The Living Room Saved My Life!

"I might not be here today if I was still drinking"

My name's Phil. I’ve worked hard all my life, I have a job, a home and enjoy good health. So you could ask why I make the claim above. But for a long period of my life I was a chaotic drinker, and if I had not changed my ways I don’t think that I would still be alive to tell the tale.

I began as a social drinker in my 20s, but over the years my drinking got so bad that I was spending all my time and all my money in pubs. And I always made sure that I had a bottle of vodka at home to end the day’s drinking – or start the next. Vodka for breakfast is not to be recommended, but it was my daily staple.

I found that drinking made me angry and argumentative, and both my family and work colleagues found me a difficult person to be around. I let my house fall into disrepair, didn’t attend to my health, and to be honest I wouldn’t have been surprised if I had fallen under a bus as I was oblivious to what was going on.

I’ve been coming to the Living Room for three years now, and have managed to stay sober for that period of time. I think that meeting people with a range of different problems has been good for me. I know that a lot of people get help from AA, but for some reason it didn’t do anything for me. I feel very well supported here, the atmosphere is friendly and you can talk to people who have gone through – and still are going through – the same experience as you.

People have noticed a big change in me – at work I seem to have finally managed to stop letting things get on top of me, and find it easier to see the bigger picture rather than just focussing on me and my needs. I am getting on much better with my family, and can now enjoy their company again.

Another big bonus is that rather than spending every penny I had on alcohol, I can now save up for things that will benefit me in the long run – like a new roof for my house, and some long overdue dental work.

I know that I am an alcoholic, and take things one day at a time. But I feel much more optimistic about the future, and hope that with the support I get at the Living Room the quality of my life will continue to improve.