Hi, I'm Donald from New York and this is how the begining of a new life in a rehabilitation program worked for me.

I was living a life of denial, stubborness and the unwillingness to both seek and listen to the advise of others to deal with my disease of Alcoholism. I was living a relatively good life with a great family. I was sure that I would be able to shake my addiction, but time after time I found myself back where I started. Finally, after more than a decade I admitted defeat. After weighing out my options and getting "real" with myself, I decided an in-patient rehab program is what I would need to help get started in this lifetime battle.

After doing some homework, I chose a treatment center in Orange County California. I spent my entire 53+ years only seeing the East Coast, so why not Surf City. I have always found some serenity being by the water, and I did not want to be too close to home for more than one reason. My goal was to learn how not to drink. Yes I was reluctant and greatly saddened to leave my family, but this is something I needed to do for myself so I would be able to be there for my family in the future.

After a six hour flight I was greeted by three people to welcome me and tend to my luggage, I later found out they were Alumni of the program I was about to begin. I soon learned that all the people that would help me in my recovery were Alcoholics with various lengths of sobriety. They were alcoholics helping another Alcoholic get well.

The next morning I attened my first AA meeting, which was only a short ride from the home in which I was living. I was made to feel quite welcome, and soon found out there were an awfull lot of recovering alcoholics willing to help the new comer, and by helping others they would be helping themselves. Believe it or not, it all started to make sense.

After just a couple of days I was going out to help sick alcoholics get a place to sleep, eat and be safe. As newcomers arrived at the rehab I was able to make them feel comfortable and welcome. I felt good just being able to help in some small way. I began to understand some simple concepts: Don"t Drink and Help yourself by helping others.

We would have group sessions where we would talk out our past situations and learn to rethink ourselves and our lives. I would be able to see so many of my faults through the faults of others. There was plenty of room for improvement and I for one was ready for change. for myself going to many AA meetings was very instrumental to my recovery. I attened all types of meetings in many locations. I enjoyed music meetings, meditation meetings and even meetings on the beach. Each of these types were giving the alcoholic a different view on the road to sobriety,and different coping skills to deal with everyday life. One of the greatest tools we can use is a simple phone call to another alcoholic when we just simply need to talk our way through a situation.

Many alcoholics are under the impression you can't have fun without being intoxicated. All of us in this rehab now know different. While here we would take trips to the beach,go surfing if you care to.I went fishing, and took a day trip to Catalina by helicopter. there was work to be done, but you also need a life while going through this amazing change in our lives.

I'm writing this on my 30th day of sobriety, and I'm certainly not a writer, in fact this is the most writing I've done in many years. I am now thirsty for anything I can learn from the newcomer and especially from the Blessed seasoned individuals enjoying many years of sobriety. I'll be leaving rehab soon with God watching over me, with the tools I've aquired which I will be ready to use. there is a whole different aspect of recovery which I won't go into right now, I'll just say this: There is a God out there who is always there for all of us. For the alcoholic he comes to us in the form of another alcoholic. I now pray everyday that I may be of service to others and thank God for this wonderfull gift of sobriety. Let Go and Let God

Thanks For Letting Me Share,
Donald

I personally never thought I would live this long to tell the story of my alcohol and drug addiction. My life was like this for 26 years. Today I no longer need a chemical to cover up my feelings. Sometimes life can be rough but drugs and alcohol took me to a place I will call hell; I never want to visit again.

Today with the help of people like Michael at Connor Ranch they tought me and showed me I never have to live like that again. When my family gave up on me after all of my incarcerations and hospitalizations, I felt helpless and hopeless and also became homeless. Today I work a program of recovery taught by others who have walked before me and my life has changed dramatically. Today I work with others as I like to call it "pay it forward".

There is still so many suffering and they need others in 12 steps programs and treatment centers to teach them tools for recovery and coping skills to walk through life with the grace and dignity we all deserve. If I meet another alcohalic or addict I will treat them with empathy, congruance, and uncoditional postivie regard because I know where they have been. And I know where they can go if they just accept this help that is so freely given.

