Narconon Took So Much From Me

and I Will Be Forever Grateful

Aimless. Depressed. Selfish. Scared. Anxious. Paranoid. Worthless. Stuck. An utter disappointment to all who loved me.

The above words described me to a “T” before I went to Narconon. My drug and alcohol addiction led me to a complete impasse in my life. I just knew I had single-handedly gotten myself to the point of no return, the land of the “lost cause,” and there was nothing and no one out there that could ever help me.

At 18, I was a girl just starting college, full of dreams and hopes for my future. By 21, I dropped out of college to get a Master’s in Keg Parties. At 26, I got sober from alcohol for 3 wonderful years.

By 29, I was drinking again and mastered the art of drug experimentation. At 30, I tried my first hit of heroin. At 31, I was virtually homeless, battling a second-by-second war of relentless heroin and alcohol cravings.

I was no longer the curious, hopeful, happy Kylie with family and friends who had all the faith in the world I was going to “be okay.” I was now a broken shell of a life not lived. Panic-attack ridden, I found my mind unable to escape the regret from my past and my body unable to recover from years of ingesting drugs. I searched for answers on how to beat my demons from anyone who would listen, not realizing all the answers I was searching for were within me.

Narconon taught me this.

After hitting the ultimate bottom, a small glimmer of hope (that had apparently been hiding out for quite some time) came alive in my mind. With the help of my mother, I searched for rehab after rehab, knowing I didn’t want another 12-step, 28-day, “treat addiction with legal drugs” kind of place. The task of finding and agreeing to go to Narconon happened very quickly, but I remember feeling more hope during that process than I’d ever felt in my life.

The feeling of hope continued to grow throughout my time at Narconon. The staff were amazing and made me feel comfortable to go to them with anything I needed. Anything at all. I was so at ease I began to actually sleep! Throughout the night at that! What a beautiful, glorious, amazing concept!

I physically felt better than I could ever remember. My awareness, communication and responsibility levels grew and I learned how to stay in the “here and now” rather than sitting in my past or worrying about my future. I learned more about myself than I’d ever thought possible and was able to spot exactly when my thinking changed and led to problems upon problems for myself. When I graduated the Narconon program, I remember feeling so happy because I actually looked forward to life again.

Since graduating the Narconon program, I have made it my life’s purpose to give back to those who need help. I know without a doubt every single person on this planet has good within them, and the ability to live an honest life with a purpose. Even if they are unable to see it through the mask of addiction they’ve put on to hide from pain, even if they’ve hurt themselves and everyone around them… even if they are in the land of the “lost cause”… their true self is buried under all of it.

Narconon helped me find myself under that pile I was buried under and I am dedicated to helping others find themselves as well. Would I tell you my life is perfect since going to Narconon? Of course not.

I will, however, tell you this: it is better than it’s ever been. With the help of Narconon, I have learned how to communicate with others and handle situations I used to run from. I can stare life in the face now, no matter what comes my way. I have confidence in myself. I care about others. I am responsible. My family and friends are actually proud of me now and that means more to me than anything.

I have a purpose and am actually taking the necessary actions to achieve my goals, rather than just sitting around thinking about how great it would be to achieve them someday.

Narconon took that broken shell of a life I once was and helped me blossom into a woman who knows she can achieve anything she puts her mind to. For that, I will be forever grateful.

—Kylie