"Privileged to have been supported here"

I began suffering with mental health problems many years ago. I always drank a bit more than I should but over the past six months my mental health got increasingly and severely worse. I started to ‘medicate’ myself with alcohol and before I knew it I was drinking three bottles of wine a day, hiding alcohol from my family and not being honest with them. This went on for months and I made myself poorly. It took a lot of courage to admit that I needed help but I did because my beautiful family are so important to me and I wouldn’t have lived if I carried on the way I did.

I made the first steps and looked for any help possible. Naturally I started with my GP and she was able to give me lots of information, I was told about the East Riding Partnership and contacted them, they promptly got me an appointment and I was assigned a key worker who supported me from the start. We discussed what the first steps would be, regular contact with her, keeping alcohol diaries and attending group sessions. When it could be seen that I was compliant with all of this my key worker contacted Aspire inpatient detox centre in Doncaster and within a few weeks I was given a place there.

I was apprehensive to start with but it is a very lovely safe space. Obviously I began with alcohol withdrawal symptoms but the staff medicate you safely and accordingly to manage that and monitor you very closely to keep you safe. Eventually I was weened off the withdrawal medication until I didn’t need it.

There are group sessions every day Monday to Friday, yes lots of talking and exploring feelings but also activities such as arts and crafts, working on the allotment, going for walks etc. You are not forced to go to any groups but it was the best thing I did. You don’t have to speak if you don’t want to, you can just listen. Remember that every single person on the detox program has an addiction, they are all where you are and it can be really refreshing to talk to people really honestly about your journey. Everything is confidential be that in group work or if you are having a one on one chat.

I have met some amazing people whilst I have been in here, we are all from different walks of life but all have this one thing in common. I have made friends, everybody in my experience truly supported each other.

The staff, I don’t know where to start, every single one of them have been amazing, they understand and they care. Nothing is too much trouble for them and I don’t think I came across one member of staff that didn’t have a smile on their face.

I feel so privileged that I got the opportunity to be here and really kick start my alcohol free journey.

Thank you Aspire.