On my two-year sober anniversary, I received a text from my buddy that read: “Your sobriety helps more people than you will ever know.” I thanked him, said “yeah right” to myself, and forgot about it. But a bit later on, I realized he might be right. And that’s because since I got sober, I […]
4 Great Documentaries About Substance Use Disorders
If you are anything like us at The Wagon, you love a good documentary. Here, we share four great documentaries about substance use disorders and the ensuing, devastating consequences. There’s Something Wrong with Aunt Diane In the summer of 2009, 36-year-old Diane Schuler drove the wrong […]
The Functioning Alcoholic Paradox
At the end of my drinking, there was no longer anything fun about being a functioning alcoholic. I had crossed over the threshold of functioning into complete alcoholic dysfunction quite quickly. Yet, I continued to fool myself into thinking I was “functioning” because I could pay my mortgage on time, look put together (at least some of the time), and hold down a job.
Mug Life: Thinking About Sobriety’s Obsession with Coffee
It’s the typical trope — a bunch of people in an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting drinking cup after cup of coffee. It seems that the moment someone gets sober, a cup of coffee magically materializes in their hand. Is the coffee and sobriety stereotype actually true? Or am I under the spell of a common recovery […]
Cocaine: Dancing with the Devil at Dawn
When it comes to my struggles with addiction, alcohol was king. From the second I caught my first buzz, alcohol became my master and I was its sloppy, drunken servant. Since I preferred to drink, drugs were never really my thing and I seldom ever sought them out for recreational use. However, if the opportunity […]
Rock Bottom: A Sometimes Scary Means to Change
Webster’s definition of rock bottom is “the lowest point possible.” While the expression can be used to identify low points on Earth, people hitting rock bottom from a substance use disorder can feel lower than the lowest points on the planet. What is a rock bottom? Hitting rock bottom means […]
5 Totally Random Celebrity Recovery Stories
The Wagon loves a good recovery story. Here are five of my favorite, totally random celebrity recovery stories that you may not have heard — yet! Adam Clayton, U2 Adam Clayton, the bassist for U2, has been outspoken about his mental health struggles and history with alcoholism. […]
Setting Sail on Dry Seas with a Sobriety Challenge: Dry January
Been on a bender through December? Up for a challenge? Dry January is approaching and anyone can participate. Dry January is a challenge where people voluntarily abstain from drinking alcohol for the entire month of January. Some people participate in Dry January as a healthy way to kick off […]
Never a Hopeless Case: Laura Turns 2 Today
Today, I am two years sober. That’s two full years without a hangover, drunk crying, causing a scene, puking in the shower, picking fights with people, passing out at parties, hiding drinks, doing cocaine, drunk driving, and many other horrifying nightmares. […]
Cold Turkey Chronicles: The First 30 Days of Quitting Smoking
God, I love smoking. I thoroughly enjoy it, and I don’t want to quit. But I have to – for future Laura. It’s Halloween, 2023, and the eve of my quit date. I’m nervous. I just bought my last pack. A single pack of Marlboro Lights costs $16.00 on Long Island. […]
Bam Margera Has Over 100 Days Sober — And I’m Happy For Him
Jackass was a huge TV show in the early 2000’s — HUGE. Everyone watched it and I enjoyed it too. Bam Margera was my favorite. He was the best-looking of the bunch with a handsome face, edgy style, and a nice smile. When people would talk about who they […]