Steve’s Virtual Treatment Experience
What was life like before treatment at Dilworth Center?
Life before Dilworth consisted of a few relapses and increased friction between me and my wife. I had two years of sobriety prior to going back out. I, like many alcoholics, thought that after a brief period of sobriety I could drink like a normal person. I immediately picked up right where I left off and the former habits of lying, over-consuming, and driving while impaired rapidly re-entered my life.
How did you decide upon treatment at Dilworth Center?
After a two day binder, which included me missing my son’s 2nd birthday, my wife packed my 3 boys up and hit the road to Tennessee to stay with her parents. She told me to get it figured out or she would be forced to raise the boys on her own. After a few more days of drinking, I had breakfast with a fellow AA member and the lightbulb went off… I realized that I wasn’t quite finished drinking during my first round in sobriety. I had completed the 12 steps and even sponsored an individual for a short period of time but I still had one foot in and one foot out. I was still holding out for hope that I would have the ability to drink like a normal person one day. Even though I was not drinking, I wasn’t sober. I was a dry drunk who hadn’t grasped Acceptance and struggled regularly with Willingness. For some reason after eating breakfast with my friend, I realized I was willing to go to any length to stop drinking and wanted to get help.
What was treatment at Dilworth Center like?
I loved my time at Dilworth.. my counselor Michael Hatley was excellent and I thoroughly enjoyed the lectures and small groups. I learned so much about my disease during the lectures and was able to uncover some habits formed in my childhood that led to my heavy drinking.
What was (virtual) treatment during a pandemic like?
It was surprisingly great. I got just as much out of virtual treatment as I had from in-person AA meetings. My entire 16 weeks was a true pleasure. Additionally, my wife was able to participate in the family treatment sessions. We have three young boys at home and she would not have been able to participate if the meetings weren’t virtual.
What is recovery like?
Recovery is great if you’re working a good program (attending regular AA meetings, service work, and talking to other AA members on the phone). I will say recovery after Dilworth is much better than my first few years of recovery. At the end of the day, you have to accept your disease and be willing to go to any lengths to get sober. The 12 step program of Alcoholics Anonymous has all the answers to living a sober life that’s happy, joyous, and free. It’s a program of action and if you do it with a sponsor and follow the steps, there’s a good chance you’ll find that life is so much better than you ever imagined in your wildest dreams.
What would you tell people still struggling with addiction?
Reach out to someone and get help. It can certainly be intimidating to admit powerlessness over your drinking or using (or really over anything in life) but there are people within the AA community that genuinely want to help. You’re not burdening us… by helping a fellow alcoholic in need, it gives us sober alcoholics a reminder of what life used to be like and we want you to find happiness in sobriety just as we have. So, go to a meeting.. call Dilworth… call a friend… tell your spouse… just do whatever you have to do to get help. You’ll be amazed at the freeing feeling that comes when you do so.
