'm an alcoholic.

I'm glad to be here tonight. When I was fifteen, my alcoholic father bought me my first fifth of whiskey. I dabbled into cocaine and various other substances throughout my teens and twenties. Alcohol was always where I ended up. I got into several abusive relationships over a period of twenty or so years. All were alcoholic, and/or with some other type of substance involved. Then when I turned thirty-five, I married for the first time to a friend who was a drinking buddy. Needless to say, that turned out wrong also. Such is my track record with men. I then went into a bottle every day from sunup to sunset. I would stash stuff everywhere. My car, my house ... anywhere, just for fear I might run out. My soulmate came along in the process. Was he a gift from God? He would corner me with, "why do you drink so much?" I would get angry and storm off. Well, it got to the point I couldn't keep food down unless I'd had a few drinks and sometimes even then food wouldn't stay down. I had the shakes every day, sometimes so bad I couldn't function. The day I decided to admit I had a problem and was powerless over alcohol was the beginning of my life. Now with sixty-two days, one day at a time, I never forget the FIRST one. I am powerless!

Thanks for letting me share.