Sam’s Story

Sam

“I am so grateful to New Chapters for everything they have done for me. I have to pinch myself sometimes as I am becoming the person I have always wanted to be but just didn't know how.“

My name is Sam and I’m an Alcoholic... this is my New Chapters journey...

I arrived at New Chapters on 10th July 2024. At this point I was alcohol dependant, completely broken and could no longer live with or without alcohol. I was 7 Stone and I had lost literally everything in my life.

I was married with two beautiful boys who I love dearly and up until my alcoholism progressed we were the perfect happy family. I had always liked a drink but my drinking levels increased from drinking 1 bottle of wine per night to 3 bottles a night and then I started drinking vodka which is where my drinking took a hold of me and I became totally out of control.

I was in denial that I had a problem for years and would always minimise my drinking. I started to hide bottles around the house. My husband and family became concerned and could not understand why I couldn’t stop. So I decided to do something about it ‘to get them off my back’.

Having no clue about recovery my step mum who is a nurse gave me the details for CGL so I did a self-referral. I had an initial consultation and was told I was not to stop drinking and go cold turkey as this can be dangerous. This was music to my ears.

I did 2 home detox’s through CGL as I wanted to hide at home and not let anyone know I was doing a detox. I drank after both attempts.

My drinking was progressing and the consequences were getting worse every time. Over the course of 3 years, I went to 2 rehabs, 4 different recovery houses, and had started to have withdrawal seizures and delirium tremor's if I stopped drinking. I was admitted to hospital numerous times for a week long detoxifications but still carried on drinking.

New Chapters

I was so pleased when I heard the news I had got a bed at New Chapters. I was so desperate for help at this point. I checked in to the New Chapters phone every day for about 2 months before it opened to make sure I didn’t loose my bed.

So that's when my journey to a new way of life began.

“I stayed in the first stage house for 5 months. During this time we did intensive group work, counselling, workshops, roleplays, 1-2-1s, attended NA and AA meetings, attended the community recovery hub every week, went to conventions, regular walks, climbed Snowdon, cold water swimming and more.”

I read out my life story to my peers and then started really working on my addiction to alcoholism by completing regular assignments. I had to start looking at myself, getting honest and recognizing that I had to change everything about my life if I was to remain sober. I started to become more open-minded and was willing to do anything to stay sober.

I went to meetings almost every evening and listened to people share about their experience of addiction and what they have done to recover from alcohol/drug use.

I was growing everyday but was still full of fear. My addiction to alcohol had taken so much from me that I had forgotten who I was and the real me had been hidden with masks for so long. Yvonne worked with my peers and I to really open up about ourselves and gave us the tools we needed to fight against the fear and build our self esteem.

By the time I was ready to go up to the 2nd stage house I had changed alot as a person. I was cetainly alot calmer and was able to sit with myself. I had the confidence to go to meetings on my own and was able to share back at meetings about where I was at.

I got a sponsor straight away. She is an amazing person who I admired for her absolute honesty and integrity when she shared in meetings. I wanted what she had, sobriety and serenity!

I then got service and started to feel part of the AA fellowship. Service meant I was accountable and had responsibility again. People actually trusted me and wanted me around which is a concept I was not used to. I have built a great network of women through AA and now regularly do main shares and I’m secretary for a meeting in warwick. I have also recently started sponsoring a new comer.

Whilst in the 2nd stage house I got myself a car and was seeing the boys on a regular basis. I would spend most weekends with them and was able to pick them up from school in the week. I got back into playing netball which I love and have used the time at 2nd stage to integrate myself back into society.

I moved into my own place in May this year. I have got a 2-bedroom flat in Leamington and I will be 2 years sober in 5 days time (10th July 2026). The boys stay with me every weekend and we have recently been to Spain on holiday. I am so grateful to New Chapters for everything they have done for me. I have to pinch myself sometimes as I am becoming the person I have always wanted to be but just didn't know how.