Kim began drinking around the age of 14. From the very start, she sensed that alcohol and she wouldn’t mix well. Still, she loved the way it made her feel—less awkward, more confident, and seemingly more comfortable in her own skin. Yet even early on, alcohol brought more chaos than comfort. Despite the warning signs, Kim kept drinking whenever the opportunity arose.

Over time, blackouts became common, hangovers stretched into days, and she often woke up consumed by regret and anxiety. This pattern repeated for years. Deep down, Kim knew something wasn’t right, but she couldn’t imagine life without alcohol. Sobriety felt impossible, even unthinkable.

Every so often, Kim would have what seemed like a “normal” drinking experience—one that convinced her she was in control. But she wasn’t. Each brief success only delayed the truth she didn’t want to face.

Alcohol took nearly everything from her, more than once. Still, Kim was determined to manage it—to prove she could handle drinking like everyone else. She pushed past the pain, ignored the consequences, and pretended everything was fine.

Eventually, things hit a breaking point. Kim decided to quit on her own, and for a few months, she managed to stay sober. But when summer arrived, she returned to drinking—and quickly learned what so many in recovery say is true: it always gets worse. The relapse nearly cost her everything again.

That was the turning point. Kim walked through the doors of Alcoholics Anonymous, desperate but willing. There, surrounded by people who truly understood, she began to see that a life without alcohol was not only possible—it could be beautiful. With the support of her recovery community, she started rebuilding her life from the inside out.

Today, Kim calls her sobriety the best decision she’s ever made. Each day, she continues to work on her recovery and self-discovery. Over the past year, she’s finally gotten to know herself without alcohol—and, for the first time in her life, she genuinely likes who she is.

Kim once believed alcohol added to her life, but in reality, it was slowly stealing pieces of her soul. Sobriety gave her a second chance—one filled with peace, clarity, and purpose. Finding a sober community, both online and in person, has been life-changing. She encourages anyone questioning their relationship with alcohol or drugs to reach out, listen to others’ stories, and take that first brave step toward recovery.

Kim’s journey is a reminder that healing is possible, recovery is powerful, and life truly begins when you stop running from yourself.

You can find Kim on Instagram at:

https://www.instagram.com/soberkimbo?igsh=MThveTByeHE4Y3k3dQ==

Love Warrior - Glennon Doyle

https://amzn.eu/d/2JgVoPo

Unexpected Joy of Being Sober - Catherine Gray

https://amzn.eu/d/iTdXAaR

Beautiful Boy - David Sheff

https://amzn.eu/d/2NIBoo6

Beautiful Boy - Film

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1226837/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk

My Instagram is:

https://www.instagram.com/recovery_jimmy

And you can find all my other links at:

https://linktr.ee/jimmythistle

Buy me a coffee…

https://buymeacoffee.com/afterhourswithjimmyt