Nicole has been sober for five years now. This is her second date. She was thirty three months when she relapsed. 

She grew up in a community in Canada where drinking alcohol, no matter the age was widely accepted. Did not seem out of the ordinary. The drinking culture was to "work hard, play hard." She first got really drunk at twelve years of age. She was very social and quite the planner, but this was because she was always loaded. 

She didn't want to be by herself because she was lonely. That big hole was filled with alcohol and drugs, and when she was by herself again the next day, the anxiety came back ten fold. 

She ended up in prison because of drugs. She was first introduced to drugs by her dad. It started as being more recreational, which was weed, but turned into acid and mushrooms. The booze was always a constant. Her marriage is what changed everything, because he was a drug dealer. Nicole was a lawyer, and doing very well, until everything spiraled downward about six months into being married. 

Her story is very intense, and filled with a lot of dark, scary and low moments. I am going to let her tell you... Please take a listen.