The Slow Suicide of Drinking Yourself to Death

Somehow I clawed my way out unlike my family members

Michele Maize
Black Bear

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My step-father drank himself to death. It was a slow suicide that lasted over thirty years. I believe his alcoholism began as a trauma response to dealing with my mother. He went from an upstanding citizen with an amazing job to someone in diapers at the age of 65, in and out of the hospital as a result of his drinking.

Ken quickly became my friend when I first met him at the tender age of 4. He took me under his wing when I was at my mom’s house, and I thought he was the coolest, as he often brought home different fancy cars from work.

He took me to the park, softball practice, and piano lessons, often escaping my mother’s fits of rage. We both had no idea just how much worse they would get as their addictions skyrocketed.

It wasn’t long before she was controlling and manipulating him but somehow, he wanted to stick around. Soon enough, they were both drinking and using drugs together. Although, he was always kind and she was the polar opposite.

When I think back to those times, I often wonder if he ever thought highly of himself. His parents were never interested in his life, so maybe that is why he clung to my abusive mother. Maybe that is why he stopped caring about…

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Michele Maize
Black Bear

Sober Traveler | Wannabe Vegan | Yoga Addict. Extrovert turned introvert who loves dachshunds. Owner of "The Maze". Editor at Black Bear and Globetrotters.