The first time he set foot in Renascent’s Paul J. Sullivan Centre (Sullivan Centre), “I had no idea what I was getting into,” Bill Smith admits. He came to Renascent having relapsed after four and a half years of recovery – the result, he says, of “lots of meetings and no Steps.” “I was sober … Continued
“The first time I went to treatment was fun, but I didn’t learn too much,” Elliot admits. Prior to Renascent, “my big goal was hitting 90 days,” they say. “I wasn’t able to do it. I was 83 days in when it crossed my mind to have a drink and I gave in. What I … Continued
A stranger at a drop-in centre changed Lynn Evans’ life. “I was homeless, jobless, and using any money I had to support my habit,” Lynn recalls. “And one day at a drop-in centre, a woman suggested that maybe I needed to look at my life from a different angle. I was always waiting for things … Continued
By Max M., Renascent Alumni Step 11 of the 12-step recovery program encourages people to reach out to God and to accept that God has a plan for their life. Today, I know this Step is the most important part of my program. But early in my recovery, I told my sponsor “I can’t get … Continued
By: Douglas, Renascent Alumni I had a lot of difficulty coming to believe I was worthy of sobriety. I could believe the 12-step program could work for others but not for me. Through working The Steps with another person who works The Steps I became Humble enough to know my worthiness. I thank God for … Continued
“It’s never too late to pursue your passion, and it’s definitely not about the ‘stuff’.” That’s the mantra Eileen Starkman lives by, and one she shares frequently as a counsellor in Renascent’s Virtual Intensive Treatment Program. It’s a dream job for the mother of two, who has been in recovery since 2006. Despite her conviction, … Continued
By Gary, Renascent Alumni Step 10: Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it. This Step has been and continues to be a crucial part in my recovery. My sponsor was key in guiding me through Step 10. It has been a game changer me! It’s a Step I … Continued
By Jack, Renascent Alumni, March 8 – April 12, 2022 What have I done? Who have I become? Look at all this money I owe. What does my wife think of me? Many of the feelings and thoughts we have in early recovery are filled with shame, regret, and remorse. It’s hard to find things … Continued
By Logan Freeman, person in recovery What is mental illness stigma? In relation to mental illness, stigma is when someone is marked or discredited somehow, or reduced from being a whole person to being a stereotype or labeled as a collection of symptoms or a diagnosis (e.g. ‘psychotic’). The meaning of the word stigma is … Continued
After being in active addiction for five years, Keaton become desperate for help. “For the longest time I was in complete denial. It didn’t matter that addiction led me to institutions. Though that was where I gave up – in prison,” shares Keaton candidly. “I put my hands up and said I can’t quit on … Continued
