Laughter In Recovery

Shelia King, AA 

Mental Health & Recovery Associate

​Before my recovery from alcoholism began, laughter was one of the most painful sounds I knew.

​I never laughed and I felt that anyone else’s laughter was directed at me. My self-pity and anger denied me the simplest of pleasures or lightness of heart by the end of my drinking, not even alcohol could provoke a drunken giggle in me. When my AA sponsor began to laugh and point out my self-pity and self -pride and ego I was annoyed and hurt, however it taught me to lighten up and focus on my recovery.  I soon learned to laugh at myself and eventually I was able to teach those along the way to laugh also. Every day I ask my Higher Power for laughter.

Shelia King, AA 

​Sheila King holds an Associate of Art in Liberal Studies. She has served women experiencing homelessness in Washington, DC for years. She has experience in crisis de-escalation, conflict resolution, and group facilitation. She is passionate about mental health and substance use issues. As a Black woman with mental health concerns, she wants to support all black women on their mental health journey. She also has also been in recovery for 30 years. Instagram: @Mother_of_my_girls