Case Study

My name is David.  I’m a 58-year-old alcoholic.  With the help of Western Counselling, I managed to stop drinking and am in recovery.  My years as an alcoholic were an existence not a life. It took a great deal of hard work, pain and help to get where I am now, but it’s been worth it.  I’ve been going back to Aftercare every year for 18 years.  They are not sick of the sight of me – and they haven’t charged me a penny.

I began drinking when I was 17 and still at school. My social drinking continued at university. But when I working abroad and living in a bedsit I started drinking on my own.  I felt things were still under control. I got a good job, and got married, but the signs of my alcoholism were there – I crashed my car and was banned for drink driving.  Three years later, through alcohol, I lost my job. In the next five years, my drinking spiralled out of control. I lost a series of jobs and was struggling to cope.

After my first treatment at another centre and 11 years sobriety I was on holiday when I decided that I could safely have a glass of wine with my meal. But within six months I was back drinking uncontrollably. My wife stood by me throughout and found another centre - that was Western Counselling and I owe them my life.

I was at the end of the road, physically and mentally. During my treatment I was taken apart and rebuilt.  There were no escape routes. It was hard and it was painful, but it got better. By the end of my treatment I was eating properly, I had no desire to drink, I had a positive outlook on life, and I was at peace with myself.

I realise I had received the best treatment in the UK. It wasn’t a luxury holiday resort, but it was comfortable and affordable, and it worked. Western Counselling gave me the tools, and the confidence to find my potential and get my life back.