u/Important_Act748

Just wanted to share some history :)

I dropped out of high school my sophomore year in 1998....................................

I earned my GED in 2000.

I earned a bachelors in business in 2011.

I earned an associates in addiction counseling in 2021. Became a licensed alcohol and drug counselor.

I earned a masters in social work in 2026. Became a licensed graduate social worker.

GED's don't hold us back - they open the door to move forward!

Don't ever stop working towards what you want and deserve.

Almost 10 years sober here.......................

Getting sober included earning a bachelors degree, then becoming a licensed alcohol and drug counselor, and then earning a masters in social work.

I now work with folks living in a residential facility that have severe persistent mental illness (SPMI) - many of them also have issues with substance use.

I had a client with schizoaffective disorder come back from an AA meeting - told me everyone in the meeting was the evil clone of their real self, and that he was close to jumping in front of the train instead of coming back to the residence.

At AA meetings - remember you don't know what everyone is dealing with. This client struggles with alcohol, but his mental illness is MUCH MORE dangerous. God forbid, if he was told to stop taking his medications........................................

I'm a fan of whatever helps someone stay sober. I just wish folks in recovery would understand that alcohol sometimes isn't folks main issue. AA can not help folks with active hallucinations/delusions.

Realized I had a pre-occupation with being sick when I was 8 years old.

Had a very long and difficult mental health journey - anxiety/panic attacks starting when I was 13 - turned into agoraphobia in my late teens-early 20's, and the into an alcohol use disorder in my late 20's to late 30's........................................

In-between that time - I spent 2 years with a licensed psychologist that specialized not only in phobias, but emetophobia. Going through exposure therapy (never threw up, was never even considered) changed my life in ways I'll never understand.

Then in 2021, I went to treatment and got sober from alcohol..............................went back to school for 2 years and became a licensed alcohol and drug counselor. I then went to graduate school, and earned a masters in social work. I'm now a licensed graduate social worker - and trying to figure out my next career move.

While substance use disorders are close to my heart - phobias pre-date everything. Irrational fears that overtake our lives are so debilitating, and so treatable.

I haven't vomited sober since December 13th, 1996 - so coming up on 30 years. The fact I remember this date concerns me. I feel like I've been in recovery from my phobia for over 9 years....................................I was at work a few weeks ago, the AC was out..........I was stressed and sweating and thought "what if I get sick", and then my first thought was "find a garbage can, make it loud and obvious for everyone!!!"...........................................then I felt better. #exposuretherapy

Love to all of you, wherever you are on your journeys. Emetophobia is so hard. Keep going - and find the help and support you need. :)