QUORA article on overcoming the hell of alcoholism: " For what disease is like Alcohol! "Edgar Allan Poe, " The Black Cat "

Profile photo for Lara Dunleavy Torres Lara Dunleavy Torres Writes at Essay Writing Help (2000–present)Jan 26 [I wasn’t sure if I should post this, but I thought, “Forget it.” 151 days ago, I found myself standing in my kitchen, shaking, trying to cook eggs. I turned off the stove and collapsed on my knees, crying. I felt like I had lost at life. I was an alcoholic trying to raise two kids on my own. My body hurt, and I was drunk every night and hungover every day. My liver was failing, and I was literally dying inside. In that moment, I picked up the phone and called everyone—my mom, my sisters, even my ex-wife. I didn’t ask for money or for someone to tell me it was going to be okay. I just needed someone to tell me I could do this. February 20th was the first day I woke up without being hungover. The next two weeks were brutal. I had night sweats, body tremors, and felt nauseous all the time. But I pushed through it. On March 7th, I woke up feeling hydrated, full of energy, and ready to take on the world. I look back on that day often, remembering the feeling of thinking nothing could stop me. It took me 20 years to get sober for myself, and I’m proud of how far I’ve come. I wouldn’t change anything about this journey. I’m so grateful to everyone who stood by me and watched me through this. Life is good now. Thank you to my mom, my sisters, and even my ex-wife for answering my call that day. My name is Dan, and I’m sober. “One day, you will tell your story of how you overcame what you went through, and it will be someone else’s survival guide.” ] – Brene Brown Passage from Edgar Allan Poe's " The Black Cat " : " For what disease is like Alcohol ! " Our friendship lasted, in this manner, for several years, during which my general temperament and character -- through the instrumentality of the Fiend Intemperance -- had (I blush to confess it) experienced a radical alteration for the worse. I grew, day by day, more moody, more irritable, more regardless of the feelings of others. I suffered myself to use intemperate language to my wife. At length, I even offered her personal violence. My pets, of course, were made to feel the change in my disposition. I not only neglected, but ill-used them. For Pluto, however, I still retained sufficient regard to restrain me from maltreating him, as I made no scruple of maltreating the rabbits, the monkey, or even the dog, when by accident, or through affection, they came in my way. [But my disease grew upon me -- for what disease is like Alcohol !] -- and at length even Pluto, who was now becoming old, and consequently somewhat peevish -- even Pluto began to experience the effects of my ill temper.