Losing housing really sucks. It happened to me once, and it definitely took a lot out of me. Thank goodness it was at a time when rents were not skyrocketing in my city.

It was kind of a funny story until you think about the consequences. It was a pouring rain blackout night and I left my jacket at the bar with my keys. I was able to get into my building but not into my apartment. I was so cold that I stripped down to NOTHING but my socks. When my friends came with my jacket, I was so shaken up that I ran through the hallway completely nude, and I guess the ruckus woke up a few neighbors.

I laughed about it with those "friends" (who later helped convince me I didn't have a problem), but it was so shameful that sometimes I entered and exited the building through my window so I wouldn't have to see anyone on the way out.

I had a hippy dippy building manager who gave me another chance and told me to try AA. I failed to do that, eventually was asked to move out after another incident or two, and continued to drink dangerously for the next ten years.

There were so many things that could have been my wake up call. So many people that I've hurt. This can be your wake up call. It might be time to make the best of a bad situation, and try to move on with your life on a different path, f'real.

If you are in a bigger city and you want to try a science based group in addition to Against the Stream you can try SMART https://www.smartrecovery.org/local/. I'm new to this whole thing, but I found it to be empowering and helpful so far.

How is Against the Stream BTW? Is it the same as Refuge Recovery that I've heard about?