I walked into the Emergency Room that Monday morning in North Carolina dragging my suitcase behind me.

What was supposed to be a trip visiting family turned into a hardcore wake up call.

Wreaking of tequila at 10:00 in the morning, I walked up to the counter, swallowed hard and despite a desire to turn around and go back to the bottle, I blurted - “I’m an alcoholic - I need help”.

That was one bad day I’ll never forget.

Even through the shame, fear and frustration of the moment, most of me knew I was making the right decision.

I had to blow up my life so I could piece it back together.

That meant going public and spilling the beans; it was my insurance policy for getting sober.

ER: Emotional Rehab

Shortly after making it back home to the West Coast, I checked myself into rehab.

It’s on the first day I heard a phrase that nearly a decade later still hits me right between the eyes.

"No one comes here on a winning streak."

It cuts right to the truth with such clarity, humor and compassion. It was simple, true and delivered by a counselor who had withstood his rock bottom.

Please, don’t cue the strings…

This isn’t a confessional - but a testament to the human spirit.

As dyslexics - we often need a wake up call.

Peeking over imaginary fences at our neurodiverse neighbors' “perfect” lives is counterproductive, but so easy to do.

After years of treating ourselves badly for not being enough of X or too much of Y, we too need to check ourselves into the ER: Emotional Rehab.

Yield Not to Temptation

Getting home from rehab was pretty scary.

I’d been surrounded with folks facing the same struggle for 30 days straight - pun intended.

We shared living spaces, countless stories of pain and now, I was going home - alone to my defenses with toothpicks for guardrails.

With temptation (the dealer a text away) and a liquor store on every corner - I needed more than willpower to pull off this huge magic trick.

From Me to You

Here are 5 strategies that became my lifeline - and how they might serve your journey too:

1. Positive Quarantine
   Me: I stayed close to the community spending time with people who understood the experience
   
   You: What if you met with other dyslexics once a week to discuss future plans, not past problems?
   
   - Being accountable to yourself and others fuels productivity and a more positive sense of self.
   
   

2. Feed the Beast
   Me: I read and highlighted a lot, feeding my curiosity with self-improvement-focused information
   
   You: What dyslexia resources could you explore that focus on expanding your mindset or skills?
   
   - Growth motivates and inspires naturally.
   
   

3. No Torpedoes!
   Me: I stayed away from the old party crowd; peeps who could torpedo my progress with one slip up.
   
   You: Who in your life constantly undermines your confidence or reinforces limiting beliefs about your dyslexia?
   
   - Right full rudder - steer clear.
   
   

4. Polish Your Rainbow
   Me: I learned new skills—blogging & social media marketing—to stay busy and creative
   
   You: What activity have you always wanted to try but avoided because you thought your dyslexia would hold you back?
   
   - Prioritizing yourself is a reminder of how much you matter and a plus for your emotional fitness.
   
   

5. Single Steps, Not the Whole Staircase
   Me: I refused to make long-term promises—I just committed to making good choices today
   
   You: How might your day change if you focused on small wins right now instead of worrying about distant goals?
   
   -Try and remember what if feels like to appreciate the journey without obsessing about the outcome

The I’m.Possible

For dyslexics, hitting rock bottom is rarely dramatic.

It's more like a slow erosion of confidence and self esteem from years of trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.

Fed up and frustrated, many dyslexics give up on the power of possibility.

ER: Emotional Rehab starts with removing the mask.

Help self, find and recognize self.

Consider these 5 strategies for a life that works with your wiring - not against it.

It’s never too late.