Mr. Jones had a happy life. He was happily married with two children. But tragically, Mrs. Jones died suddenly, leaving Mr. Jones in utter despair. He had lost his best friend, the love of his life and his companion. Life didn’t seem worth living anymore. Struggling to cope with the immense grief, he started drinking. First it was weekly, but gradually he began drinking daily. Not long after the death of his wife, Mr. Jones had become an alcoholic without knowing it.
It took some time for this realization to dawn on him. When he finally was able to acknowledge that he’d become an alcoholic, he tried to stop. But drinking had become his only way of drowning the overwhelming pain, and his only way of coping with the loss of his wife. When he was intoxicated, he was numb and life was more bearable.
Mr. Jones got a DWI (Driving While Impaired) and was arrested. That was the moment he realized he had to get his life together.
He was placed on probation, which allowed him to avoid spending time in prison, but meant he was still under strict rules about what he could and couldn’t do. It was while on probation that he began his substance abuse treatment and “my spiritual journey with God for healing."
It’s been 8 years since then. Although he still misses his wife dearly, Mr. Jones is doing well. He has learned to manage his grief and has stayed sober for the entirety of these last 8 years.