Narconon Helped Me Regain Control and Find True Freedom

 

I was born in Washington state where I lived until age 9. We moved to Australia and I lived there until I was about 16 ½, then we moved back to the U.S. Some of my happiest memories were of birthday parties and seeing the natural beauty of Australia.

My childhood was troubled. We lived in poverty. My parents had alcohol in the home and I started drinking when I was about 11 years old. That continued off and on for many years until May of 2018 when I went to Narconon.

Everything was terribly strained during my addiction. I experienced a great deal of trouble with work, romantic relationships, and family relations. I was almost suicidal at times and had a sense of terrible shame and guilt. I felt a terrible weight in myself.

My father knew I was struggling and looked into treatment options. I was desperately seeking some sort of resolution for my suffering. My father found Narconon Arrowhead online. I wasn’t keen on the idea. I had no hope at the time. I thought I wasn’t savable and had given up on myself. My father described the program to me and it sounded different and intriguing so I agreed to come.

I was bewildered when I arrived because it was a very different environment, but I got acclimated quickly. Even though it’s a scary phase of your life, I found myself pretty comfortable.

The staff were tremendous. They really made the place. I appreciated the individual care and attention they gave me. That meant a lot to me. There was genuine intention toward helping me recover in the best way possible. Even the other students seemed to care. I felt that I was in a community of people who became brothers and sisters in the recovery process. I genuinely wanted to get better, plain and simple. I was ready to be healthy and capable in my life again.

The biggest wins I had on the program were coming to love the community of people that were there for recovery and being with the people who have the attitude of rejecting drugs and alcohol and being healthy. I also enjoyed the opportunity to get in better physical shape and the ability to help the community through cooking breakfast when I could, which gave me the joy of contributing to my fellow students.

I developed a sense of optimism, motivation, and a vigor for not just getting back into life, but with meaning and with energy. I gained the ability to confront. I was very weak and very shy and now I can confront obstacles and challenges that were difficult

I inherited tools and techniques that I carry with myself to this day. I use the exercises to help ground myself in my present reality. It’s helped me to get out of the ruminations of my worrying mind and to interface more naturally with my present time reality, with relationships, with what I am doing right here and right now, and just to be present in the moment.

I felt a tremendous sense of accomplishment when I graduated. I was proud of those around me that were doing well. I saw their progress and it uplifted and encouraged me and made me feel ready to reenter the productive world.

I realized that I truly do not have to be a slave to any chemical or the defective thinking that led me to toxic chemicals. Real freedom is within my reach and something that I deserve to live in. I no longer feel like I’m trapped in a terrible cage.

I’ve done some international travelling and now I’m looking forward to more. I want to see more of the world without the baggage of addiction holding me back. My dreams can be realized. I’ll be traveling to Hawaii and then to Europe.

My proudest accomplishments are working myself out of childhood poverty, not dying from my addiction, and overcoming that addiction. I never expected to live past 50, to find love again, or to be healthy and productive.

My relationship with family is now very good, very solid, very loving. We communicate often.

“The best things about being drug-free is having the ability to make decisions and act independently and having a sense of control over my own life with the freedom of being healthy.”

The best things about being drug-free is having the ability to make decisions and act independently and having a sense of control over my own life with the freedom of being healthy.

To anyone who is in active addiction I would certainly recommend the Narconon program. If you have the ability to start tapering off drugs before going to treatment it will make the withdrawal process less severe. Be brave and realize that you deserve a decent life and a good sense of self, because that’s usually lacking in addicts. That self is loved by others and you are not alone.

When you’ve completed treatment stick tight to your recovery community. Reinforce that you are not alone and reach out if you feel alone. Reach out to like-minded people. There are many people in the recovery communities that are willing to help.

—London L., Narconon Arrowhead Graduate