Tanya Montgomery

When I first sobered up on the outside my life looked fine.  I had not lost a job, received a DUI or suffered medical problems.  I was working at a fortune five hundred company and raising my daughter on my own.  My personal life was in total chaos. Nightly, I drank to ease the pain of my loneliness, the burdens of my life or the perceived misfortunes I had been dealt to the point of passing out.  As they say, “I was sick and tired of being sick and tired.”

Although I had insurance that would cover treatment I was afraid of what people would think.  The possibility of losing my job, the stigmas and barriers that went along with being an alcoholic and the failure I felt caused me to pay for my treatment without the benefits of my insurance and with no one knowing.  This was a challenge for a single-mom’s on a limited budget but we made it.

This is one of the reasons I am working with Face It! Sioux Falls, to break down those barriers to recovery and to help create a community of acceptance.  To be able to help one woman get into recovery without having to go through what I did makes this job worthwhile to me.

Today my life is much improved.  I am a happy individual who is grateful everyday for my gift of sobriety and I do mean gift.  I am personally obligated to give back for what so many people have given me.

Working a twelve step program has shown me the path to a much better life.   The lessons I have learned, the friends I have made and the spirituality I have gained make me proud to say that today I am a recovering alcoholic.

*This story represents Tanya's recovery journey as of 3/3/10.