I grew up in an upper middle-class family in Bethany, CT. From the outside looking in, my family was an ordinary American family. My mom and dad were well-educated. My mom was an artist, and my dad ran the family recycling business. What most people didn’t see was that my mother suffered from severe manic depression and when I was

I remember the week that I stopped drinking in 1988. Early in that week, I remember praying. I prayed to a God that I wasn’t sure existed. I wasn’t thinking of recovery at this point, just trying to save myself from loneliness, anger, and resentment. I prayed for an alternative to my bleak future. During that week I had evacuated

Before I started using drugs and alcohol, I remember feeling a sense of impending doom and a huge void in my life. These feelings were hard for a nine-year-old girl to comprehend. I remember sobbing to my mom once and saying “I just want to go home” as I was sitting in my bed. Of course, I was home, but

In March of 2000, I witnessed the greatest hockey game ever played. Well, I may be exaggerating a little but I was a competitive Dad back then. Although unqualified, I was appointed an assistant coach on my son Evan’s House Hockey team. At the end of the season, there were playoffs and the final two teams played in a championship

Ever since I was a child, I have wanted to be a helper. I helped my mother with my little sisters, I cheeredmy friends up when they were sad by making them laugh, and I went to great lengths to please people,or in my young mind, ‘help’ the situation. Often, those efforts went against my beliefs or desires andbegan to

I was not one of those people who had their first sip of alcohol and thought, “Where have you been all my life!”. My transformation–from a woman who drank wine to have fun, enhance the moment, relax, and take the edge off, to a woman who drank warm vodka alone behind closed doors–happened slowly over time. I do not remember

On Wednesday, August 30, 2023, at NCPSG’s 7th Annual Community Addiction Awareness Vigil, Ian Parker shared his story of recovery from addiction. His parents, Melody and Roger, introduced him. To view the video recording of his Vigil speech click here. We also share his testimonial in full below. Thank you, Ian, for being so open about your recovery! Families empower

On Wednesday, August 30th at NCPSG’s 7th Annual Community Addiction Awareness Vigil, Keri Crossley shared her story of recovery from alcohol misuse as a teenager. Her parents, Tracy and Debbie, introduced her. To view the video recording of her Vigil speech click here. We also share her testimonial in full below. Thank you, Keri, for being so open about your

On Wednesday, August 30, 2023 at NCPSG’s 7th Annual Community Addiction Awareness Vigil, Nick deSpoelberch shared his story of addiction to opioids and his recovery which now has reached a decade. To view the video recording click here, and see below to read his testimonial in full. Thank you, Nick, for being so open about your recovery! Hi everyone. I’m

The quote by Maya Angelou, “When you learn, teach. When you get, give”, is how I can best describe the landscape of my recovery walk.  I had always considered myself an alcohol abuser, not an alcoholic. After all, I was able to stop drinking alcohol completely from the age of 27-34. How could I possibly be a person with a