I Regained Confidence in Myself – Now 15 Years Sober

 

I was born in Lawton, Oklahoma, and grew up in California. My life was pretty good. I had a stable childhood with married parents who gave me a good upbringing. One of the happiest moments of my life was being accepted into college. It helped me feel that I had succeeded — that I had achieved going through kindergarten and graduating high school. When I received my acceptance letter to a college in Colorado, my parents were very proud, and I felt great.

When I turned 21, I started abusing alcohol. I had friends who also turned 21 within a few months of me, and we started going out to bars and drinking. This quickly accelerated into consuming large amounts of alcohol, and I ended up dropping out of college. I continued working but would try to balance my job with going out drinking. After five years of this, I had lost a lot.

I had a couple of relationships that ended abruptly or in sad ways because I chose alcohol over them. It affected my ability to work — I struggled to go to work and be on time. Eventually, I got a DUI, and because my BAC was very high, it was treated as a more serious criminal charge. I was told that if I didn’t seek help, I would go to jail. So, I chose to get help, and one of the programs recommended by the prosecutor was Narconon. Unfortunately, it took something traumatic like that to push me to make the decision.

I showed up at Narconon Arrowhead thinking it would be like jail, but it definitely wasn’t. It was more like summer camp — but with a certain amount of seriousness. We had come in for a reason, and it was our responsibility to get through it without blaming the world or others.

The staff were very welcoming, and many of them had been through the program themselves, so they were able to guide us.

Going through, each step of the program was its own success. It was like completing different levels of reflection, and it helped me feel good. It was nice to have encouragement all the way from detox to the end of the program.

I was able to meet people from all over who also struggled with addiction, which helped me feel less alone. I think people with addiction sometimes find it hard to get along with others, but as I went through the program with them, it helped me feel like they were succeeding and I was too.

Toward the end of the program, I was able to rebuild confidence in myself — that I was capable and didn’t need alcohol in my life.

My perception of myself changed. I had, had the viewpoint that it was me against world. I had to go through and recognize the things that weren’t conducive to my well-being and stop blaming the world or others. I learned to be present, deal with the trauma in the past that led me to that state, and take responsibility for my own stability.

Graduating was excellent. It was something I accomplished for myself, and it also encouraged others to continue on — they could see that it was possible.

“I’ve been sober for 15 years. I completed college, got a good job, met my wife, and now have a great relationship. My proudest accomplishment is that I now have a partner to share my life with.”

When I left, I didn’t go back to drinking. I’ve been sober for 15 years. I completed college, got a good job, met my wife, and now have a great relationship. My proudest accomplishment is that I now have a partner to share my life with.

My relationship with my family is excellent now. I finally have a full plate of connections and good-standing relationships, free of conflict or bitterness. Before, I was always in conflict and blaming others. They cared about me, and it hurt them to see me not caring.

Narconon was the only rehab I ever went to, and it was very impactful. I didn’t know you could go through a program that was so encouraging.

Narconon instilled in me the motivation to keep going and stay healthy.

I look forward to continuing with my life and being successful, taking the tools I learned in the program and continuing to apply them. I achieved the goals I wanted to on the program — and beyond that. It felt really good that I had taken myself and the program seriously.

My favorite thing about being sober is that you get to be, and feel the world and all its joys, highs, and lows without any substance altering it.

If you’re struggling with addiction or are in recovery — don’t give up. You can do better, no matter what your mind tells you or what you tell yourself. Don’t give up. You don’t need substances to function in this world. All they do is take you out of it, removing everything good in life, and stopping you from experiencing life.

There is help out there. There are people who care and programs that work. It’s worth every tear, every drop of sweat, and every bit of struggle to get to something better.

I am very fortunate to have been offered the Narconon program and given the tools, long-standing awareness, and confidence. I definitely appreciate Narconon.

Victor C., Narconon Arrowhead Graduate