The park The sea Wellbeing Click on the quotes to read full stories “After many years of ‘normal’ drinking, exacerbated by cocaine I was functioning but not present. It took a massive relationship breakdown which my ‘habit’ was blamed for that made me see what hold it had on my life and others around me. Let alone the money I was spending on it all. I had hit rock bottom and enough was enough”. My best friend was stabbed and killed by a rival gang and I think this was the trigger that pushed me into heroin. I had been dealing it for a while but I’d never used it personally. I started smoking it from the age of 16 and from then on, I was hooked. I started to inject 3 months later, that’s when it really started to go downhill and I realised I was in trouble. Looking back, I think I had a problem when I was in the army, that was when the drinking really started, it was just part of the culture. Then around 6 years ago I finally realised it had become a real problem. I’d hit rock bottom and my daughter said to me if I don’t do something you’re not going to see your grandchildren and they mean everything to me. I was in a very dark place and I knew I had to sort myself out. That’s when I walked into ESRA”. I was choosing alcohol over my family and my kids and I was not getting from the drink what I thought I needed. It wasn’t solving my problems as I thought but creating them and I was really scared”. “Looking back, I think I had a problem when I was in the army, that was when the drinking really started, it was just part of the culture. Then around 6 years ago I finally realised it had become a real problem. I’d hit rock bottom and my daughter said to me if I don’t do something you’re not going to see your grandchildren and they mean everything to me. I was in a very dark place and I knew I had to sort myself out. That’s when I walked into ESRA”. ESRA has helped me a lot. I get so much benefit from sharing other people’s stories in recovery. It reminds me of how far I’ve come and not to be complacent. I’ve done activities and courses that I would never have attempted without the support of ESRA. I’ve met a lot of people who are going through similar situations that I can totally relate to. It’s so supportive here.
