rehab testimonials

I have an alcoholic husband and was desperately trying to find some help or advice. Searching various websites only confused the situation – they all claimed to be the best – how could I be sure! By luck I happened across the Recover website and contacted them, their response was fantastic. David emailed me within a couple of hours, we also spoke on the phone and by the end of that week he came to see my husband and I.

David was able to ‘connect’ with my husband in a way that no one before had been able too and five days later my husband went into a rehab clinic!

This was a pretty scary time for us but David kept in touch giving support to both of us.

It is early days, but the change I see in my man from week to week is amazing. Had it not been for Recover, David and the support, understanding and kindness shown to us, I really don’t know where we would be today.

A big huge thank you!

My younger brother is my all-time favourite drinking buddy, but he is an alcoholic. He had ended up living back at home with my parents, seeing the GP for “depression” and increasingly making my parents’ lives a misery through his drinking, while wasting his own life.

After another evening of wondering what to do about my brother’s drinking and of trawling unsuccessfully through various websites, I chanced upon Recover’s website. It was late in the evening but I phoned and got David on the phone.

He listened, outlined several options and filled me with confidence that something could be done - not at some vague point in the future and subject to various conditions being met, but that weekend. Having spent years getting nowhere with trying to deal with my brother’s alcoholism, this was an extraordinary breakthrough.

I spoke to David several times the next day, as did my brother. While positive about the possibility of recovery, he also warned of the risks of a relapse and was already raising possible aftercare options as a means of increasing the prospect for long term recovery. Before speaking to him I hadn’t really thought about “recovery”, but instead had been focusing solely on how to stop my brother from drinking.

David arranged an assessment for residential care that weekend and met my brother and myself before the assessment. The openness and warmth that he showed to my brother on meeting him was striking. At the same time, David clearly had a better grasp of my brother’s drinking habits than me.

He kept in touch with my brother during the residential care and also kept in touch with me – he helped me and my parents to understand what was going on and enabled us to start to separate the alcoholism from the person.

While my brother’s recovery cannot be taken for granted, the progress that he is making is astounding. Our parents have been overwhelmed by the transformation in my brother. On a personal note, thanks to David my brother is my younger brother again, and not a problem that I have to try to deal with.

I can’t thank David enough for how much he has helped us all.

Before contacting Recover, I had tried many times to stop drinking and using drugs by myself. My situation was getting progressively worse – I needed immediate help. I knew that treatment was available, but had no idea where to start looking.

I came across the Recover website late one Sunday evening, when I was feeling utterly lost and low. I sent a short email, explaining how I felt, and within hours, Recover called me back. I discussed my situation with David at Recover, explaining that I was battling a 15-year addiction to drugs and alcohol. Whilst my career at face value was a great success and my family believed that I had overcome my addictions, I was still drinking and using large quantities in secret. I felt unhappy to the very core – the pressure of living this ‘double life’ was quite literally killing me.

I was able to be completely honest with Recover about my situation, and they supported me prior to my admission into treatment a few days later.

The treatment programme that Recover found for me has worked miracles. I have learned many invaluable lessons about addiction – crucially how to stay free of drink and drugs for life. Since coming out of treatment, I feel equipped for life in a way that I have never been before. The programme has made me aware of the work and relationship issues, which lay at the centre of my addictions. I now understand the enemy within – I understand what it is that I’m fighting.

I will always be grateful to Recover for helping me at such a low point in my life – for listening to me and for moving swiftly to put me in touch with the right people.

My son is an alcoholic and I tried over many years to help him. I supported him as best I could both financially and emotionally. It's been a long and difficult journey – not only for me but for my family. One of our difficulties has been trying to find out what services and treatment were available for him with GP's and health authorities. The truth is that my son had to come to a point where he was ready to take treatment seriously.

On his last crisis with alcohol (and I think with drugs) he asked for help – and he meant it. He was living in London and I was in the north of England– so I couldn't physically help and felt quite helpless. I decided to look on the internet to see if I could find out anything about treatment centres or clinics. There were so many – hundreds - but I didn't know anything about any of them or indeed the geography of the area he was living in.

Then I *chanced* onto an organisation called Recover. But for this organisation – I don't know what I would have done. Firstly there was a telephone number – it was late but I rang anyway. The young man who answered was so kind, so understanding – although dry for many years he was an alcoholic himself and could totally identify with everything I said about my son's addiction – this in itself was such a relief. He listened to all I had to say about my son's current situation and then said he would negotiate with the treatment centre he thought would be the most appropriate for him. Unfortunately this could not be done on the NHS so I have had to pay – currently my son is five weeks into a twelve week rehabilitation course and everything seems very positive.

