My Friend and Enemy Alcohol

I know a lot of people get upset when you discuss the merits of AA. But that isn’t what this is all about. It’s really about trying to find a new way to live. And that has been the hardest part for me. When most of the time your brain tells you and your body tells you that you just don’t want to. And the only time you kind of did is when you drank. For me, there is no pill or therapy that changes that. I live in a very isolated world. I am no longer invited anywhere either because there will be alcohol or because I have said no too many times in the last 5 and half years. If I do happen to go to something I feel the urge to flee within 15 minutes. All the noise and lights are overwhelming. I remember times that were good, laughing and talking with my bestfriend all night. Doing stupid stuff that was funny not hurting anyone. Feeling like I belonged. I can’t do that now no matter how hard I try. You are fighting a war with yourself until a bout of mania comes. And even that isn’t fun. Spending too much money, talking too loud and fast thinking you know it all. Then crashing into a pile on the floor crying, getting yelled at because you’re crying again. It’s a never ending circle. And I know there are people out there that are worse off than me ( I am told this often) but when it is in your brain like a parasite you don’t see it. I don’t crave the alcohol I crave the dive bar atmosphere where all us misfits weren’t misfits for a little while. I had to pretend to be someone else there, talking politics, art, animals, world events wasn’t going to cut it. So I guess even then I had to pretend like I do now when people ask me if I’m “ok”. Because honestly I’m not. I’m tired of taking all these pills everyday, taking care of my dad only to be ignored or yelled at, tired of knowing I have twin that really doesn’t care about me as much as I do her. Most of all I am tired with grief. I am physically ill and my dad wonders why I was as white as the snow this morning. I told him 10 times he didn’t listen. Not many people ever did. When I drank they had to because I was bigger then and a reputation of sometimes being not so nice. When sober I couldn’t say boo to an ant. I’ll keep trying because I want to travel, see my animals and watch my nephews grow a little more. That’s all I can do right now.