In “The Big Book”, beyond the initial 164 pages, there are numerous biographical stories where Alcoholics Anonymous members share personal accounts of “What it was like, What Happened, and What it is like Now”. This page is dedicated to similar stories, written and submitted by local District 62 AA members. These personal stories have helped countless people find their path to recovery from this disease.
They offer a familiar and tangible starting point for someone struggling to grasp the depths of their situation. These stories provide a moment of clarity, a chance to relate to another person with a similar affliction, or a dark situation caused by the baffling power of the obsession with “The First Drink” and the subsequent “Phenomenon of Craving”.
Please email your account to be published here: aadistrict62il@gmail.com
I will start this with my own story:
For years, I had found solace at the bottom of a bottle. The world outside seemed too harsh, too unrelenting, and alcohol had become my only refuge. But each gulp I took pushed me deeper into a pit of despair, until finally, my rock bottom hit with a force that shattered my world.
It started with my father's suicide. A once vibrant man, his sudden departure left an indelible mark on me. Losing him was like losing a piece of myself. The pain gnawed at me, and rather than face it, I drowned it in drink. Little did I know that this was only the beginning of my downward spiral.
My 25-year-old daughter, my beacon of light, passed away soon after. She had lived with Rett Syndrome, and despite our best efforts, she was never able to experience a good quality of life. The agony of losing her was insurmountable. She had been my anchor, my reason to keep going, and now she was gone. The grief was so overwhelming, I could hardly breathe. I blamed myself, questioning every decision I'd made, every drink I’d taken. The guilt was suffocating.
The days that followed were a blur of empty bottles and darker thoughts. There were times I wondered if I would ever see the light again. It was as though I was trapped in a never-ending nightmare, unable to wake up. The isolation and pain were all-consuming.
In the depths of my despair, I stumbled upon Alcoholics Anonymous. At first, I was skeptical, convinced that nothing could save me from the void I was in. But as I attended meetings and listened to the stories of others who had faced their own battles, a glimmer of hope began to flicker within me. These people understood my pain; they had walked the same treacherous path and had come out the other side.
With the support of my AA group and my sponsor, I began the slow climb out of the abyss. It wasn’t easy. Each day presented a new challenge, a new temptation to give in. But I clung to the hope that maybe, just maybe, there was still a chance for me to reclaim my life.
Two years have passed since I took my last drink. I am 2+ years sober now, and while the scars of my past remain, I have found a new strength within myself. I have learned to honor my father and daughter’s memory by living a life they would be proud of. The journey is far from over, but I no longer face it alone. With the support of my AA family and the resilience I’ve discovered within myself, I continue to move forward, one day at a time.
-John G