The Journey that Changed My Life
Golden opportunities sometimes come to us in the moments we need them most. It is up to us to take advantage of these opportunities and make the most of them. This opportunity, the chance to truly change my life and to be free from my addiction to drugs and alcohol, was found at Narconon Suncoast. The program saved me from the grasp of a life previously filled with negativity and despair. I experienced unprecedented growth and change. I was given a second chance at life itself and was armed with the tools to succeed and live a life of happiness.
When I first came to the program a few months ago, I was under the spell associated with alcohol. I lost all of my direction in life, lost my moral compass, lost my love for life, lost my zeal and vitality. I was merely a shell of my former, sober self. I was stuck in the past, memories flooded my mind, and in a figurative sense, I was spinning my wheels in a sea of mud.
The first step of the program, Withdrawal, was a time to recover mentally and physically from the effects of the substances that had taken a hold of me. I supplied my body with nutrition—vitamins, and supplements that allowed me to feel normal again. Through various drills, I started to be able to focus on the world around me and appreciate what was happening in present time in the environment and I later understood the importance of being in the present and confronting my problems. The ability to do this and to face what I was going through was a powerful experience. This success has stayed with me throughout the entire program and I feel I’ve mastered some very powerful tools.
In the next steps of the program—the New Life Detoxification and Objectives—I was introduced to the concept of having a clear body and a clear mind. The sauna was where I rid my body of the effects of toxins; not only from alcohol but also drugs and other toxins and even though it had been a while since I last drank. I resolved to never drink again. I could smell the alcohol as it came out of me and the thought that I smelled like that was repulsive,
One day in the sauna, the most amazing thing happened: a sudden mental clarity came over me. I don’t just mean clarity in thought, but the fog of the effects of years of substance abuse was non-existent. What am amazing feeling this was!
Doing the Objectives was a powerful journey as well. I was able to regain abilities I had lost because of alcohol use. I learned to regain control of what I was doing, to be in the present and to be able to let go of the things that held me back. The wins gained through Objectives were further enhanced by the overall clarity and vitality I got from the sauna program.
The next step of the program, Life Skills, was indeed an eye-opening experience. First of all, I learned how to spot people in my life who were either helpful to my survival and those who were not. Then I was given the chance to take responsibility for the wrongdoings of my past and to make amends for them. All in all, I truly now have a clear body and a clear mind!
“Today, I am free from addiction, I am a new person and my life is full of hope. I have a new direction in life and my morals and ethics are restored.”
As I said at the outset, golden opportunities come to us in the moments we need them most. What I gained from this program was indeed the opportunity of a lifetime. Today, I am free from addiction, I am a new person and my life is full of hope. I have a new direction in life and my morals and ethics are restored.
I have learned to appreciate and love myself. My body and mind are clear. I am truly free from my past and I am responsible for my future. I am restored physically and I feel brand-new, mentally and emotionally. I am proactive and mindful of my environment.
One summer is all it took to change my life forever.
A.D.—Narconon Suncoast Graduate
