"The whole team were welcoming and compassionate."

I started drinking in my early teens. just the occasional small drink on events such as Christmas, birthdays etc.

However over time I started drinking spirits at the weekends as a sort of reward for school/college work. Then, with the stress of exams and home life weighing on my shoulders, I started to use drink more frequently and thus began a downhill spiral in my mid/late teens of daily drinking and deteriorating mental health. 

This formed a negative habit of picking up an excessive amount of alcohol, which as a depressant clashed with my anti-depressant medications.

For a long while i was in denial, considering it as a 'teenage normality' i first reached out to my local GP who referred me to my local mental health worker who was brilliant and helped me address my problem and put together a safety plan. She then provided me with a family-liaison worker who was one of the most perseverant people I have ever had the pleasure of receiving help from.

Within our weekly meetings, together, we looked through different websites and organisations we found ORB (One Recovery Buckinghamshire) who have a few branches in different Counties. After many one to one sessions and Inclusion groups at my local hub. My case for funding went to a council panel meeting and I was accepted.

Although there was around 4 months of waiting for a detox space to open up I finally got the date for admission into the fabulous place Dame Carol Black Detox Centre. I cannot fault this place. The whole team nurses and supporting staff were so welcoming and compassionate. 

After just a couple of days of anxiety felt quite at home. I was very well looked after here for the 14 days I was there. I had my own room and bathroom, was well fed and had all the support anyone could ask for. They made my withdrawal symptoms minimal and very comfortable/bearable.