Always and forever grateful,
Peggy

Today I am a 50 year old grandmom of two. Fourteen years ago I was a heroin addict, alcoholic and I would put any other drug that I could possibly find into my system. Today I am a drug and alcohol counselor. Today I try to help people through the pain of their own addictions. I try to exemplify certain traits in my life and in my profession. In order to come this far in my life I had to experience homelessness, helplessness, loneliness, and despair.

If there is anyone out there who ever felt this way or still currently does, I want to let you know there is a chance for you and there is help to be sought. In order for you to obtain help you have to be open and willing and follow a few simple suggestions that could save your life. As for me, I entered ten detoxifications, three treatment facilities, and numerous '12-step programs'.

None of these courses of treatment helped me until I became completely and totally honest with myself and others. Bottom line I needed help. And I need to totally change my way of living. Though the help of Connor Ranch, I am now committed to living my life to its fullest potential, rather then settling for mere existence.

Today, I pray to remain genuine, sincere and honest. I have not forgotten how to laugh as I keep the events in my life in prospective. I work to always live in the present so that I may always have a great future. With the education and processing I have learned to have a sincere interest in the welfare of others as well as myself. I pray for the alcoholic and addict who still suffers, and I want them to know that there is a better life then the one that they are currently trapped in by their addiction.

Michael the director of Connor Ranch, has helped me recognize my own strengths and helped me discover what was preventing me from living a happy, healthy, and clean life. Today I live and work with empathy, congruence, and unconditional positive regard for myself and others. I will forever remain grateful to Connor Ranch

Thank you for all your love and support,
Grandmom

I live in Pa; I use to live in California where I became severly addicted to amphetimines. I lost everything in my life, if that's what you call even having a life, whole life; including my mind. I got the help I needed at Connor Ranch Treatment Center where I learned to live life without drugs. I lost everything, and I really could think of no reason not to kill myself. An old friend of mine told me of a place in Huntington Beach. I figured why not what else do I have to lose. I was one of the fortunate ones who is still clean and sober today after 2 years..

Thank You Connor Ranch for my life,
Patty

I have not a problem with alcohol or drugs...But my Mother was alcoholic ... I know what that can do on the children, the family, the life. I couldn't help him ... My mother didn't want my help nor the help of someone else. Today I want to help people who are a problem, I know what that can do on people. Everyone can go out of their addiction, everybody! I want to say my congratulations to everyone who is out of their addiction ... and who want to cure. Keep trust in yourself!

Good Luck! and Take Care,
Carina

My name is Johnny Q. and I have been addicted to alcohol and heroin for 35 years. I've been to several rehabs across the country. I would stay in treatment for sometimes 1-5 days and then discharge AMA.

My life has always been so miserable. I had to drink when I got up in the morning just so I wouldn't shake so bad when I used a needle to inject my heroin. My life has been hell, every day of my life. My family disowned me time and time again. They would only come see me when the hospital ER Room would call them saying he has only a few days to live because my body would shut down.

I was a wonderful kid at age 2-12. I loved sports and dirt racing and all the normal things a youngster would do and play. I just met a bad kid when I was 13 and he showed me how to drink and how to do pot. That was the first day of HELL for me and it lasted for many years. I went to jail, lived on the streets, stayed in cars or anywhere I could fall asleep. One day a miracle happened. This man who worked at a program called Seashore Rehab walked up to me and said "hello there, do you want to be messed up on booze and heroin forever. I told him to quit messing with me. He said he was serious and that he could help me to change my life forever.

I said sure I do. I told him I have been to lots of treatment programs but I always left them. He asked me to promise him I would stay 1 week without giving up and leaving, so I did. He took me to this cool drug treatment facility he owned and signed me in. By the grace of god his staff invited my mom to just come peek at me in treatment, I had signed this consent form on admission and put down my mom's name. I never knew she was there nor did I find out that she paid for 60 days treatment.

I stayed and got sober and touched my inner self one day. I remembered the old young kid named Johnny and stayed sober ever since. My mom had come by week after week during my stay but never said hi nor did I know she was there. Seashore Rehab Program showed me how to get sober and clean and stay that way. I have two years clean. I have to say that every bit of the reason I'm clean is due to the style and concern for treatment Seashore Rehab has and offers. Seashore Rehab saved my life.

THANK YOU!!
Johnny Q.