When I finally arrived at Ravenscourt I had absolutely no idea what to expect; just knew I didn’t want to die and my using was killing me. Straight away I knew I was in the right place because, given that everyone was at different stages of their programme, the differences were glaringly obvious. The whole rehab thing was a total shock to this addict’s system, just having rules to live by and a fixed routine was alien to me. Because I had been used to doing exactly what I wanted to do when I wanted to do it, being told different at first rubbed me up the wrong way but I soon came to realise than the Counsellors there knew what it was like from experience. For the first time in my adult life, I started to really listen, so when I was told it was my thinking that was wrong it, over the weeks, started to make sense.
Being made to share the very things that I’d hidden away or used as excuses in front of relative strangers was the hardest thing I’d ever done and owning may part in things I’d always blamed on others was at the time, painful. Having said that life in rehab with my peers was an education in itself. Living with other people with similar backgrounds and life experiences forged a new and more tolerant side of me. The daily groups encouraged me to be more honest. As the weeks went by I could see a change in attitude in myself and others. I started to get something I’d never had before, and that was no matter how low my life had become, there really was hope, even for me. Ravenscourt was all about challenging my old beliefs and behaviours and learning new ways to deal with life without using, have a little bit of self-discipline and some respect for others and myself. It is no exaggeration when I say Ravenscourt and the Counsellors there helped save my life by giving back to me the ability to see that there’s a better way of living my life and I have to ability to live it, for that I thank you.’ Mr. M.F.
Ravenscourt Trust - Registered Charity 1000296