Beating Alcohol Addiction: Marvin the "Mental Health Warrior" Cat’s Emotion First Plan
- Bruce Schutter
- Jun 4
- 5 min read
I was downtown minding my own business, sipping a diet soda and watching the world go by, when I spotted a familiar fuzzy blur slumped on a bench outside the shop. Tail twitching. Eyes narrowed. Fur ruffled. Yep. It was Marvin the "Mental Health Warrior" Cat.
"Marvin," I said cautiously, approaching like he might bolt. "You okay?"
He didn’t look up. Just grunted. "Define 'okay.' If you mean barely holding it together and wondering why feelings exist, then yes. I’m fantastic."
I sat down next to him. This wasn’t just any Marvin mood. This was the post-bender emotional hangover version of Marvin. He’d been trying—really trying—to stay sober!
And like many warriors in recovery, he was finding out that the hardest part isn’t quitting. It’s staying quit. Especially when your emotions sneak up like ninja raccoons with brass knuckles.
Marvin’s Quest
He finally looked at me. "You built this program, right? The whole Mental Health Warrior thing? The mindset rules, the coins, the books, the warrior tools—all of it. And you were an alcoholic, weren’t you?"
I nodded. "Yeah. Twenty years of struggling. Bipolar, Anxiety Disorders and PTSD. And Alcohol was my escape hatch until it became the prison. It left me feeling so powerless, that I tried to end my life. But in that moment, I realized something life-changing: my mental health, our emotions, they weren’t the enemy. They are the answer!"
Marvin stared into his half-empty cup. "So, what made it finally stick for you? Because I’ve kicked alcohol to the curb more times than I can count. But my emotions—ugh. They jump me in dark alleys."
I smiled. "That’s exactly it. I had to learn how to manage my emotions. That was the key!
The game-changer. One big help? My book: I Triumphed over Bipolar, Alcoholism, and Anxiety Disorder by Becoming a Mental Health Warrior. I poured everything into it—my story, the tools, the mindset rules that saved my life.
Especially Warrior Principle 4: "When we manage our emotions, we can take the necessary steps to overcome any challenges that life throws our way." That principle became my north star."
"Let me give you three things that made all the difference for me in staying sober and kicking alcohol to the curb!."
1. I Learned That Life Isn’t Boring Without Alcohol
"For a long time," I began, "I thought sobriety meant living in black-and-white. No fun. No excitement. Just dull routines and too much herbal tea."
Marvin’s ears twitched. "Accurate."
"But what I discovered," I continued, "is that alcohol had been hijacking my brain's reward system. Once I got some emotional stability back, I started to enjoy real things—like good conversations, deep laughs, hiking, and not waking up in a laundry basket with nachos in my pocket."
Marvin’s Takeaway:
Marvin grimaced. "The nachos part hits close to home."
"You’ve got to retrain your brain. New rewards. New habits. The fun is still there—it’s just different. And you get to remember all of it!"
Marvin muttered, "I guess karaoke night sober doesn’t have to be a war crime. Maybe."
2. I Faced My Anxiety Instead of Running from It
"Anxiety was a huge trigger for me. It wasn’t just uncomfortable—it was paralyzing. And drinking made it vanish for a little while, which felt like magic. But then it came back louder."
Marvin’s tail drooped. "Every time I try to sit still, my brain does backflips over unpaid bills and past embarrassments from 2009."
"Same," I said. "But I started using tools—like breathing exercises, cold water on my face, quick walks, journaling. Anything to stay with the feeling instead of running from it."
Marvin’s Takeaway:
He groaned. "So I actually have to feel stuff?"
"Yup. But you’ll get stronger. Like lifting weights—emotionally. You’ll realize that anxiety doesn’t have to control you. You can surf it, not drown in it."
Marvin sighed. "Fine. I’ll try breathing before screaming into a pillow. No promises, though."
3. I Forgave Myself for the Past
"Here’s the hardest part, Marvin," I said. "I had to stop blaming myself. I used alcohol to hide. I used it to cope when I didn’t know how to feel things. That doesn’t make me weak. It means I survived the best way I knew how at the time."
His eyes flicked up. "But the guilt… it’s like a playlist on repeat."
"Exactly. And Mindset Rule 6 changed that: "Forgive yourself for not knowing the things you know now." That’s how you move forward. Not perfectly. But powerfully."
Marvin’s Takeaway:
Marvin was silent for a minute.
Then he said, "So you’re telling me it’s okay that I didn’t have it all figured out—that I just need to start from where I am?" "Yes. Exactly that."
Bonus: Power of the Tribe
He sat back on the bench, letting the sun warm his whiskers. "You know what? Talking about this… it actually helps. I thought admitting this stuff would make me feel more broken. But it’s the opposite."
I nodded. "That’s the bonus of this whole Warrior tribe. We talk. We share. We hold space for each other’s struggles. We don’t fake it. We support one another. That’s why we’re strong."
I reached into my bag and pulled out a fresh copy of I Triumphed Over Bipolar, Alcoholism, and Anxiety Disorder by Becoming a Mental Health Warrior. I handed it to him.
Marvin took it with a soft grunt. "Guess I better read this, huh?"
"We’ll read it together," I said. "And we’ll use Warrior Principle 4 as our compass: when we manage our emotions, we can take the necessary steps to overcome any challenge life throws at us."
He smirked. "Even when those emotions are full-blown raccoon chaos?"
"Especially then. Because the real victory isn’t just staying sober, it’s learning to get comfortable with the full spectrum of emotions—and that will keep us moving forward each day!"
Wrap Up:
If you’re reading this and battling addiction—especially with anxiety, depression, or any other mental health challenge—hear this: You’re not broken. You’re human. And you can do this!
Sobriety isn’t boring—it’s freedom fueled by emotional strength!
Because it’s not just about quitting alcohol—it’s about reclaiming control of your emotions, and with them, the power to build the life you truly want.
That’s how Warrior’s rise above alcohol addiction—by embracing our emotions, stepping forward with courage, and building a life supported by our tribe. Because together—we triumph!
Bruce Schutter
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