(updated Oct 30, ’25) Welcome to the free online version of my Sober Veterans book. I’m keeping it anonymous for now because that is how we do recovery.
I hope you relate to parts of the book and it makes you consider sobriety and recovery. You can always try recovery and go back to your misery later! I would be dead, in jail, or suffering without sobering up and joining recovery.
Sober Veterans Table of Contents
1.1 – I Identified as a Drunk Veteran
1.2 – My Early Military Drinking
1.3 – Post Deployment Drinking
2.1 – My Struggles Getting out of the Military
2.2 – My Identity had been Stripped Away
2.3 – Isolation was a Giant Part of my Decline
2.4 – Terrible Sleep Fueled my Misery
2.5 – Advice on Leaving the Military
3.1 – Why Veterans Drink and Drug
3.2 – Burying our Thoughts and Feelings
3.3 – Escaping the Reality in our Minds
5.1 – You have an Allergy that Causes Craving
5.2 – Addiction is a Disease or Disorder of the Mind
7.2 – Are you “Fine” or is that Denial?
8.1 – Do you have a Problem with Alcohol or Drugs?
8.2 – Losing Connection: Addiction Replaces our Relationships
8.3 – Addiction’s Attack on Physical and Mental Health
9.1 – We Want YOU to Join Recovery Today!
9.2 – Introducing the 12 Steps of Recovery
9.3 – A Brief Rant about the Body in Early Recovery
9.4 – Step 1: Admitting our Defeat
9.5 – The Sober Plan
10.1 – Why a God or Higher Power for Recovery?
10.2 – Step 2, Self Power vs Higher Power, Insanity
10.3 – Recovery for Atheists and Agnostics
10.4 – Alternative Recovery Programs other than AA or NA
My Short Story
(I am almost done with editing my full story, but here is the short version.)
I was an enlisted member of the medical field for eight years and made two tours to Iraq. I assisted with a lot of surgery and saw a huge amount of death and carnage resulting in major depression and PTSD.
I was a terrible (yet proud) drunk for 17 years before and after my deployments. Then I became a weed addict for ten years after getting out. I tried to drown and avoid all my problems and thoughts, but things just got worse and worse. I owe my life and this book to AA and my fellow former drunks that help keep me sober one day at a time.
Browse the chapters here or start from the beginning. Let this be the end of your denial and excuses for substance abuse. Let it be your sign to start recovery.
The Sober Veterans book is a work in progress. I am adding sections when I feel they are close to done, but editing is ongoing. Feel free to share any comments about your struggles, what is helpful, or topics you want me to add.
My goal with this book is to relate to you if you are struggling with addiction. Learning I had a deadly alcohol problem was my first step on the path of recovery. Anyone can recover if they make it a priority to live a different life… today… right now! Come join us.
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