Faith in a Higher Power

I left Valley Hope O'Neill two and half years ago. When I left I was going to court for my third DWI. I knew that I had a tough road ahead of me. I knew my chances for staying sober were slim. I was right. I began drinking my first week out of treatment. I started right were I left off. I started having seizures and when I wasn’t having seizures I was see things that weren’t really there. My weight went from 170 to125 in five months time. My body was beginning to shut down. My court day came and the judge gave me 70 days in jail. For the first time I felt I was going somewhere safe because I could not drink! I was in the holding tank at the jail waiting to be moved in with the rest of the jail population when a guard noticed that I was having withdrawals. She kept me in that room for the next two weeks, so they could watch me. Those two weeks were very painful. I had to eat my food without a spoon or a glass because my hands shook so badly. I ate with my fingers and drank water from the faucet in the sink. I stayed sitting up for the next four days because I was afraid to lay down. I’m not sure why. After two weeks I began to show signs that I was getting better. They moved me in with the rest of the jail population. This is where my story of recovery begans. I had had 56 days until I’d be released from jail. I knew if I didn't do something I would start drinking in 56 days. So I open up a Bible and started reading. There was a minister who visited me twice a week. Between the Bible and the minister, the road to recovery started. I found my faith in a higher power and 57 days later, I got to put my faith to work. Since then, I have not drank or smoked. It has been two years now and I’m very happy and sober at the same time. I wish I had put my faith in a higher power many years ago. My wife and I (and our dog) have a happy life together again. I’m not a Bible thumper. I just have faith that things will get better without alcohol. Chris S.

By: Chris S