In the new series "How are you doing now" we talk to former patients about the period they started treatment at Castle Craig. They tell about their experiences and how things are going now. The names have been changed, but their stories are real.
Paul (34) in 2003
“You should have seen those faces of my fellows when I arrived at Castle Craig that first day and smoked a pack of cigarettes in the smoking area outside, which must no longer be there. They must have thought, "What kind of bouncing ball is that?"
Just before my departure I had found some drugs in the toilet at Schiphol 'by accident', which I immediately consumed on the spot. The moment the plane took off, I took off myself. The landing that same night in my bed at Castle Craig was a lot less. I woke up bathed in sweat and sick and sick. That day I couldn't get out of bed. It was a good thing that the windows of my room couldn't open or else I would have jumped into my craziness.
Three weeks later I was physically a lot better, also thanks to the good care of Castle Craig's medical staff, but my head was still in chaos. I was also addicted to work. I can confidently say that I was a very good marketing manager for a large company. I had one success after another, but it did come at a price. I worked evenings and not on my own, if you know what I mean.
In the second month of my stay, I told my therapist what I was doing. "I'm going to be very honest with you now," he said after hearing my enthusiastic story. 'But maybe it's time you started doing something different with your talents. Because if you keep doing this job, chances are you will use it again. And if your recovery is dear to you and comes first, I would really think hard about what you want for the rest of your life. ' He saw that his words startled me. "Don't get me wrong," he said. I make a suggestion. I am not saying that I have absolute wisdom. But when I hear your story, that job is a straight one recipe for disaster. '
Paul (51) in 2020
'Of course I pushed my therapist's suggestion in Scotland aside when I was back in the Netherlands. But after a month of taking up my old profession again, it started to gnaw more and more. Is this what I want? Or even better: is this good for me?
During my stay at the clinic, I gradually found out that I should never use again. Because with the amounts I was used to, it would kill me. In all the years that I had worked, I had been able to save a lot despite my expensive hobby. And you never guess what I'm doing now. I run a bed & breakfast near Barcelona with a sweet and beautiful Spanish woman.
We've been under quite a bit of stress over the last few months because of Corona, but I know better times are coming. I'm sure because everything is actually good already. I take my meetings, I live healthy and I live the steps that I have made my own. I think my Castle Craig therapist's suggestion was the best I've ever been given. I still sell. But now our beautiful little B&B. Love it! '