The Tribune

By ALESHA CADET

Tribune Features Reporter

EVERY one around him knew he was an alcoholic. He was the only one oblivious to the fact. When he finally realise, he decided to make a change, and for over 20 years, he has been sober.

George, a recovering alcoholic, has been on the recovery journey for twenty plus years. The 57 year old told Tribune Health he is now able to think in a sober mind and he is more at peace with himself. 

With the help of a number of support groups, family and friends, George said he made it through, even when he thought he was knocking at death's door.

Sharing his story, he said at the time when he was going through his alcoholic struggles, he was in denial and was not feeling anything by it. An eye opener came when he found himself in Doctor's Hospital, checked in for pneumonia.

"That night I was put on a respirator and the doctors induced a coma. Five weeks later, I woke up in South Miami Hospital. They had to transfer me; that's how serious it was," said George.

"I had to learn how to walk again, the whole nine yards. And even after that, I was still in denial because in my mind I thought, to be an alcoholic you had to be falling down in the gutter, and I wasn't," said George.

Thinking back on his excessive drinking days, George said his habits also affected his family life, because he was never home when he needed to be. "I was pretty verbally abusive to my family and that affected them a lot," he said.

At the time, he said he didn't think there was anything wrong with the way he was acting. It took him many years to establish trust and respect with his family again.

The first step is admitting you have a problem, he said. After checking himself into a alcohol rehab center, he said he was educated on what an alcoholic is.

"When I first came back from Florida, I went to a group session here for about a year and a half. I also had made a pact to the rehab center in Florida that I would fly back once a month for a meeting there, which I did for 18 months. I got into Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) here in Nassau and that has been my support group ever since," said George.

Today, George is not only a member of AA Nassau, but he also lends a hand in assisting however he can with struggling alcoholics who come in daily.

"The support that AA gives me is the key and that is what keeps me sober. Right now I still go once a week," he said.

When new alcoholics come into the program, George said he, along with other volunteers, share their experiences, and by doing so, that gives them the hope and strength for the future. 

"That is how the program works because it's alcoholics turning to alcoholics. By helping others, we help ourselves and if you work the steps, you get more serenity and more peace," said George.

The goal of the programme is to help members to get sober, stay sober, and to help others achieve sobriety. It is not just stopping the addiction; it is also about understanding the emotional and mental causes.