Diary of an Alcoholic Housewife by Brenda Wilhelmson's

I finished my book which made me sad. I feel like I could have continued to read about her life even up until this day, which she is now 5 years sober. She was someone I could relate to and I'm thankful that she had the courage to write about what she went through. I know there are people out there like me. It is so important to have someone to relate to when you are deciding to quit an addiction.
When I first started realizing I needed to change my life, I started searching for options to help me stop. I knew I didn't want to do a 12 step program even though it has helped many. I looked at Hypnosis, talking to my doctor about medication to help with the urges.....it went on an on. Finally I came across a book called Living Sober Sucks (but living drunk sucks more) by Mark Tuschel. He was someone who I could relate too. It seemed like our lives were very similar when it came to alcohol. However it still wasn't quit the fit I needed to prepare myself. But his book inspired me to start this blog, come up with an action plan to quit and keep searching for the right way "for me" to stop drinking. Then thanks to Mark's blog The Clean Life, I came across Brenda Wilhelmson's book, Diary of an Alcoholic Housewife . It was such a relief to read about someone like me. A high functioning Alcoholic who's friends didn't know anything was wrong let alone think she had a problem, she had a husband who was irritated by her drinking but really didn't do much to stop it (which is not his fault because nobody can change an alcoholic but the alcoholic themselves), and had one parent that was an alcoholic and the other never touched the stuff. From the outside her life looked just like mine.....and on the inside as well.
It was such a relief to read about someone like me.
Her book  starts out retelling stories of her before she committed to being sober. Then you are with her for the first year of her sobriety. It was great to see how each month she grew stronger and her will to stay sober became more and more of a focus for her. Her book shared her transition with friends and family. Her strength to stay friends with people who challenged her sobriety every time  they were together. For some. it's important to stop hanging around the people that temp you, but for me that is not an option. I have to learn to maneuver through a world where alcohol will always be within arms reach. She was able to give me the strength to know I can do this.

If you are thinking about getting sober and don't know what to do, it's so important you find people, or books, or a program that "YOU" can relate to. I think if you know you aren't alone or that someone else is just like you, you are going to be more successful to help yourself. You also need to know when the time is right and it's not the morning after a hangover. If that was the case I would have been sober years ago.

Thank you Mark, The Clean Life  for supporting me, checking on me, and giving me encouragement

Thank you Mark Tuschel, Living Sober Sucks for getting me started, giving me an action plan.

Thank you Brenda Wilhelmson, Diary of an Alcoholic Housewife for telling your story and giving me someone I can relate too.