‘I Need Help’: How Three Words Saved A Life

Peyton Gallovich
4 min readSep 14, 2020
Photo by Suganth on Unsplash

It’s been 8 years, 3 months, and 25 days since Patrick uttered 3 words that would change the trajectory of his life.

It was a Monday in northeast Ohio. Patrick awoke in his parent’s basement in search of his “stash of vodka.” Patrick had been living there since his addiction to alcohol lost him his job, his fiancé, and his apartment — the exact timeline is foggy.

“Using alcohol was an escape.”

You see, Patrick started abusing substances long before May 21, 2012. Throughout his high school and college years, Patrick used drugs like cocaine and Adderall in addition to alcohol. After graduation, Patrick decided to start his career and kick the habit — eventually sticking to just drinking alcohol daily due to the “social acceptance of the drug.”

It’s hard to pinpoint where the substance problems began. It may have been a house party, bonfire, or other event he went to growing up in Ohio that first introduced him to the world of alcohol and drugs. At some point “it just clicked” and Patrick realized using alcohol was an escape — a way to make life easier, deal with anxiety, and cope with “whatever made me feel the way I felt.”

Fast forward to May of 2012 and the only thing on Patrick’s mind as he awoke was a slight moment of panic and a burst of energy to find his drink as the shakes (delirium tremens) began to set in. He eventually found his stash and started his day the way he has become accustomed to: with three shots and a cigarette.

“Patrick started his day the way he always did: with three shots and a cigarette.”

At 25 years old, Patrick was drinking 48–80 shots a day. After completing his wake-up routine, Patrick went upstairs.

“Good morning,” he said to his parents.

They both looked at him confused. Confused because Patrick had just greeted them with “good morning” at 7 o’clock at night. Before rushing out the door to restock on vodka because the liquor store was closing, Patrick haphazardly muttered those three words that would change his life:

“I need help.”

The next memories fell victim to an alcoholic blackout, but Patrick’s mom took the (potentially sarcastic) plea for help seriously. She immediately found treatment for Patrick in Florida and got him on the next plane. Four days later Patrick awoke in an alcohol detox center with no idea where he was or how he’d gotten there.

Over the next year Patrick began uncovering what started his addiction and finding his voice. Of course, the more he spoke, the less he listened — leading to a revolving door of treatment stays, with his longest sobriety lasting six months. Convinced that treatment wouldn’t work Patrick check into an inpatient rehab facility one last time and gave it all he had. His goal: to prove treatment didn’t work. This way nobody could tell him he didn’t try — and above all, so he could get back to drinking.

During this final treatment Patrick learned alternative therapies like meditation and biofeedback, and took therapy seriously. The real turning point, though, came as Patrick continued his pattern of “talking.” His therapist, Ann, told him to “shut up” and stop being argumentative and truly give the curriculum and therapy sessions a shot. From that point on Patrick gave in to the idea that he didn’t know how to fix himself and started listening.

On February 9, 2013, Patrick was discharged and said, “see you in 9 months” — a sarcastic nod to his failed attempts at sobriety months prior. It’s been over 7 years since Patrick truly buckled down and took rehab seriously and he’s grateful to say he hasn’t been back since.

“What’s the last good thing you did?”

Patrick now lives with his wife and two giant fish tanks full of exotic fish in Phoenix, Arizona. He’s worked in the addiction industry since, helping others get sober. Currently he is the Admissions Director for a luxury rehab in Scottsdale called The Hope House.

Acting as a mentor and guide, of sorts, has helped Patrick stay on the straight and narrow. That and a mantra he picked up from a friend in recovery: “What’s the last good thing you did?” During his daily meditation, Patrick reminds himself to focus on the positive, redeemable acts he can perform to help those around him.

When asked about how recovery has impacted his life, he makes it simple:

“I am still alive. I had no shot. One way, or another, I wouldn’t be here. If the alcohol didn’t kill me, something else would have.”

For National Recovery Month, The Hope House is conducting interviews with employees, addiction professionals, and those in recovery to get a more comprehensive look at the recovery process.

Regarding National Recovery Month, Patrick had these parting words:

“It’s a good time for everybody to post their sobriety dates to show ‘Hey, it can be done’.”

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Peyton Gallovich

Peyton works for The Hope House, a luxury addiction treatment center out of Scottsdale, Arizona.