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So thankful for all the help and support I am getting

Posted By squatmq64

"So thankful for all the help and support I am getting"

About: HMP Grendon / Substance Misuse Service

(as a service user),

I have been coming in an out of prison for over 30 odd years, since I was 15 years old, I am now 53 years old, though my drinking was out of hand on the outside, I am not blaming all my drinking on my crimes, a lot of it is down to myself where I should have got help and stopped drinking but at the time i was not in the right mind frame to stop.

Through all my times in and out of prison I have been offered help with my drinking problem, but have always said no I don't have a drinking problem, how wrong was I.

Through coming to Grendon to do Therapeutic Community and reliving my life from when I was a child came to the understanding that my drinking was so out of hand on the outside that is why I have been working with the DART Team here.

My DART worker Eleni is very good at what she does, she gave me so much help and support and listened to all the crap I have gone through with my drinking days, she also takes time out to ask us about our day which is a big help to us inmates here, someone to give us support is a very big help and means a lot.

I know in my won mind if I am ever let out of prison with the support and books I have read here I will never drink again, because I know hitting the bottle out there will put me back in prison or end up dead and thats not happening.

I have been off the drink for over 9 years now and my body and mind feel so clear for the first time in years, I wish I would of sought help years ago, that way I think I would not of been sat here now, but I was set in my ways where I did not want help and would of not give up drinking, I did not think it would of helped me but how wrong was I.

I have hurt so many people through my drinking days, my family, my friends, who say I am a lot better person without drink in me. Plus I want to spend time with my children and grandchildren, that is another reason why I will never drink or hurt anyone ever again.

When I look back on my life there was never anything good about my drinking days, all my drinking days have ever done to me is get me locked up, but them days are over now.

I am just so thankful for all the help and support I am getting.

Thank you

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Responses

Response from Pete Thompson, Team Leader, HMP Grendon & HMP Springhill, Inclusion 6 months ago
Pete Thompson
Team Leader, HMP Grendon & HMP Springhill,
Inclusion

Submitted on 14/02/2025 at 15:08
Published on Care Opinion at 15:28

Thank you for taking the time to compile such a powerful reflection on your previous relationship with alcohol. It's clear the impact it had on you, your life and the relationships around you was profound.

It's also clear that, over time, you've come to reflect and realise alcohol can no longer be a part of your life for many reasons. Arriving at Grendon appears to have further clarified your thinking.

DART are really happy we've been able to support you in in your attempts to embed the changes in your life which are necessary for your recovery. It's great to hear how much help and support Eleni, your DART worker, has given you.

You mention how Eleni has "listened to all the crap I have gone through with my drinking days, she also takes time out to ask us about our day which is a big help to us inmates here, someone to give us support is a very big help and means a lot".

Being listened to and heard can be a really positive experience and it's clear it has helped you to be proactive and to put practical plans in place to remain substance free in the future.

Best wishes,

Grendon DART

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