This is the story of the life struggles, joy and hope of KJ Nivin (pseudonym), author of the12 Step workbook recovery series, that range from alcoholism to compulsive debting and sexual addiction. Nivin was born into a family system riddled with alcoholism, prescription drug addiction, sexual addiction, and compulsive pauperism. This is about the making of a sex addict / alcoholic and how growing up in his family plagued by drinking, codependency, womanizing, and atheism shaped the life of a child to relive what he had witnessed. His genetic predisposition to addiction and his out of control environment insured that he would follow the foot steps of his father. He almost followed them to the grave.
“There came a time in my life that I would have to decide: Is there or isn't there a God” Nivin relates. This story tells about KJ Nivin's struggle with God and how he wrestled with the idea of a Supreme Being that created all and who might care for him. Nivin recounts his amazing God experience. In the chapter A Spiritual Journey he explains his hopes and fears about God, his private thoughts about this Being, and his relationship with his Creator on a day to day basis. “I'm not too keen on religion but I love spirituality and the possibilities that it brings. It seems to me that the times we live in today parallel the times of Christ. Today, what works for me is a practical relationship with God who interacts with me minute by minute and has become my friend and confidant.”
Now living in North Carolina KJ has traveled the world in sobriety. He lived in Europe and Asia for over 13 years total and participated in Desert Shield/Desert Storm in the early nineties. He is sober from alcohol for over 26 years, in recovery for sexual addiction for 13 and began his recovering from compulsive debting in the year 2000. He has continued to be active in these groups and is sane and sober today as he says “By the grace of God and my friends in recovery.” Nivin explains how it feels to be free of compulsive behavior, how he has achieved sobriety, and how his life has changed from the inside out. He tells of his breakthrough or hitting bottom that catapulted him into a world of recovery and spirituality.
His relentless efforts to help those who still struggle with addiction helps him stay close to the disease of addiction and to remember what it was like to be out of control destroying his own life and the lives of others. He has worked for a man who was one of his heroes in the field of alcoholism and drug addiction recovery. Nivin explains “Father Martin of Ashley drug and alcohol treatment center with his Chalk Talk has changed the face of treatment for addition for ever. Ashley is a world renowned facility nestled on the bank of Chesapeake Bay and is responsible for treating thousands of patients suffering from addiction who were hopeless. Their lives turned around because of the loving and spiritual environment created by Father Martin's love for his fellow alcoholic.” Father passed on in 2009.
As in every addiction alcoholism, sexual addiction, and compulsive debting bring about problems in relationships and sometimes destroys families. KJ Nivin shows how addiction reeked havoc on his family of origin and in his relationships as the disease of addiction progressed in his life. He tells what it felt like before recovery and how it feels now to live life addiction free. In hitting bottom, developing a faith that works, and by attending recovery meetings Nivin has achieved sobriety and lets the audience in on his secret double life before recovery.
advertisement