My Sobriety Story with Maria Luz O’Rourke
“What worked this time was treating sobriety like a job, at least in the beginning.”
This series showcases personal stories of addiction recovery and sobriety. Today’s edition is by Maria Luz O’Rourke, who left a 29-year career in pharmaceuticals to start a healing and helping practice that includes spiritual guidance sessions, astrology, hypnosis, and psychic mediumship. She writes a twice weekly Substack newsletter, , and is the host of the weekly podcast, Maria Luz’s Conscious Curiosities. Through these creative projects, Maria shares hope for living authentically and empowers people with the wisdom of astrology and their own unique energy.
When and how did you get sober?
My Day 1 is November 4, 2022. I had made several prior attempts to remove alcohol from my life, so I knew what didn’t work for me. What worked this time was treating sobriety like a job, at least in the beginning.
I journaled twice a day, including making lists of my priorities for the day. I joined a Facebook group devoted to sobriety and checked in at least twice a day. I listened to hours of sobriety podcasts while walking my dog. I kept a list and pictures of my “Why.” I consumed sugar when major cravings happened. I was determined to outwit my witching hour, so I kept busy, taking classes in ballroom dance, jiu jitsu, baking, writing, and astrology.
What was the turning point in your decision to get sober?
I woke up in the middle of the night after a days-long binge, thinking either I was dying from alcohol poisoning and my liver was about to conk out, or having a massive panic attack.
I called my older son to tell him where I wrote all the important information in case I died, but not to worry about me (yeah, right). He took me to urgent care, and I was so embarrassed at having to be taken to the doctor like a little kid and so frustrated by the life of a so-called functioning alcoholic, that I knew this had to be my final Day 1.
I was 52 years old, a successful Executive Director at work, and completely empty inside—with the superficial relationships to prove it.
What surprised you about getting sober?
It became clear pretty early on that diet culture was heavily linked to my drinking. And feeling unworthy was at the core of my adherence to diet culture.
Really, it has been shedding layers of conditioning, limiting beliefs, and fears. For me, simply being abstinent from alcohol would not have worked. I would have gone back to drinking and all the other ways in which I was unwell. It was time to do the work on myself.
What’s the biggest challenge you’ve encountered on your recovery journey?
Some previously close relationships are no longer close. This is not so much because those people drink and I do not, but because I no longer wish to play the role I did in order to maintain those relationships. I definitely feel guilty at times for not being willing to just pretend so I can make them comfortable.
What are the biggest benefits or gifts of sobriety?
The biggest benefit of sobriety by far is that I got to truly know myself. I found out that I didn’t want to settle or pretend anymore.
I discovered that I had a hidden talent for astrology and was shocked to find that I had psychic abilities, too. I knew I wanted with all my heart to serve others who wanted to understand themselves and their options from a new perspective, so I quit my long-term career in corporate pharmaceuticals to begin a healing practice in March 2024.
What words of advice would you give someone who’s considering sobriety or newly sober?
It is super scary to face the day knowing you are not going to be using alcohol to get over every little hurdle, so I tell people to really notice the moments when there is an absence of anxiety or distress. The more you notice these, the more you appreciate them, which makes it easier to choose the absence of alcohol over the quick fix of a drink.
Want to share your sobriety story?
Thank you for sharing,
! We look forward to connecting with you in the comments.Want to be published on Sober.com? If you’re a sober writer, we invite you to contribute! Reach out to hello@danaleighlyons.com for details.
 | A guest post by
|
So inspiring and expansive, Maria! I love how your decision to get sober led to such radical, beautiful change in your career path and livelihood. Removing one big thing that isn’t aligned sure does create powerful momentum.
Found this so inspiring, thank you. I am a the beginning of my sobriety ( 12 days) but Reading stories like yours gives me hope I can do this too.