While starting this community on Beliefnet, I thought you might want to know a little about my own journey in recovery and beyond. 

 It started in high school during the 70's in the San Fernando Valley.  Everyone I knew in the valley at the time had at least tried some sort of drug.  My group consisted of the boy next door, literally.  My first love lived across the street in Van Nuys, CA.  There was a group of us and we spent most weekends smoking pot and listening to Genesis, Pink Floyd, Led Zepplin, Supertramp, Steely Dan, and I am sure I am forgetting a few more favorites of the time. I also am sure I did more than smoke pot but never developed an addiction. It was mostly recreational using on the weekends.

It wasn't until college that I discovered wine.  That was definitely my liquid courage.  It helped me socialize, decreased my anxiety, and allowed me to say and do things I wouldn't have ordinarily done.  I am not necessarily proud of those things, but it was an experience I will never forget.   For anyone that came of age in the 1970's, it was just what you did.  Party Party Party.  I did a lot of binge drinking but never became physically dependent on alcohol, but does that really matter?  What matters is I used alcohol to numb out my fears and many years later in my late thirties and early forties I did the same thing.  They say a women's hormones shift around the age of forty and I would have to agree, my drinking increased around that time.  It was all about trying to feel comfortable in my own skin.

Moving forward nine years and here we are today.  I am a woman who does not drink to numb my feelings. I don't need to anymore because I found the tools to live a life on purpose that allows me to experience joy on the inside and not rely on the external stuff to make me feel whole.  That is where my book, "The Law of Sobriety: Attracting Postive Energy for a Powerful Recovery" comes in.  The book will be out in September for Recovery Month and, thus, that is where my journey landed; another reason I have the opportunity to share my story with you on Beliefnet.  My life has come full circle and can't wait to share it all with you and hopefully help you along the way. 

I am located in Agoura, CA where I see clients one on one, facilitate group psychotherapy, life coaching in person and by phone, conduct workshops, and I am the Psychotherapist on Celebrity Rehab 2 and 3 with Dr. Drew on VH1.  www.sgabatherapy.com 

I look forward to hearing from all of you as we get started with the "Moving Beyond Addiction" community and blog.