By Gabriel, Renascent Alumni My entire life I felt I did not belong anywhere. I felt like the outsider, the one hiding amongst everyone else. I felt like I lived a double life. Only free to truly be myself when I was alone. I felt that it took me more effort to get to a … Continued
Having been in recovery for more than 8 years and an addictions counsellor for over 7 of those years, Renascent’s Martha Williams has supported hundreds of people in creating a new life without drugs and alcohol. “My recovery is my lifestyle and has been built around certain things that I MUST do,” says Martha. “I … Continued
“I crashed. I literally crashed and I burned.” That’s how Silja describes the moment she knew she had a problem. The next challenge, she recalls, was knowing where to go for help. She opened her phone book to the yellow pages and started making calls. Eventually she found a detox centre that had a bed … Continued
By Mike H., Renascent Alumni I didn’t expect to pick up a newcomer’s chip. In fact, an hour earlier, I didn’t even know that these chips existed or that this was the way newbies could introduce themselves to a network of support. Rising to my feet, still hungover and dehydrated, my head felt light and … Continued
I wondered how I would be able to celebrate Christmas (my fav time of the year) without it being the same as every other year. How would we wake up that morning without having Dad be a part of it, like every other year growing up? How would my brother and I open our stockings … Continued
By Charles McMulkin, Spiritual Care Counsellor, Renascent Every person’s spiritual journey is unique. Regardless of one’s personal beliefs, Christmas is a season that lends itself to spiritual rebirth and growth. Depending on your own spiritual journey you may accept the Christmas story, or believe the whole thing is a fairy tale that never happened. Either … Continued
By Michael Lochran, Director of Programs and Operations, Renascent For many of us the winter months of December and January bring with them the holiday season. If you are celebrating Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Christmas, the New Year, or any of the other dozens of holidays from all faiths and cultures, the holiday season means celebration, observances … Continued
By Brendan Z., Renascent Alumni The Twelfth Step presents us with the principle of Service. I found myself around my 6-month marker feeling anxious that while I was working through the Steps in their order as it was suggested, I felt I should already be of service to the program and others. Alcoholics Anonymous and … Continued
By Sue, Renascent Alumni My journey to Step 1 began many years ago and resulted in many failures because, I never “admitted that (I) was powerless over alcohol and that (my) life had become unmanageable”. I could control my drinking. I could get up and go to work in the morning despite the hangovers. I … Continued
For almost 16 years Olga had been using drugs and alcohol before she began treatment at Renascent’s Graham Munro Treatment Centre. “I couldn’t grasp the idea of sobriety – it scared me,” says Olga. “I didn’t know how to live daily life in such a way that would bring me joy, and I didn’t know … Continued
