Chris' Story

My name is Chris, and I am a grateful recovering Alcoholic!

This journey I have made into alcoholism was a long and ultimately painful one. Physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. There was nothing abnormal or unusual in my childhood or pre-adolescence.  I was raised by both my loving parents along with my four siblings. Other than hardship in poverty, which was not unusual for a working-class family in postwar Britain, my upbringing was uneventful. My education and religious education was typical for this period and thanks to my family environment it was probably better than many.

My introduction to alcohol began at the age of 9 years old but was not a regular occurrence until I was 15 years of age. I finished high school and went on to complete an apprenticeship in draughting which was considered a promising and rewarding career. My use of alcohol was confined initially to weekend socializing but did slowly progress to the point where I would be drinking daily. From the time I began drinking at the age of 15 and for the next 38 years, my alcohol consumption went from normal, social drinking to dependence, where I could not go without alcohol being in my system at all times.  During this time there were many trials and tribulations in my life that could and did befall many other people and were not really a contributing factor to my alcohol abuse but merely an excuse to continue in its use. My life went from being relatively content and happy to being broke, out of work and homeless, resulting in the loss of a life with my family and especially my children. In the later years of this chaos, I tried many times to stop and live without this dependence which proved absolutely futile. Finally, I found myself in a detox facility without hope or any way out of my self-destruction.

It was while I was at Renfrew Recovery Centre that a stay at Simon House was suggested as a way out of my downward spiral into oblivion. I was then interviewed and accepted into the recovery program at Simon House where I not only stopped drinking but learned to live life in sobriety. I was introduced to the 12 Step program of A.A. and learned that my new life not only depended on my physical and mental health but also my spiritual wellbeing. The counselors and staff at Simon House were my final lifeline out of a self-inflicted slow death. It is impossible to describe the benefits and rewards I have gained from this experience, and the gratitude I have for these desiccated people, in this short testimony.

My life today reflects the changes that are a direct result of my stay at Simon House. Today I have all my family back in a loving and caring relationship. My children that I thought I would never be able to be with are constantly in my life. In fact, I now have both my daughters and my grandson living with me in a loving home and my son is a regular visitor and member of this family unit. Today, I have no major financial concerns and I have had a long and rewarding career. Together with the will and grace of My god, the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous, and the continued involvement and support of Simon House and its Alumni, I am now a productive and loving father, brother, and friend to everyone I am involved with. 

Thank you Simon House and friends. 

May Your God go with you!

-Chris Doyle

Sobriety Date: November 2, 2010