In the story about addiction, the speaker reflected on the stigma associated with labels such as “alcoholic” or “addict’,” preferring instead to refer to personal problems such as “my drinking problem.” People support using more sympathetic language, which, contrary to popular belief, emphasizes acceptance and understanding. Preoccupied with family conflicts and personal tragedies such as losses and court cases, Christopher Gould abstained from drinking during his adolescence and early adult years. However, the heartache added to the heavy burden of life’s problems and led to a dependence on alcohol as a coping method.
Christopher Gould freely admits this turning point and explains it as the result of an accumulation of unresolved feelings and fears. They remain steadfast in their commitment to openness and vulnerability in the face of chaos and find comfort in honestly discussing their difficulties. The speaker takes responsibility for their story, acknowledges their limitations, and faces the difficulties of addiction and recovery with strength and confidence. Through reflection and openness, they seek to walk their path with honor and understanding, regain control of their story, and encourage compassion and help in talking about addiction.
Courtesy of Christopher Gould
However, Christopher Gould attributes his current state to the choices he has made, both good and bad, and which he has fully accepted. Though it has not rendered everything perfect or addressed all of their difficulties, sobriety has given them the willpower to conquer challenges and come up with wise answers. They will celebrate a year of recovery on March 30, 2022. Despite the darkness they experienced the year before, they look back on this milestone as one of their greatest successes.
Christopher Gould fell into a state of hopelessness and turned to alcohol to recover from his turbulent life. Their mental health problems led to two hospitalizations for suicide attempts, resulting in an official diagnosis of anxiety and depression. They lived in a home where drug use was rife during the pandemic, which exacerbated their situation. They felt trapped in an atmosphere of disorder and contempt due to a lack of housing options and financial constraints. They were even more lonely because of their strained family relationships. They felt ignored and burdened because their basement room offered no escape from their noisy and disruptive housemates.
Courtesy of Christopher Gould
They mocked their fatigue and deliberately increased the disturbance out of contempt, ignoring Christopher Gould’s cries for relief from the noise. Christopher Gould, already broken, was broken even more by the relentless torture of his roommates. Due to the critical psychological impact of the encounter, he almost certainly developed PTSD. He experienced a constant hatred and loneliness, unlike anything he had ever experienced before. For them, it was a harsh and incredibly lonely experience.
When Christopher Gould did not drink, he suffered from severe tremors and difficulty falling asleep. Due to the severe tremors, people avoided social situations out of nervousness, which made it difficult to do ordinary things, such as lifting a beer in a bar. As a result, he resorted to drinking alone in the cellar, which made him quite lonely.
Christopher posted on social media that he wished he had a pet to keep him company. A friend responded quickly and donated a guinea pig equipped with everything he needed. Christopher, who initially mistook the gender of the guinea pig, enthusiastically accepted it and quickly welcomed the animal into his home. The animal was renamed Chandler as a result of this amusing discovery.
Christopher and Chandler quickly became close, which gave him a renewed feeling of purpose. Taking care of Chandler led to a regular schedule that included feeding, cleaning, and spending time together. Christopher saw the opportunity for personal development in this role, seeing that caring for the guinea pig helped him on his path toward self-care. Unexpectedly, Chandler ended up being the driving force behind Christopher’s life change.
Courtesy of Christopher Gould
A life-changing journey began when Christopher Gould realized that if he could take care of Chandler, he could take care of himself. He enjoyed his work, celebrated small successes, and embraced the idea of living each day as it came. After leaving the hectic atmosphere, he set high standards for himself and achieved goals such as learning to do the backflip and completing a 5K run. He embraced personal development, even going so far as to give up soda pop and adopt an official identity. He showed tenacity and determination in his pursuit of a happy existence.
Courtesy of Christopher Gould
Chandler and Christopher Gould have been together for more than 500 days, and in that time, they have undergone an enormous change. After moving into a beautiful lakefront apartment in downtown Burlington, Christopher is able to enjoy the beauty of early sunrises without the cloud of intoxication. With optimism and confidence in himself, he recognizes the transformative power of mental change and feels true happiness for the first time in more than a decade. People see a change in him; they see a more confident man who is fitter and has a radiant complexion. Christopher is very happy with his appearance and takes care of his appearance because he believes that being well-groomed makes you feel well-groomed.
Courtesy of Christopher Gould
Christopher Gould connected with the encouraging sobriety community by sharing his sobriety journey on his Instagram account @strongvoice. He is constantly setting goals and trying to be the best version of himself. He uses Instagram to encourage people by sharing positivity, showing them that anything is possible with enough willpower, and making them giggle and smile on a daily basis.
Christopher’s sobriety has allowed him to turn his life around, embrace every little accomplishment, and find joy while making personal progress and inspiring others. After a year of sobriety and several successes, Christopher is optimistic about the future and believes that anything is possible if you are positive and believe in yourself. Cheers to bettering yourself and encouraging others on this wonderful sobriety journey!
Courtesy of Christopher Gould
On Instagram, you can follow the journeys of Ontario’s Christopher Gould.