"CGL saved my life"

Due to various issues in my life I became dependent on alcohol. I had attempted to stop drinking on occasions but it was very half hearted. I was lying to myself and everyone around me. By chance I was made aware of CGL. I was very reluctant to refer myself to them. My Wife did it for me. She had had enough. My recovery with CGL was delayed due to my son being involved in a very serious accident which put him in a coma for three months. However I attended a couple of meetings with a keyworker and nurse and my recovery was set for October 10. I was to attend a Two week detox at the North Hub. I took a ‘last’ drink just before 9 o’clock the night before. The days before I started CGL my symptoms were severe. Anxiety and depression. Not eating. Constantly being sick. Not interested in anything.Constant heaving. No sleep. Trembling and profusely sweating and shaking.I was a mess.

On day one I was welcomed by two of the friendliest and most wonderful nurses. I was breathalysed and had my blood pressure taken. I answered some questions. I was then taken to the classroom. There were four of us in attendance. I could easily have walked out that first day. Why was I here? What was the point of sitting here all day? I don’t know how much I took in on day one. But I do remember learning something really important. If you look after number one (yourself) then you can start looking after those around you. Before I left I was once again breathalysed and checked over. I took the tablets I had been given that day on the evening and chose not to drink. I had gone one day without a drink.

The following days followed the same pattern. Each day we learned something new. I was now understanding addiction. It was beginning to make sense. My peers were now my friends (and still are). We were all in the same boat. My Tutor was in recovery. We were all in it together. By understanding my addiction I was now understanding the solution to it. We all graduated on that last day. We were all sad that our detox programme had ended. It was on to the day programme.

The day programme was between 4 to 12 weeks. I ran the full course. Not perhaps out of necessity but I learned to realise the importance of connections. ( connection is the opposite to addiction). By talking to your peers you pick up so much useful information. I watched people grow on the day programme. Someone could come on for the first time in a darkened room hardly speaking and six weeks later they would hardly shut up. To watch this is so inspiring. People would be patting each other on the back one minute then rallying around to pick someone up off the floor another time. To listen to people’s success stories can only motivate you to carry on. Everything about the day programme was positive. I looked forward to it. The learning from the detox programme continued. From the Get Connected Stay Connected sessions I went on day conferences on two occasions meeting people from other Hubs and people from the day programme. I did the Cannon Hill park walk on a couple of occasions. Again meeting people off the day programme for the first time. I had a weeks day course with Intuitive Thinking which I was put forward for by CGL. It was fantastic. I learned how my Brain is working and thinking whilst I’m addicted. I still use the Tools I learned. 

To summarise, CGL saved my life. Today I would not be here without their support. I was a danger to myself and others. For example falling over on a major road whilst attempting to cross it. Smashing up my bike (and myself). Being walked home by two unfortunate homeless people. I was a seizure waiting to happen. I could go on. This is why I have no hesitation in saying that CGL saved my life.

I realised within a week of detox that my health was improving. I began eating again. Within two weeks I was interested again. I had my haircut for the first time in weeks. My family were starting to praise me. My life was becoming ‘normal’. During the course of the day programme I started taking pride in myself again. My motivation to do things came back to me. My biggest change is I’ve got my honesty back. The worse thing with addiction is the lies and deceit.

I have deliberately not named anyone in my story. That’s because in my experience everyone at CGL does a top rate fantastic job and it would be unfair to mention anyone by name. Even when I walked around the North Hub, people from CGL whom I didn’t know or have dealings with would ask me how I was getting on. No one judges you. You just feel at home. 

As I write this I am now 108 days without a drink. For the first time in fifteen years my blood pressure is normal. I have my life and my family back. CGL thank you from the bottom of my heart.