The article explores the author's personal journey of addiction recovery, highlighting the feelings of shame, loneliness, and despair that often accompany withdrawal. The author reflects on early recovery struggles, including estrangement from loved ones and overwhelming anxiety. A pivotal moment occurs when he confides in his father, who offers unconditional support and encourages him to move in. This familial bond becomes essential for the author’s healing and emphasizes the importance of support systems during recovery.
When I began my recovery journey in 2007, the first days were brutal. I went through all the rituals of getting rid of all my booze and deleting my cocaine dealer's phone number - like I didn't have it memorized.
Finally, about a week into my recovery, I couldn't hold it in any longer. I went to my father's house across the street and cried like a baby on his couch.
Hearing it for the first time, he had not been beaten down. I was lucky in that regard. I had a village outside of my room.
That early support was the core of my making it through those early days.
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