I've noticed that many of the posts in this section are asking for suggestions from people who are in dire help while in search for help for their friends. I was hoping to start a success story thread. I'll start. One of my old friends was addicted to pain killers and alcohol. After an extended down time and too many interventions to count something finally clicked with him. He call it "growing up." He lost jobs, friends, family, and nearly his life before turning things around. Now he's remarried, has a great job, new home, and his health again. This time it looks like it's going to stick. So, I know I'm short on specifics about his recovery but I just wanted to start a thread here that points to success.
Campbell, unfortunately success, just like with your friend, takes time. The road to recovery is usually a hard one to find on the first few attempts. That is why there are so many people in dire need of help. Is it possible to find out from your friend what he did that worked, and more importantly, what didn't work? That may be a great thread to start, ideas that work, from people that are currently in successful recovery. Charles P.
I have a success story to share. It's about a friend of mine who went from being a medical nurse to working as a prostitute in in a public toilet, so that she could maintain her heroin addiction. Together with another friend, I tried to help her find a program in a rehab center in our region, but there was nothing available at the time. So, we started looking further afield, and eventually found an alternative place that offered a "hands on approach" to addicts. It was a farm, and my friend was going to be trained to take care of the horses on the farm. Within 8 months my friend completely changed. Even physically, I hardly even recognized her anymore. The healthy lifestyle in the country had put lost kilos back onto her once emaciated body. She was looking radiant! But there was another reason behind it as well. She had met her soulmate in a nearby village, a very disciplined and strong-minded woman. It's been 11 years now, and they are still together and happy. My friend made a full recovery under the guidance of her girlfriend. She never relapsed. And I am truly happy for both of them.
What a great story and I'm glad she found somebody as well. I hope they live long and happy lives together as it sounds like the two met at a time when they could see the best and worst in each other. If you see her again tell her congrats!
Yes, I understand what you are saying but I also wanted to start a thread where people could offer a solid "SEE" this is all possible. Even if it's just from quitting smoking or something along those lines. I think people will always have questions of how something is done but I also think people also need to know that other everyday people with real stories have achieved success in some manner.
I love the idea for this thread- it's always good to see that there's some light at the end of the tunnel. I have a few friends who went through a similar struggle as your friend- one nearly did overdose and that was her "wake up call", the other had a child and he really turned his life around for his son. It was and still is a process, just like anything in life. Sometimes they struggle more than others...their stories are both very different but the remarkable similarity between them is that the person themselves has to "see the light". They have to want to change, or hit rock bottom, or have that epiphany for themselves to get the help...no one else can do it for them.
I have a brother who lost everything including his job and family. One day he called me back and said it was time to change and get everything back. I took him to rehab and that set the course. He got his job and family back and now 20 plus years later has went to school to become an addiction counselor and that is how he is going to spend his retirement years.
Now that's a wonderful story! Thank you so much for sharing. That information about your brother is one heck of an inspirational story well worth sharing!
I think you're right - they have to hit a wall at some point in order to decide to do something. I think that's true in every situation. I can only hope that people actually do hit that wall and make the effort to seek help or a solution instead of waiting too long.
Life is not easy for anyone, everyone has their own depression and own sadness. However, there is always surprise for you. Always believe in yourself, because you are the one who is the most trust-worthy. NEVER GIVE UP!! Tomorrow is always getting better all the time!!
Just recently talked to a friend from years back that I've not heard from in years. Seems they just beat a bout with cancer! Caught it early with a colon exam - I know it's not a rehab story but it is great news worth sharing! He said he has changed everything in his life from quitting smoking to eating more green veggies and less nachos from the gas station. I guess the life style change in order to be healthier does parallel what we often touch on in this forum.
It's great to hear that your friend is doing well. I'm also very happy to say that I have one of these success stories as well and now looking back, I know that during those dark times it was unimaginable for me to see the type of life he is leading now. I'm really glad I stuck by him and never gave him judgment even though I was young and clueless at the time.
I have friends who stopped drinking and now they are concentrating on their studies. It is possible when one is determined. Many have realised how their projects have stalled and have vowed to change. After rehab, others decide never to go back and they have succeeded.
I wish I had a success story to post. Honestly the few that recovered did so on their own. I can't attribute any of that to me.
I have a friend like that too! He was deep into alcohol/cigarettes during highschool. He had a rough relationship with his parents and hung out with the wrong crowd. I tried numerous time to help him out with little success. It's only when he started liking a girl that he started to change, haha. He never ended up dating the girl or anything but it's great what love can do to you.
It is interesting what can motivate a person to make changes. I wish it was easier to predict so that we could better help our friends in need. It still comes from within regardless.
Yea, unfortunately seems like my friend was one of a handful. Finding a motive or a solution isn't so simple.
My best friend is a alcholic. I have chosen to be there to support her 100%. We've been best friends since highschool. I did not know that her stepdad was molesting her. She was very quiet in school and I even spent nights in her house with this man. She only first told me when we were grown. This messed her mind up!! She has gone to rehab a few times and now she is doing well just as long as she does not have a drink.
Yes! My dad was a former chain smoker, alcoholic and a cock fight gambler but he just changed now. Aside from having symptomatic manifestation of heart disease what really pushed him to change is his WILLINGNESS to do so. It applies to everybody I guess, when you feel like there is something wrong to your body and feel like dying, you would do everything to save your life. Those are the movers why he changed and move closer to the Lord. After he watched an evangelical program, he just change all of the sudden, he had the couraged to stopped smoking, drinking and gambling all at once.
I have something similar with my friend, he is a smoke addicted just like me, one day we was running and then we stopped because both of us start coughing, we couldn't even breathe because of smoking, since then we decided to stop it, and we started supporting each other, and successfully he didn't smoke for 2 months for now, I'm really happy for him but really sad for my self because I just couldn't stop as him