Hello World!
Tough times don’t last, tough people do. – Robert Schuller
My name is Ciana ‘Ci’, and I am an alcoholic. I’ve struggled with addiction for most of my life. As a teenager I experimented with drugs and alcohol but was always able to stop using drugs without any significant withdrawals or impact. Alcohol on the other hand, was not so easy.
I’ve maintained sobriety in the past for long periods of time but always given in to ‘one drink’. For those of us suffering from addiction you know that one drink is too many, and one more is never enough. I wanted this time to be different, I needed this time to be different, because no matter how much I lied to myself and tried to lie to everyone else, I could see the effects in every aspect of my life.
So, I went to rehab! I started journaling as part of my daily routine in rehab. I kept thinking about something I heard there that really resonated with me. I watched a recording of Brene Brown who said, “One day you will tell your story of how you overcame what you went through, and it will be someone else’s survival guide.” I don’t know if this blog will become someone else’s survival guide or just my journal to reflect back on later, I will be stronger for it either way.
May you be sober and happy always! Ci
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Part of Something Bigger
7.22.25 Much like my career, AA is full of diversity. Its membership includes people from all backgrounds, beliefs, and walks of life—each unique in their own way. When dealing with others, I have to remember to always place principles before personalities. Just because I may not agree with someone—or even like their hair or smug
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After the Amends: Now What the Fuck?
7.21.25 “What’s next? Where do we go from here?” After making amends to someone on my list, they asked me these questions. And the only thing I could honestly say was — I have no fucking idea. That used to terrify me. Not knowing felt like failure, like being out of control. But recovery has
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Church and Family
7.20.25 I really missed the Sunday women’s meeting — it’s my “church.” I hadn’t been able to attend the last two Sundays because life was just… lifing. But being back reminded me why I love it so much. There’s no better way to start the day, or the week, than with that group of strong,
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Old Triggers, New Tools
7.19.25 This morning, I sat on my couch waiting for family who had said they wanted to spend time with me before the graduation party for my niece. I had gotten up early to tidy up the house and water the lawn—wanting to make everything nice for their visit. Then I waited. And waited. And