Clares Recovery Story

I would like to share with you my recovery story, I won’t bore you with my past because as they say YESTERDAY IS HISTORY!!

I had been alcohol dependent for near enough 10 years and was becoming a mere shadow of my former self, I just didn’t realise what was going on in my life, nothing anyone gave me or did for me was ever good enough, but all I knew was that I was causing everyone around me heartache and pain, then the day came when I knew I had to try and turn my life around, not only for myself but also for my family. This has been the hardest decision I have ever had to make in my life.

AND SO MY JOURNEY BEGINS!!

On the 14th December 2015 at 9.30am a taxi picked me up from my home address and took me to the Woodlands Medical Centre in Nottingham to undergo an inpatient detox for my alcohol dependency, this was going to be my home for the next week.

As we neared the centre my emotions were all over the place, I was nervous, anxious and scared about the journey that I was just about to embark on, my journey had begun!!

I stayed in The Woodlands for a full week undergoing a medically controlled detox, where I met some fantastic people, both nurses/Doctors and also other patients who helped me through this difficult time in my life. As my stay came to an end I didn’t want to come home as I had made some lifelong friendships and we had become a little family.

I am now receiving support and aftercare from the East Riding Alcohol Aftercare service which without them would make my journey impossible.

I am now on day 85 of my recovery and it is still early days for me, but life is good!!

Apart from my medication – there are other strategies that I use:

–       Having a good support network is vitally important to me.

–       Trying not to be too hard or critical on myself when a bad day does come along.

–       Asking for help when you need it is to me NOT a sign of weakness.

Recovery is possible, you can do it! I did and so can you. 

Published 21st March 2016

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