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So excited about the next chapter

Posted By lanbf44

"So excited about the next chapter"

About: CGL Birmingham / Central & West Hub

(as a service user),

I have been in and out of services for the last 27 years. I have completed multiple detoxes over the years. I've realised now that none of the detoxes were successful because it wasn't me that made the choice. This last detox was my decision and I also realised that aftercare is a must(!) If I didn't do all the courses and work around recovery I wouldn't still be abstinent. 

The support I have received has been paramount to my recovery, my worker believed in me even when I didn't, validating my feelings and working with me to achieve my goals, understanding addiction isn't just about the substance but the trauma etc that lies beneath. When I was at the point where I went to my worker and asked for support in a detox, she worked hard to support me and get me in detox as soon as possible. I feel it is very important to have a good relationship with your worker, in the past I haven't (this could also be down to changes in my personality through active addiction) and it is almost felt that I was working against the worker. 

I feel like I've almost suffered a loss leaving the services, however it's far from the end of the story, just the end of the chapter as I am writing a new ending for my story and am so excited about the next chapter. I'm studying to become an addiction support worker myself. something six months ago I never would of thought possible. 

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Responses

Response from Lydia Broom, Service User Involvement Lead, The Service User Involvement Team, Change Grow Live Birmingham 2 months ago
Lydia Broom
Service User Involvement Lead, The Service User Involvement Team,
Change Grow Live Birmingham

Submitted on 22/05/2025 at 14:50
Published on Care Opinion at 14:50

picture of Lydia Broom

Dear lanbf44

Thank you for getting in touch with us.

My name is Lydia and I am responsible for listening and responding to people’s feedback.

On reading about your experiences, I feel as though your story highlights some really important points including how motivation to change needs to come from within, and how crucial aftercare is within somebody’s journey.

It was so lovely to read your kind words about your worker and how they showed belief in you when you lack this yourself. It sounds like they had an extremely compassionate approach to supporting you, and that they had that crucial understanding that substance use is merely the symptom of underlying issues.

It sounds as though you have really put a lot of hard work into not just achieving abstinence, but maintaining it too. I hope you feel incredibly proud of all that you have achieved. I am sure that if you approach your studies with the same levels of motivation and determination that you have already shown in your recovery, you will achieve all of your goals and the new chapter in your life that you have planned out will come to fruition.

I have shared your story and feedback with the team from our Central & West Hub, which was appreciated by all.

I genuinely wish you all the best in your continued recovery, and thank you once again for reaching out to us.

Take care and best wishes,

Lydia

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