For most of my adult life, alcohol and weed were how I coped. I started drinking in my early 20s and didn’t really face the consequences until my 30s—by then, I had lost jobs, been arrested, and damaged some really important relationships. Weed felt like a comfort, but eventually, I realized I was just numbing my life away. Getting sober hasn’t been a straight line for me—I’ve had multiple stretches of sobriety, but this current one has lasted over five years. I’ve tried different tools along the way, including therapy, 12 Steps, SMART Recovery, and rehab. What really helped was learning how to become my own best friend. Today, I continue to use support groups and counseling to stay grounded. I’ve also helped people close to me get into recovery themselves—taking them to treatment, helping them find meetings, and staying in their corner while they got clean. If you’re struggling with sobriety or just figuring out where to begin, I’m here to talk it through with no judgment.