For Jeffrey, rock bottom came following a medical emergency. He suffered two seizures while at work – the result, he says, of epilepsy aggravated by too much alcohol and not taking his medications.
“I knew I needed help,” he says, “and I decided to reach out to my family. Within 24 hours my parents had travelled to me and offered their support. We started researching what resources are available, and we found Renascent. It had lot of good reviews and came highly recommended by a friend of the family. I also liked that it offered a male-only program.”
In the four weeks before he was able to start the program, Jeffrey says he detoxed with the support of his parents. While necessary, “It was hell,” he recalls. “I would never recommend that anyone try this without professional help.”
When he arrived at Renascent, attending the 35-day inpatient program was a “different” experience, Jeffrey says. “I’ve been on my own for a long time,” he reflects, “and sharing spaces with other people was new to me. I met many people with different life experiences and different skills.
And the counsellors were fantastic. I don’t have a bad thing to say about any of them.”
Jeffrey credits one of his counsellors with helping him access the spiritual aspect of his recovery. “I had a very hard time with the whole ‘God thing,’ the idea of a higher power,” he shares. “That was probably the hardest thing, until I talked to a counsellor and we figured something out.”
He also credits his counsellors with helping him plan for life after treatment. “It was from a counsellor that I learned there was so much more help out there for after Renascent,” he says. The knowledge came as a relief, because he “knew two weeks into the program that there was no way I could go right back to work. I knew I would just fall back into my old routines,” he says. “I was referred to a sober living home, where I met more helpful counsellors and also my sponsor.”
Since leaving treatment, Jeffrey has made it a priority to continue making decisions that support his recovery. He lives in addiction supportive housing, attends meetings, talks to his sponsor, is active in the recovery community and accesses a range of supports that help him maintain his new life.
“I’ve learned that I have to start loving myself before I can love other people,” he shares, “and, while I didn’t think this would be the case at the time, meditation has been helpful for me. Finding the right sponsor has made a huge difference, too.” He also has supportive friends and family, including the counsellors he has met throughout his journey. “I would not be here without them,” he reflects, noting that they have each played a role in his ongoing recovery.
Eighteen months later, “I continue working on my recovery with the goal of being a functioning member of society and, at some point, being able to help others with their recovery,” Jeffrey says. His experience has shown him that recovery is not just about overcoming immediate challenges, but also about building a lasting support system. As he continues to focus on his wellbeing, he has come to realize that reaching out and staying connected to others in recovery is crucial to his long-term success.
“There is so much help out there,” he asserts, noting that in many cases, subsidized options are available. “Detox, treatment, sober living houses, online programs, in-person meetings … help is there, if you want it,” he emphasizes.
“You don’t have to do this by yourself.”
