I deeply admire Regina Eversole, Human Resources Director for Change Addiction Now (C.A.N.) – United We Can, and was struck by her application of the Stages of Grief to her alcoholism and asked her to share her thoughts in today’s post.

Regina was active in her addiction with alcohol for 20+ years and has been in active recovery for 15+ years. She served in the United States Air Force for 18 years and has three adult daughters whom she proudly says, “do not have substance use disorders.” Regina goes on to say, “My motivation in being a part of C.A.N. is to help other families that have gone through what my family went through due to my addiction.” Regina can be reached by email at ReginaE@changeaddictionnow.org.

Grieving the Loss of My Alcoholism by Regina Eversole

When I saw this model, “Stages of Grief,” and started looking at it – I mean really looking at it – I had a revelation!

When we hear, “Stages of Grief,” we usually think about the loss of a loved one, however as I was going over this model, I realized that I, a person in long term recovery, had gone through every stage of the grieving process during the last days of my addiction and into my early recovery. Strange I know. However as I started thinking about it and remembered what my addiction had meant to me, it made sense to me.

My addiction was my everything. I depended on it for everything. I put it ahead of everything in my life, and when I finally realized that l had to let it go of it or die, I was consumed with grief. I was letting go a something that had been a part of my life for a long, long time. It was my everything.

Yet, I believe my recovery is due in large part to the fact that I did grieve the loss of my addiction and found the tools to let my grieving – every stage of it – happen that I was able to move on from that grief into long-term recovery and the wonderful, ‘beyond my wildest dreams’ life I live, today.