Giving Back What Was Given to Me
In March of 2021, I was at lunch with my dad and aunt. I had admitted I had a drinking problem but made no effort to get into treatment. At lunch, I ordered an alcoholic drink and tried to hide it from my aunt and dad. They were distraught when they found out, and I stormed off.
I ended up walking to a random field and passing out. When I woke up, I was still drunk and had reached my breaking point. I didn’t know what to do or how to get home. When I finally got home, an Intake Specialist from Narconon called me and said, “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
My dad had called them and worked it out to get me into rehab the next day. I was nervous and angry with myself, but I knew it was time to make a change. I’d been to rehab before, but it didn’t work, and at the time, I didn’t care about getting sober. This time I felt it was different.
When I got there, I knew it was completely different. I felt cared about and knew this was my last chance to get it right. Going through withdrawal was hard as I was fighting a battle in my head of, “I want to go home,” and, “I know I need to be here.” My parents were over my crap, and my life depended on it. Before I came to Narconon, I drank a fifth of tequila a day and destroyed my body. Getting the vitamins and nutrients I needed in withdrawal was vital to me, and I pushed through the rest of the program.
When I started the sauna, it was emotional for me. I was reexperiencing emotions I had shut myself off for ten years. I cried, laughed and was angry; you name it, I felt it. Before going into the sauna, I was an anxious mess. I constantly believed I was going to have a heart attack and die. But, after completing the sauna, I felt better than I had in years. My back no longer hurt, my body felt rejuvenated, and I had a new vitality for life.
Then Objectives got me through my lack of communication. One thing I was always terrible at was expressing myself and controlling my emotions. Doing Objectives helped me overcome those obstacles and learn how to talk to people without screaming and telling them they don’t understand.
After Objectives, I moved on to Life Skills and repaired the damage I did to my parents. I told them I loved them and that I would prove to them this time I was serious. I then took responsibility for all the terrible things I had done and learned to see it for what it was. There was no justifying. It was black and white, and I chose to make those choices. I then learned to love myself and accept my past and move on from it instead of allowing it to define me.
“Now, here I am, one year later, still sober. I haven’t been sober this long since I was thirteen years old. I still have a great relationship with my parents and can face any challenges head-on instead of running from them.”
Now, here I am, one year later, still sober. I haven’t been sober this long since I was thirteen years old. I still have a great relationship with my parents and can face any challenges head-on instead of running from them. Before I graduated from the Narconon program, I knew I wanted to give back what was given to me. So I decided I wanted to stay and work at Narconon, helping others struggling with addiction.
If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction, know there is a way out. You are not alone, but you can recover. First, you have to believe in yourself and that anything is possible. Then, reach out for help because there is an answer to drug addiction. There is a way out, and that is the way through.
Thank you, Narconon, for helping me change my life for the better!
—Alina
