How Medium Helps Me Stay Sober

It’s been an unexpected gift to my alcohol-free life

When I was 17 years old I was obese. My parents got divorced when I was 8, and shortly thereafter I started gaining weight. My dad moved out and my mom worked two jobs to keep a roof over our heads, so I was left alone for a large swath of each day.

Left to my own devices, I started eating — a lot.

At that tender age, I had no idea that there might be long-term consequences of overeating, I just knew that food made me feel better.

This led to a life as the proverbial “fat kid” — teased by the boys and shunned by the girls. It was murder on my self-esteem.

That’s how it continued throughout my grade school years — up until my senior year in high school.

Most of my formative years were a black cloud of anxiety, insecurity, and humiliation that I wouldn’t wish on anyone.

Then came the summer between my junior and senior years…