One Moment Turns Addiction Into Action

There was a time in my life when the only thing I cared about was my next drink, and the saddest part is that I was a mother to a toddler at the time. I look at my son now—he’s 17—and I cannot imagine ever leaving or neglecting him for a drink, yet I know that in my darkest times, I did exactly that. My behavior was unacceptable, and my "bottom" was much lower than I ever imagined.

Those of us in recovery—and those of us still searching for it—know those moments all too well. While the shame has eased over the years, the ache of those lost moments remains.

Bryan Blackmon, from episode 34, shared his "moment"—looking in the mirror and no longer recognizing the person staring back at him. It was a heartbreaking realization of how far he had fallen, but how incredibly blessed he was to turn it around; so many do not get that chance.

I remember my own moment clearly. I was lying on my kitchen floor, suffering through an awful hangover. I had no electricity, no food, no job, no income, and no friends. My son was with his father, and in that silence, I realized that was it for me. Something had to change.The journey wasn't easy, and it included several relapses, but today, as I write this, I am over five years sober.

What was the one moment that inspired you to change?