How Sobriety Helped Me Wake Up Politically
This upcoming election is
I grew up in Waco, Texas, where the food is deep-fried and the politics are deep red. Politics often makes for a confusing topic, regardless of where someone is raised. As a bisexual woman with gay family members, I’ve always been passionate about LGBTQ+ rights and women’s rights, but I didn’t see my fervor as political. I saw my longing for equality as simply wanting basic human rights. My callowness prevented my understanding that, unfortunately, equality is an ongoing, heavily-debated political fight.
While this was all going on, I self-medicated regularly from ages 15 to age 29. Whether it was alcohol, drugs, sex, or calorie-counting, I taught myself how to use those self-destructive behaviors as tools to avoid my depression and anxiety. I didn’t care much about tomorrow, let alone engaging in constructive political discourse. Though I was a high-functioning substance abuser, the thought of fighting for social change never crossed my mind when I was actively trying to hide from reality.
Read the full essay in The Temper.
Photos by Robert Riese Photography.
about the blogger:
Tawny is an NYC-based writer, blogger, public speaker, podcaster who’s passionate about sex, sobriety, and rock n roll. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter.
Read Tawny’s published words in Playboy, Men’s Health, Huffington Post, The Temper, Audiofemme, and more. Tawny shared her recovery story on stages all across the world: IOGT World Congress, New York State Recovery Conference, and United Federation of Teachers.
In addition to writing and public speaking, she’s the founder of the Readings on Recovery™ reading series, her blog, SobrieTea Party™, and co-host of Recovery Rocks podcast with Lisa Smith. She’s also a charity volunteer with Road Recovery and an award-winning filmmaker of the recovery documentary, Fixed Up.
