DO I HAVE A LIFE AFTER THOMAS?
Scott is currently on our Rehabilitation Programme
I am a 33 years old alcoholic with a vision to regain the life I once had. Do I have a life after THOMAS? Is it possible for me to regain this life butthis time beingsober? Only time will tell.
My first experience with alcohol was at the age of 14, stood at the back of the local youth club in my home town of Rochdale, with a friend from school. As the liquid slipped down my throat I remember almost vomiting from the foul taste it had. There was no pressure on me to have this drink; it was just the curiosity factor I had to do my own investigation as to why so many people enjoyed pouring this substance down their throats so much.
My drinking became a regular weekend occurrence for me until the age of 18. It never interfered with my school work or my college life but it gradually increased from only weekends to every night. As I have already said, this did not interfere with my studies and I became very well educated qualifying as an electrical engineer.
My first full time employment was as an installation engineer with a micro-electronics company. I was given a company car and the responsibility of installing time and attendance systems and access control systems. I also gave full training to the customer. I could have had a good career with this company but it wasn’t to be.
As my drinking became more intense I moved to a filtration company where I climbed the ladder of success. At this time I was engaged, had my own home and a bright future. But alcohol pulled that ladder from under my feet.
I spent some time working for myself as an electrician but then I was diagnosed with epilepsy which was quite a blow and was quite frightening at times, not knowing when my next seizure would occur. Was this drink related? I don’t know. I spent many years drinking all day every day following my diagnosis but took no advice from my doctor. Why should I take this advice? I asked myself. I am invisible. But now I know why. At the age of 49 my dad died from alcohol related illnesses such as liver, heart and chest problems but also lung cancer. Throughout my addiction I watched my dad kill himself slowly with drink. Did I do anything about mine? No!
I went back to work and climbed the ladder again but my stupidity, drinking before and during work caused me to lose control again and losing my job for endangering employees’ lives. I really enjoyed being in this management role but my illness just wouldn’t let go. Eventually I hit the rock bottom in my life. I stole from my family, lied, cheated, manipulated and begged to get money to fund my addiction. I was in and out of hostels, associating with low life and drinking from the moment I woke up until I went to bed. I was inflicting the same damage to my body as my dad did to his. Basically I was killing myself.
THOMAS has taken this madness away from me. It has also helped me to realize just what my dad went through with his illness. I have lived with this illness for a long time not only within myself but also with my dad. Not only has THOMAS helped me with my self-confidence and self-worth but by working the 12 Steps I have been able to re-evaluate my life not only with my addiction but also with the belief that I can wipe the slate clean of all the emotional pain and torture that I put myself and my family through.
With this belief I can also regain the life I once lived.