I spent years asking myself, Am I really an alcoholic? I could hold down a job and show up for my life so I convinced myself I was fine. But deep down, I knew I wasn’t. I was drinking too much and I couldn’t moderate. I would make rules and break them by dinner. I finally joined a peer support platform in May 2021 and got sober for the first time. I felt relief… until I relapsed four months later. I was devastated. I thought I had failed. But instead of disappearing into shame, I reached back out to the same community and that choice changed everything. Since September 7, 2022, I’ve stayed sober. I learned that relapse doesn’t erase the work you’ve done; it reveals where you still need support. I also learned how important it is to not wait for a rock bottom, you can choose sobriety simply because you want better. Now, I help others navigate those early questions and hard days. I offer my story, my support, and my full belief that you’re not alone, even if this isn’t your first try.