From Great Pretender to Peace Protector: Gabbi S. Recovers

I had a loving home and a good life.
So why did I feel empty inside.
Alcohol gave me relief until surrender gave me freedom.

Gabbi S. did not grow up in chaos. She grew up in a home full of love, creativity, and support. But at just twelve years old, something shifted. Fear, sadness, and a deep sense of not belonging took over, and she became what she calls the Great Pretender.

Her first drink felt like the answer.

What followed were years of confusion, multiple rehabs, and a constant question that haunted her mind. Why am I like this? Even in marriage, alcohol tightened its grip as both she and her husband drank their way through life.

In December 2015, Gabbi reached a moment of clarity. She realized she had an allergy to alcohol and made a decision to do something different. She went all in. Meetings, sponsorship, the steps, and a willingness to say yes even when she did not want to.

What she found was not perfection. It was serenity.

Today Gabbi is a wife, a mother, and a woman grounded in recovery, service, and faith. From helping grow a small meeting into a thriving community to building a life centered around love and purpose.

Her story is proof that even a good home cannot protect you from alcoholism, but recovery can give you a peace you never believed possible.

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The Cup of Joe Show explores the journey of recovery from alcohol and drug addiction—one story, one conversation, and one step at a time. New Episode Every Thursday at Noon.