Matthew dreamed of becoming an actor. In his early 20s, he was on his way to making that dream a reality as a traveling theater actor. He enjoyed his nomadic lifestyle, securing contracts in new cities across the country, sightseeing, and meeting new people along the way, but craved the stability of a permanent position. Alcohol also played a leading role in this time of his life. As the years passed, Matthew noticed that he increasingly relied on alcohol to comfort his loneliness and anxiety about career prospects.
“I knew at the time I was drinking too much; I wasn’t on top of my professional game.”
Matthew’s drinking was ruining whatever chance he might have at a successful acting career, and it was actively destroying relationships with those closest to him.
His recovery journey began with AA and continued to Fora Health’s withdrawal management (detox) and eventually residential treatment. Despite his fear at the beginning, Matthew acclimated to the rhythm of treatment at Fora. He engaged in groups and began using conflict management and self-reflection techniques. He also learned an expanded vocabulary around addiction, making it easier to articulate his struggles.
Matthew’s time at Fora helped him reach a new level – the longest stretch of sobriety since he started drinking. One of the most incredible things he’s learned is to give himself grace and to accept discomfort. He’s excited to reinvigorate his acting career in his newfound sobriety.
“I’ve got this image of the me – that I hope I am – which mindfully weeds the garden, takes opportunities, takes deliberate time to meditate, spends my free time actively working on my craft, and tries to pursue goals that make me feel proud and passionate. I’m looking forward to realizing that image of myself.”
At Fora Health, we believe every person struggling with substance use disorders has the potential to heal and gain a new image of themselves. For over 50 years, we’ve seen people, just like Matthew, build family bonds, enter society, and most importantly, gain confidence in themselves again. Donate here: https://forahealth.org/donate/