I was born into a wonderful family in Sioux City, Iowa. The youngest of four kids; I have an older brother and two sisters. Now, medical doctors have often argued whether the depression that often accompanies an addiction came before or during their using. In my case it happened before I became an alcoholic. As a child I was always very insecure and self conscious. I remember being a little boy sitting in church and noticing people looking at me and smiling, perhaps laughing. Now they were probably thinking “what a cute little boy” but my interpretation was “why are they laughing at me? What is wrong with me?” Of course they didn’t have the treatment for anxiety/depression then as they do today. Or was it something my parents would even think of to diagnose.

I grew up as a generally average person. With a very normal loving family which provided everything that I needed and then some. I’ve always had a fascination with alcohol. [Read the rest of Joel's story]