For most of his life, Garrett wasn’t a heavy drinker. Originally from Milwaukee, he and his husband were living in Washington D.C. when things started to change.
“In our 30s, we started indulging in cocktails on the weekends,” he explained. “After a few years, we were drinking on some weeknights too. I knew I was using alcohol as a coping mechanism, but I didn’t think it would become a problem.”
Over the years, their drinking became heavier and more frequent. “I started crossing boundary lines that I had drawn for myself. I said I’d never drink in the morning or at work. I’d never drive after drinking alcohol. I crossed all those lines.”
Dissatisfied, Garrett quit his job as a physical therapist. Without a job, he began drinking even more. When he tried to stop, he became violently ill. He knew he was in trouble but didn’t know what to do. His husband was also struggling.
“One day, my husband told me it would be better if he ended his life. I didn’t take it seriously. I was drunk, and we were arguing,” Garrett shared. “He left, but I thought it was a temporary thing and we’d make up and everything would be fine.”
When he didn’t hear from his husband for two days, Garrett was worried. It turned out he’d checked himself into a hospital.
“His family then told my family I had a drinking problem. I’d been trying to hide it but decided it was time to ask for help. My brother came to D.C., and we flew home so I could get treatment.”
Garrett went to the Dewey Center on the Aurora Behavioral Health Campus, which provides residential care treatment for individuals struggling with substance abuse. He completed treatment in early 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic was beginning and moved in with his sister. He assumed he’d get a job, COVID would blow over and life would return to normal. But sobriety wasn’t easy.
“While inpatient rehab was very motivating, I was white-knuckling my way through sobriety,” he admitted. “Alcohol was a coping mechanism, and I didn’t know what to replace it with to give me purpose.”
Garrett stayed sober for about five months before he started sneaking drinks. “I was attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings on Zoom, but I didn’t have a sponsor and I wasn’t doing the 12 steps. Every day was a struggle.”
A game-changer
Garrett and his husband decided to give their relationship another chance.
“We’d been married almost 18 years. I thought we could reset, so I moved back to D.C.,” he shared. “But staying sober was very difficult. To be honest, we were both holding on for dear life.”
They fell back into their old habits of drinking on a regular basis. “One morning, my husband decided he’d had enough and attempted suicide. Fortunately, I found him and called 9-1-1.”
Garrett realized his marriage was toxic and decided to leave. Believing he could stay away from alcohol, he moved back to Milwaukee to live with his father.
“I started sneaking drinks again. I went on a drinking binge, and for the first time, I blacked out for more than a day. It was rock bottom for me.”
Garrett knew something had to change. He asked his father for help, and he went back to the Dewey Center.
“This time was different. I knew I was either going to waste my life away or kill myself drinking. I needed a plan to keep myself sober, and that included sober living,” he explained. “I knew about the Culver Alumni House from my first time in rehab, and I was able to move into the house in June 2021.”
The Culver Alumni House is a sober living facility where people in recovery reacclimate to the community and begin a new, substance-free life. It was a game-changer for Garrett.
“I was surrounded by peers who were going through similar struggles. The therapists were extremely supportive and helped me map out goals. Instead of running away from alcohol, I was now running towards something better.”
After nine months, Garrett left the Culver Alumni House. He became certified as a yoga teacher. He plans to become a Pilates instructor and wants to open his own practice someday. In January 2022, he started working as a physical therapist at Aurora Health Care, which he credits with helping him both personally and professionally.
“All the pieces have started falling into place,” he shared. “My journey towards sobriety has been about finding purpose. That would not have been possible without the Culver Alumni House.”
Garrett is grateful for the opportunity to share his story.
“If putting it out there helps anyone, it’s worth it. At first, I felt shame. Now, it’s a badge of courage. It’s a hardship, but I’m overcoming it.”
How you can help
Aurora Behavioral Health Services relies on philanthropy to support programs like those offered at the Dewey Center and the Culver Alumni House.
“I was floored every day I was living at the Culver Alumni House thinking that people are raising money for me to be here,” said Garrett. “They don’t know me, but they care enough to save me. Living in the Culver Alumni House was an essential stage in my recovery, and it would not have been possible without donors.”
Support also comes from the Ethan Monson-Dupuis Opiate Recovery Fund. Ethan was just 25 when he died from an accidental drug overdose. Recently, a plaque was installed at the Culver Alumni House in his memory.
“We know Ethan would want to help others in their fight to recover from addiction. He would be so pleased to see the healing that takes place in this sober living house every day," shared Ethan’s parents, Robin and Jeff.
You can help people like Garrett on their road to recovery by making a gift today.