I Feel Like Me Again

I am writing this success story today and celebrating 4 months of healthy living without drugs and alcohol. Before coming to Narconon, I had been taking drugs for 3 years. I knew I needed to make a positive change in my life and take steps to become a sober and healthy individual. The sauna allowed me to clear my body and mind of substances that were in my system and I felt I got a new lease on life and new energy after my 30 days in the sauna.

I struggled with being able to focus for a long time before and after I started using drugs but the Communication Drills and Objectives allowed me to gain the abilities I needed to control my mind and focus and find calm. The first Communication Drill gave me the ability to be calm and relaxed, even though it was hard at first. The later Communication Drills showed me how to manage communication with my twin (another student you are paired up with to help through the programme) and be very present at all times, which is essential to helping your twin through the programme as well as yourself.

By the time I started on Objectives I was on a great path, I could see visible changes in myself physically and mentally. As the Objectives progressed I became confident in my ability to handle my twin and help him through hard times, this is an ability I did not have earlier on in the programme. I struggled with my twin at the beginning and so it was extremely rewarding to see him succeed and reintegrate into his family. I learnt patience, responsibility and discipline through these Objectives and mental strength and toughness to embrace the day no matter how I’m feeling and do as well as I can. The routine at Narconon helped me a lot, physical exercise, working and eating, and sleeping well. These small things are essential as they build your discipline. No one can be successful without a routine.

By the end, my communication skills had improved greatly, I am able to speak confidently and clearly as well as look people in the eye when I am speaking. I have struggled with anxiety for as long as I can remember. Sometimes it still arises, however, I have the tools to be able to manage it and not let it affect my daily life, whereas before I would not be able to sit comfortably with these feelings and I would choose to escape by using drugs, managing it artificially rather than naturally. I have learnt to be aware of how I am feeling and sit with these feelings, managing them naturally is a wonderfully rewarding feeling.

I felt extremely positive when I analysed the people in my life, I had a few bad people that I needed to cut off, but for the most part, doing the Overcoming Ups and Downs in Life Course showed me how many positive people I have in my life and I feel very grateful that I now realise this. I also feel very well equipped to decide if a person has social traits or anti-social traits so that I am able to pick wisely who is a part of my life and whom to avoid. Also, it shows you your own anti-social traits that you can work on too.

I found the Personal Values Course hard at the beginning as it was not easy to look back on my past and analyse all my drug use. As I progressed with this, I felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders and I have become comfortable with my past. Analysing my drug taking, mental health journey, and problems with family and friends and girlfriends, in such detail, makes it very clear to see where the root problems were and the consequences. This was one of the biggest parts of me realising I had not been present in my past a lot of the time and that it was time to live my life to the fullest without any substances that hold me back.

The Changing Conditions in Life Course showed me that the work does not stop when you finish the programme, it is important to analyze what condition you are in as much as you can, where you are succeeding as well as where you are falling behind. I have found writing things down very therapeutic and it allows me to feel more creative because I am no longer holding thoughts in my mind. I get them out onto the paper and it is extremely helpful. Narconon has helped me realize that it is extremely important to help others and I lived quite a selfish lifestyle beforehand so my conditions reflected my need to go and help others.

Overall, with the help of the amazing staff, I feel extremely equipped to take on the life I know I can lead. I have all the abilities I need and I am excited to keep on working on them to improve. I feel infinitely happier in my day-to-day life, I feel focused and energetic and I enjoy things sober that I thought I had to be on drugs or drinking to enjoy.

I am so grateful for the Narconon staff who guided me on my journey and for being so supportive at all times whenever I needed help or someone to speak to.

“I feel like an upgraded version of myself and the possibilities are endless now I have escaped from the box of prescription and recreational drugs.”

I feel like an upgraded version of myself and the possibilities are endless now I have escaped from the box of prescription and recreational drugs.

I am proud of the person I am and even more excited to see the person I become by working on my new ventures and continuing to work on myself as a person.

Ben, Narconon Europe Graduate