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Two months later, Jamie attended her first recovery meeting. That was the start of a 20-year journey of sobriety. Jamie also regularly attends recovery meetings; she takes her sobriety on the road with her when she’s filming, sometimes setting up ad-hock recovery meetings in her dressing trailer. Every time a celebrity bravely sober house steps up to share their story of substance abuse and recovery, we can see the incredible impact their story has on those who are still suffering. “I was able to stay sober for 9 months – meetings every day, praying every day, really in the middle of the program. In 2009, I got pregnant by my long term boyfriend.
But the beautiful thing about this is that once I was done grieving, I had an opportunity to reinvent myself. I could now make a decision to be exactly who I’ve always wanted to be, but couldn’t because of alcohol. Plus, the ideas I had for my future also involved alcohol.
STRUGGLING WITH AN ALCOHOL PROBLEM?
I had 6 or 7 months sober, maybe even a little bit longer. Like too many people, substance use disorder had taken over Gina’s life – that is, until one day when she found the inner strength to ask for help. Drug and alcohol addiction stories are usually shadowed by short, faceless segments on the news.
What does a year of sobriety feel like?
After a year of sobriety, you'll find you're thinking more clearly, you can remember things better, and you can focus and make decisions better. Those feelings of anxiety and depression that were likely a part of your life after the first few months of sobriety are now gone.
Two days later, I enrolled in a treatment facility which ultimately saved my life. The short answer is that my symptoms for the 3 years prior to getting sober aligned with the DSM-5’s Severe Alcohol Use Disorder. I hid & lied about how much I was drinking and I manipulated those around me into believing I didn’t have a problem.
First sober podcast I tried
For those who came of age in the 1980s, you may remember the then-baby-faced Rob Lowe from the movie adaptation of The Outsiders. Just a teen at the time, the film was his first introduction to Hollywood, and his first introduction to alcohol. Chris told me I couldn’t go back to the same things, and that I needed to change things. I had to take some chances, do things differently if I wanted things to change. Chris motivated me to make those changes. People show up, and I’m trying to show up for people too, and be a good person.
- I kept recalling a mentor of mine telling me over the years “we are as sick as our secrets”.
- At the end of the extensive five-day evaluation, it was suggested that I stay for an extended period of time.
- I have stayed sober since attending that meeting.
- Getting and staying sober is very challenging, but with the right support network and tools, it’s completely attainable.
On my one-year anniversary of sobriety, I wanted to feel that way too. I remember thinking what a blessing it was to receive my cup. My cup represents the many blessings I have received since being in recovery. But, as I started getting my craft supplies together, I considered what recovery meant to me.
A career and purpose after alcohol addiction
It has also given me an opportunity to tell my story. I made the choice before I came to Valley Hope to be 100 percent up front and honest with everyone about what was happening and where I was going. By doing this, I opened the doors and made other people more comfortable in talking to me about their own struggles (or a family member) with addiction.
