"Inclusion Aldershot - a journey I'm sharing with others"

I self-referred to Inclusion last October (2020) so have been supported by the service for about a year now. My drinking had been creeping up steadily over the years, with the occasional periods of sobriety, but had really become a problem I realised I wasn’t going to solve on my own, and didn’t fancy being in the same position in a couple of years time when I hit 50. I’d tried the online group, OYNB (One Year No Beer) during 2020 but due to its large size had found it quite impersonal and difficult to connect with.

After an initial chat with the service to find out about my background, I was assigned Pete as my key worker and I joined his Monday morning Stepping Stones group. That session has become a real anchor for me over the past year. Whilst it provides a weekly check-in point and anchor to be accountable to, for me it’s been much more than that. The understanding and non-judgemental nature of those attending, because they really get where you’re coming from, means it’s much easier to be really open and honest without feeling embarrassed. I’ve come to understand there’s no quick fix and it’s a journey I’m sharing with others in the group, and as such we help each other with tips of what’s worked (and not!) for each other, useful books to read, and sometimes just kind words and virtual hugs of encouragement when we’ve messed up and need to pick ourselves back up.

For me, it’s helpful being on-line at the moment, because I’m still able to work and would find getting to face-to-face sessions quite challenging, but I like that we’re all local because some of the ideas of support we have can be things like – have you tried a particular gym, or gone for a walk to explore somewhere. We’re a diverse group, from a variety of backgrounds, which is indicative of how alcohol isn’t choosy about who it can affect, but and while the reason why we’re all there is quite a serious one, it can often be quite fun and informal – leaving you feeling more positive about the week, or determined to try something different or to challenge yourself in a small way.

I’ve only really touched on the Stepping Stones group, but the offerings Inclusion have reached further than that, supporting different needs. The Small Goals group on a Thursday afternoon is helpful for planning for the weekend, and the course on a Tuesday evening provided helpful insights and structured ways of tackling unhelpful behaviours that sabotage your good intentions.

Today is my 25th day without a drink, which I very much doubt I’d have achieved without the support of Inclusion, but that’s still early days and I recognise I need the group more than ever to help me help me maintain this momentum.