Guest Contributor – Brenton
The Unraveling
Hey. It’s me…Brenton. My story starts as many might, as familiar as that comfy T-shirt you’ve held onto since college. Late teens and twenties were spent drinking socially—out at dinner, at parties. There were signs, of course. Like how I used to bike to work with a water bottle full of booze. That should’ve been a clue.
Despite a DUI in 2012, I kept going. And by 2020, things took a sharp turn. I had just stepped away from what I thought was my dream job, and even though it was my decision, the monster of failure and identity came rushing in. I spiraled. Drinking became a near-daily escape. Within two years, I had gained 35 pounds, visited the ER multiple times, and become someone I didn’t recognize—behaviorally, emotionally, physically.
In July 2022, I got caught red-handed. That rare flash of clarity hit, and I texted my wife: “I think I’m an alcoholic. I need help.” Two days later, I was in detox. Then residential treatment. Then nearly a year in an IOP program. That was the beginning.
What Sobriety Has Given Me
In recovery, I’ve faced the hard stuff—my identity, my trauma, my patterns of escape. I work with a trauma-informed therapist, and I’ve learned a few things that keep me grounded:
- Speak up – When you share your truth in a safe space, you realize you’re not alone. That’s where healing begins.
- Find community – AA, sober IG, wherever—just find your people.
- Create momentum – Try something new, something hard. That ripple effect is real.
- Love your life – Build a life you don’t want to escape from. The more meaning you find in it, the quieter the urge to numb becomes.
The Bearcrawl
This journey has led me to something wild: I’m training to bearcrawl the Bloomsday Run (7.46 miles!) in May 2026 to raise funds for a recovery aftercare scholarship. I received one myself, and it made all the difference. This is my way of giving back—and proving that in recovery, nothing is impossible.
Together, we can change the game. Because we do recover.
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