Real Addiction Stories - Sarah Funkhouser
The addicts that we treat at The Walker Center come from all walks of life and suffer addiction to various types of substances, sometimes multiple substances at once. Because we treat addiction as a disease, and address the problems associated with the addiction, our patients find sobriety, support and peace on their road to recovery.
In this thee-part series, we’ll be highlighting alumni of The Walker Center, their struggles, how they found help at The Walker Center, and their lives now.
Name:
Sarah Funkhouser
From:
Gooding, ID
Addicted to:
Alcohol
When did you start abusing alcohol?
I think I had my first drink of alcohol when I was about 10 or 11 years old, and was drinking more steadily on the weekends by age 14. That continued throughout my teens and adulthood, but it became a serious problem when my mother was killed in a car accident.
What was your life like before your struggle with alcohol?
I was very active, especially with canning and gardening. I was active at my children’s school. We did a lot of things outdoors, including boating, and my life revolved around my husband and my kids.
Why did you become addicted to alcohol?
I was not sure where I belonged, and felt a little lost, like I didn’t belong. My mother dying very suddenly had a huge affect on me. I think at first it was a self-pressure, I used it to numb a lot of feelings including anxiety and problems with my marriage. I felt alone a lot and that became my way of dealing with things.
Tell us what it was like to struggle with alcohol.
I was a highly functioning addict, and not many people knew I drank as much as I did because I was still so active. My ex-husband was also an alcoholic, and that did not help the situation because we fed off each other. I could only keep it under wraps for so long, and when things began to unravel,
it happened quickly. I was in denial about how much it was a problem, but I was eventually arrested for a DUI a few years ago.
Things were unpredictable for my children, they didn’t know what they were going to come home to, even though we had a good family image from the outside looking in.When I look back at my addiction, it was all about wanting people to love me and wanting to be perfect and seek approval.
And when I couldn’t reach that perfection, I drank to numb the pain and to shut off the voices in my head that told me I wasn’t good enough.
How did you hear about The Walker Center?
I’ve lived in Gooding for 22 years, and The Walker Center has been a fixture here for a long time. I’ve known people who have gone through their program and had great results. I had already been sober for 4 months when I entered treatment, knowing that I needed more help to make sobriety permanent.
Did you participate in Inpatient Treatment or Outpatient Treatment?
Both. I did Inpatient Treatment for 28 days, and Outpatient Treatment through the drug court program at The Walker Center for 18 months.
Tell us about your experience here at The Walker Center.
It was a very good experience. I went to The Walker Center after my DUI and I really felt like I had a lot of good support in there. My counselors and I got along really well, and there was a true sisterhood among the other female patients that were in there with me.It was very positive, it changed my life, and opened doors to other recovery methods that I have continually used.
It helps you build a foundation on how to keep sobriety in your life. They give you the tools, but you have to be willing to do the work and utilize the tools that they give you and what they offer you. There’s no judgment for what you are going through, and they really allow you to work on yourself. I thank God for The Walker Center, it saved my life.
How did your relationships change after treatment?
My relationships with my son, family and friends all changed for the better. I needed to regain the trust of my son, but he was very understanding of my meetings and how I needed to attend them to continue to recover.
The trust is back and they are very proud of my sobriety.I’m much more authentic with my friends. I don’t isolate myself, and if I’m having a bad day I communicate. My confidence in myself has increased tremendously and it has been an incredible change in my life to live authentically and live sober.
I get “a-ha” moments every day. Nothing beats the feeling that people can count on you, and having people ask you to do things, knowing that you’ll pull through for them.
How did your time at The Walker Center change your outlook on life?
It showed me that I’m not alone in my addiction, and that I deserve to be there. It also changed how I look at other people – it made me humble about my addiction and other people’s struggles. I look at people a lot more graciously, I’m much more grateful for the things that I have and for my life.
Why should people consider going to The Walker Center over other methods of treatment?
It’s very hard to take the serious steps toward sobriety and be dedicated to it without help. I would say that books or other methods are great compliments post-treatment, that way you have a foundation to base them on.
.Each addiction is different and very complex, and the staff at The Walker Center are educated to help each person through that. I don’t think you can get to the deep, underlying problems by just reading a book.
Any advice for someone considering The Walker Center for themselves or a loved one?
I would encourage them to check it out. Attend the open meeting and talk to a few people, you won’t be disappointed. They are very open and welcoming and qualified to help you. I cannot recommend it highly enough – it changed my life.
Tell us what type of person you are now.
I am happy and grateful for life. Recovery is still an ongoing process, but I am constructive and work towards it every day.
I work full time and I’m involved with my son, my family and my friends. I don’t have to lie anymore or numb anything; I have the tools to deal with my stress. I love to garden, can my own food, go camping and take photos of my son’s sporting events.
I’m excited to try new things on my list, like Steelhead Fishing.Watch Sarah's full story:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7HFpti1Nlk
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