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My Story

Hello,

I am a 34 year old man that joined this site looking for support in regards to my health condition on Ulcerative Colitis. I have some other health/mental/emotional issues I'll tell you about as well. I am going to outline my life/struggles in hopes that you will know which suggestions for direction I can go. Like I said before, I am doing really well except for my issues with my Ulcerative Colitis, therefore I am searching for support groups/people in regards to this.

-I was born in 1979 and grew up in Renton, Washington

-I have two younger brothers and a mother and father

-I was bullied through out my childhood. Many people where in my neighborhood, but I was a bit more than most

-At 11 years old I started drinking alochol and experimenting with drugs

-At 15 years old I more or less was addicted to alcohol

-At 15 I was arrested for the first time

-Around this time I began to sell drugs

-I played sports throughout my childhood and excelled at them through highschool

-At 16 years old I joined a gang as I was choosing to be a victim and thought this was the way out of being bullied. It worked, but I suffered greatly from this choice

-At 18 I managed to graduate highschool despite my alcoholism/criminal behavior as I was a very good test taker despite my lack of effort

-I was offered several baseball scholarships and moved to Coos Bay, Oregon to get away from the people I was hanging out with

-I met my wife in Coos Bay, who I married 5 years later

-I lost my chance after 2 months to play baseball due to conflicts with the school and my poor behavior in regards to my substance abuse

-I dropped out of college and moved back to Washington

-I began selling drugs again and working as a roofer

-I became addicted to valium and marjiuana, while still drinking a lot

-At 20 years old I went back to college and graduated 3 years later

-In college I became addicted to crystal meth for 3 years

-I got off all the drugs and got married at 22 years old, but continued to drink heavily

-At 22 years old I began defecating blood and was hosptialized

-I was eventually diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis

-I continued to drink until 29 years old and became addicted to street drugs of all kinds again (cocaine, oxycontin, and pot for the

-At 29 years old I was hosptialized in a detox center for alochol and drug addiction

-I am happy to say that I am 4 1/2 years sober, still married, and have a beutiful 18 month old baby girl!!

-4 years ago I was hosptialized again for my ulcerative colitis

-I have struggled more with my ulcerative colitis since I have stopped drinking/using

-I was diagnosed as having Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or a Mood Disorder in 2009 as well after experiencing nightmares and extreme anxiety

-I am on oral azathothoprine and mesaslimine for my UC. I occasinonally use Rowsa enemas which seem to put out the flares

I have left a lot of horrible details out of my life story here because they are not that pertinant and don't need to be shared in this introduction. I love life today. I struggle though with some depression from my UC and could use some support. I love AA for my alcohol problem and thought this might give me similar results.
 

Astra

Moderator
I have nothing but admiration for you aaronbishop! Kudos.
alcoholism is very close to my heart, my partner is 5 years sober now, AA saved his life.
We're here for you, to support and advise, and be a friend xxx
 
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