Read this inspiring article of someone set free from Alcoholism. Article provided anonymously. 

I remember from an early age of feeling and thinking different from everybody else, I’m not saying I am but it felt like it. I felt lonely, sad, insecure and inferior.  When I received my first weekly salary, in those days I was paid weekly in cash, I think it was around £65 in 1980 I spent it all by Sunday lunch time down the pub.  Being down the pub felt fantastic I loved drinking and getting drunk, whenever I drank I would always get drunk I never drank socially or in moderation.  I always spent all of my money down the pub and always had financial problems which in the end caused me to steal of family members and on one occasion my employer. When I was 19 I discovered Tenants Super, now at the time this was brilliant I could get drunk even quicker and not feel so blotted because 4 cans was enough as opposed to say 10 pints of Holsten ( that was the strongest larger on draught at the time ).  So started the secret drinking I would drink 4 cans of Tenants Super before I went out so I was already drunk and just a few pints at the pub before struggling home.  I met a girl during this time and we ended up getting married I was 23 she was 25.  I hated as it put a restriction on my drinking, I ended up drinking in secret more and more and getting further into debt.  After 5 years she left and never came back. I lost my house and spent the proceeds of the sale on drink in about a month I think I got about £1300.

 A short time after this I meet my wife and I slowed my drinking down in front of her but continued to drink in secret.  I would go down pub maybe Sunday lunch time but other than would drink at home and hide cans around the house or constantly give reasons why I needed to out and sit and drink the cans I had hidden on the car. This to me at the time seemed normal and necessary behavior.  Work was not a problem I hadn’t started to drink in the morning and loads of extra strong mints and gum worked.

When our first child was born 1994 I went to AA but at the time didn’t want to go and didn’t see I had a problem.  My drinking just got worse I couldn’t function without a drink and if I hadn’t had any alcohol by 3 o’clock in the afternoon I started shaking and sweating. I started to get pains in my back and sides and was diagnosed with pancreitas; the told doctor told me I had to stop drinking. I didn’t.  I went to Health link for 2 years just to keep everyone quiet.  I changed jobs a couple of times thinking maybe that would help.  I couldn’t face life without drink and I didn’t want to although my health was getting bad.  I had almost stopped eating and was starting to shake more violently, nothing a few Tenants Supers cant sort out. All this time I drank every evening and got absolutely drunk.  I had three separate 10 day spells in Weller Wing essentially to dry out I drank immediately on my release. Around this time my sister-in-law sent a bible from America and I started to read it. I remember walking around the hospital with the bible telling everyone the answer was in here, strange.

Then on the 4^th April 1999 it was Easter Sunday I was caught drink driving, at last, I was 3 times over the limit at 11 in the morning. I lost my licenses for 2 years and my job, my wife was 8 months pregnant with another child.  I went to AA on the Saturday and met a guy who attended church. I was sober for 10 days and then the insanity which is Alcoholism told me I could have 1 drink of course it didn’t work I’ve never had one drink so off  I was again only this time I really lost it. I was drunk 24/7 unable to function without a drink even when I did drink it mentally and physical hurt but it seemed I had no choice. Occasionally I would go to AA hoping for a magic cure and would chat with my friend he said he would wait for me. I didn’t understand what he meant at the time.

My wife finally had enough and kicked me out. I slept wherever I could and spent my days at Bedford Park drinking in the bushes. This was the summer of 1999. By this time my weight had plummeted and I was weak. I started to stay at my parents and would sometimes turn up at church drunk but somehow drawn to the hope.

From my stays at Weller Wing social services got to know about me and they offered me a place at Hope House in Luton which is a rehab for alcohol and drug addiction. I went for an interview on the Wednesday and was offered a place on Monday the 21^st September. I knew this was my last chance and on Thursday 17^th September 1999 I had my last drink. I woke up Friday clean I had no shakes or sweats and no desire for a drink, normally as soon as I opened my eyes my first thought was I need a drink.  I hadn’t cried out to God because at the time I didn’t know him but he knew me. I just shouted out I’ve had enough help. I’m sure God knew in my heart I had given up I was totally beaten and He needed me to be at that place one of complete surrender 100%.

I made it in to Hope House with my bible a few clothes and an open mind. I felt I just needed to accept the situation I was in to stop fighting and let things happen. It was difficult the house had six other men and one woman I was there three months. During my time we would have general open discussions and also one to one counseling.  I went to AA three times a week but I really new I would never drink again.  I would read a little every night from the bible.  After 3 months I moved to the second stage where I shared a house with another guy, at this time my wife and kids started to visit.  They would drive up to Luton and we had a few hours in the park.  I found this really hard I started to feel guilt for the first time gut wrenching guilt as to all the lost time with my kids and the wasted years.  God both took away my guilt and has restored all the lost years.  I started to have visits to Bedford one day at a time then one weekend at a time.  It was during the weekend visits I started to go back to church at first I didn’t understand who Jesus was but through my AA experience had come to accept God as real but it didn’t fit that God could be anything you like that you could shape God to fit you.

I moved back to be with my wife and kids 9 months after I moved out.  I came back different but was still searching for something.  Eventually I approached one of the leaders and explained I believed in God but didn’t understand this guy Jesus.  So he explained to me the gospel.  I went home and immediately gave my life to Christ.  I know it was what I needed to do.