Jane, 19
When I first came to Aislinn I was broken mentally, physically but most of all emotionally. The two big red doors scared me. I felt - what’s the point?
I’m 19 now and I had tried drug treatment before. I had no idea how my life would change. I had no self-esteem or confidence and I didn’t know who I was. I had lost all the trust in my family by lying about relapsing.
I had gone into my own world where nothing mattered; not even me. I couldn’t tell anyone about me and what I had done so I tried to sit back and hope no body would find the real me.
But I was noticed and I talked about my addiction and related to everyone in some way, I was no longer alone. So I opened up more and did my step one. This was reality for me; what I had done not only to myself but also to everyone around me. For the first time in my life I was totally honest with my Mum. When I saw the destruction I had caused I knew I couldn’t go back. I could only try and go forward. So I worked the rest of the steps.
Step 4 was the first time I had seen every inch of my life laid out before me, and reading it was the biggest release of my life. Everything about Aislinn is amazing.
I now have self-respect, confidence, awareness and I’m glad to be me. For the first time I feel wanted and I’ve come to learn that I can’t go through life hating people. Praying and meditating has given me so much peace inside. The staff and peers have helped me see that life can be brilliant without drink and drugs, and when I go home nothing will have changed apart from me and that makes all the difference.
Today is only the beginning of a long road ahead of me and thanks to Aislinn I’m willing and determined nothing in this life can bring you down unless you let it.