Four-Time Award Winning Author and an Awareness Coach on Addiction

Posted on February 24, 2013 by Awareness Coach

Since I lost my husband, Richie Lopes, and daughter, Lori Cahill, to their alcohol addiction, I became an Awareness Coach on the topic of Alcohol Abuse. I offer public talks to any business, schools, organizations, women’s ministries or any location who needs to have someone reach out to the substance abusers during an event.

Who can talk about the pain of losing someone to substance abuse more than the person who has lived through it, not once, but twice.

I’m just an ordinary woman who speaks from the heart on telling others that it’s not that this disease may, would or could kill. It will. With family members, I try to explain how enabling an alcoholic only brings them deeper into their addiction. I open up about all my mistakes wishing I had the opportunity to redo them over. Would they have saved my loved ones? I don’t know, but I do know, I would not be living with such saddness if I had done all things humanly possible for them to develop the desire to enter a recovery program and stick with the help.

Being married young in the early 1960′s and coming from a close family with no abuse, I had no idea what was happening to all of us behind closed doors…and that’s where I kept the nightmare. To hear about the confusion, fear and abuse that alcoholic and drug addicts live in, request to hear about my life and the loss of Richie and Lori.

I offer private speaking directly to the addicts at halfway homes, substance abuse rehabilitations or court-ordered programs. My goal is to bring hope back to the addicted telling them the importance of getting out of denial. I love to see the depression leave the addicts after I spend time with them.

Request a quote at [email protected].

If you want to become a blog guest on my site on substance abuse articles with the addicted or the effect on family members, send it to me through my email. I love guest bloggers.

Alberta Sequeira can be contacted at [email protected] Visit her website at www.albertasequeira.com.

Publication Date to be Announced Soon!

Posted on December 26, 2012 by Awareness Coach

Now this is a “Book by It’s Cover!” Coming soon, What is and isn’t Working for the Alcoholic and Addict: In Their Own Words. It will be available in paperback and Kindle.

This fabulous and powerful book cover was designed by Steven Clark Bradley. Visit his site at stevenbradley.blogspot.com.

Synopsis:

Do you ever wonder why some alcoholics and drug addicts recover and put their lives together while others die from this horrible worldwide problem? What gives them the physical and mental strength to fight this battle and come out winning? These questions, and the author’s tragedy from losing her husband and daughter from their alcohol abuse, encouraged this writing.

Here is a book, not only for the substance abusers, but for family members, society, doctors, and counselors to learn, not only what the addict is looking for with support to help them through with their recovery, but new ways to help the addicted. You will learn that childhood emotional wounds mold us into what we become in adulthood.

What is and isn’t Working for the Alcoholic and Addict: In Their Own Words is a book of personal stories from thirty-four alcoholic and drug users from all walks of life. With multiple addicts telling their stories, there is a higher rate for a reader to find one relating to them and say, “That’s me!”

Review:

Alberta Sequeira’s book is a valuable compilation which immerses you deeply within the delusional workings of the alcoholic and drug addicted mindset. What better source of insight and understanding could there be than the thoughts and beliefs of those afflicted with the disease? Search no further. There is none! ~Thomas M. Cirignano — Author

Statements from the Addicts in the Book:

Negotiating the ups and downs of the first few years of recovery contain numerous pitfalls which those in recovery must have the right kind of help with. The best-intentioned of friends, family, lovers, and co-workers can be healthy supports or obstacles to long-term sobriety. Having the addicts tell their story of what worked for them and what didn’t or doesn’t work would be a most helpful addition to the literature on the subject of addiction and recovery. Addicts sharing their experience, strength and hope with others is something that only a recovering addict or alcoholic can do. It is a unique gift. ~John Daubney — Author, Mentor, and Retreat Leader

I was tired of getting sick, my hands shaking, my vision deteriorating, my nose bleeding, my bowels moving sporadically, not sleeping and feeling safe, along with the violence and running from many situations being paranoid to the point of staying home all day. ~CW

I would tell doctors and counselors to listen to us. We are drinking for a reason, but we can’t stop on our own. Help us to identify the reason we are drinking. What are we afraid of? What are we trying to hide, our insecurities, our short-comings? Maybe we just don’t like who we are sober and truly believe we are better people when we are drinking or using drugs. Most of all treat us as humans, not a disease. ~Anonymous

It was very enjoyable to write this and take a look back at the journey to recovery! It helps a lot with letting go. The past does not define me anymore. It also reinforces the gratitude I have for sobriety. ~ Anonymous