I'm not an expert at any of this and I'm still learning myself. However, as an MFT trainee with a passion for Solution Focused Therapy, I am hoping to find a link between long-term sobriety and the care of cats. My hope is, just as animal therapy has helped other disorders such as PTSD and autism, their presence will also aid in those who need a little more assistance in staying clean and sober. From what I read and what I learn, which I will share on another blog, I hope I can not only bring comfort and relief to myself but also to others.
How am I an expert? I'm not but I am a struggling alcoholic who has been to hell and back and then back since I was seventeen years old. I'm thirty two now and I still don't have all the answers but I do know that it's daunting for me to think that I'll never be able to have another drink; even though I know nothing good can come from it. As a result of my drinking I have lost friends, family, jobs, cars, homes, pets, security, my health and almost my marriage. I've been arrested, had a DUI and almost died of alcohol poisoning and, yet, every few months I go right back to it. No matter the consequences or the pain that comes from detoxing, I always seem to forget all that when the cravings happen and then I think - well, all of that really wasn't so bad. So I've tried AA and I've tried Cognitive Behavioral Therapy so I thought maybe I would try a different type of therapy on my own and see if it works.
My husband and I own four cats - Clementine, Artemis, Nymeria and Fugazi - and whenever I drink I feel like I neglect them but they care for me by cuddling with me and sleeping with me and doing what they can to make sure I'm alright. I think maybe if I spent more time taking care of them and thinking about my family, even if it was just for a day at a time, that maybe I could do it. I want nothing more than to stay sober. If I don't, I could lose everything someday; more than I already have and I think that I'm a better person than that. I want to be a better person than I have been and I'm going to do everything I can to be.