I would like to recommend the work of Recover – they have helped me so much. They immediately understood and identified with my own and my son's situation. They recognised that he had an addictive illness and was in a severe crisis and found him appropriate and effective treatment!! They supported me by phone during and after his admission to the centre and I didn't pay anything for their care. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. You are providing a much needed service which you deliver with kindness and empathy.

I called Recover in absolute desperation, beaten by my addiction to drink and drugs and feeling that the only way out was suicide. I hadn't thought that residential treatment was an option for me – it was far too expensive, and would mean admitting the extent of my addiction to my family and friends, all of whom I'd become increasingly isolated from in the last months of using.

When I called Recover, tearful and scared, they were gentle, kind and acted immediately. They spoke to my family as I was in no state to, found affordable treatment centres for me within two days, and were on the phone to me and my family every step of the way.

If it hadn't had been for Recover I truly believe I wouldn't have got the help I needed and my addiction would have killed me. They have been so supportive, keeping in touch with me throughout my treatment and even now that I am back home with a life I thought could never be mine.

The treatment centre they found me in South Africa was a tough but nurturing environment, with fantastic counsellors and a solid 12-step programme. Recover made sure they were sending me somewhere which was right for me; they genuinely cared for me and I trusted them completely.

Next week I will be eight months sober; some days are tough but I am getting stronger every day - my relationship with my parents and friends has changed beyond belief, I am doing well at work and for the first time in years I feel so glad to be alive and excited about the future.

I hope to look back in years to come on how close I came to death, and will always see Recover as the beginning of my journey back to a happy, fulfilling life. And I thank you with all my heart every day.

My son Simon had developed a cocaine addiction over several years…now he has the tools to deal with his problems.

My son Simon had developed a cocaine addiction over several years and it had gradually become such a part of his life that it led to huge debts paranoia inability to hold down a job and getting on the wrong side of the law. I was desperate to find a way to get him some real help but there didn’t seem to be a way forward. Even when he was begging for help from his probation officer the help was a counseling session a week and counselor herself didn’t have any experience dealing with cocaine.

After looking at many sites on the internet for information about treatment for cocaine my brother-in-law gave me a printout of the Recover webpage and I telephoned them. That was the best thing I could have done as it handed over the decisions to someone who had been through addiction himself and knew the way forward. The support was invaluable and they were constantly on the telephone advising me. They also telephoned Simon almost daily and at last Simon felt he could talk to someone who could understand the addiction and someone he could relate to. The arrangements were made to visit the rehabilitation centre and as soon as he met up with a group of young guys at cocaine anonymous meeting he was inspired by their recovery and realized that he was not alone and he wanted to change and get clean even more.

The month he was spent at the residential center was invaluable and the continuing interests of Recover and his counselor have cemented the achievements. On their advice Simon has embarked on a three month secondary care course in South Africa. I feel so grateful to my brother-in-law for somehow choosing Recover’s website as I was on the brink of a nervous breakdown as was Simon and our lives have been dramatically changed and we have been shown a way forward which we could not have found on our own.

Obviously no one knows if this will be the absolute end of Simon’s drug taking but the signs are all positive and he is getting expert help by people who have recovered themselves. Whatever happens in the future Simon now does not have to involve cocaine to deal with the problems in his life as he now has the tools to deal with them.

Thank you so much for your help. My mother's world was falling apart with drink, she was terrified and the terror was magnified because her husband was very seriously ill.

Recover helped to quickly find an appropriate clinic that would take a person of her age, and negotiated the costs. The clinic treated her with care and respect. Now both are home, enjoying some good time together and she is on the road to recovery.

Thanks enormously to Recover.

Our lives were falling to pieces and we were going through one crisis after another after my husband became addicted to alcohol. I was absolutely desperate after a particular terrible Sunday when he nearly set fire to a house due to being completely intoxicated and I did not know what to do or how to help him any more. A friend of mine found Recover on the internet and told me to telephone them. I rang and spoke to David and he was just incredible, a voice who listened to my awful story of how alcohol had destroyed our family and completely taken over my husband.

He was so kind and comforting and told me he would sort everything out and help us which he did. He rang me many times that day and arranged for an appointment the next day at a clinic he thought would be able to help my husband and would be near enough to our home for me to visit. The relief I felt after speaking to him is indescribable as I felt that now there was someone out there who could help our family.

My husband spent six weeks in the clinic and left nearly four months ago and is now the man he was many years ago before alcohol completely took him over and nearly destroyed our family. He now has a support network of people he sees and speaks to when necessary. I am so grateful to Recover and cannot thank them enough. I don't know what I would have done had it not been for David and Recover as they truly saved our lives and our children have now finally got their father back.

I can’t thank you enough for all that you have done for me.

I thought it was about time that I reported in from South Africa. Amazingly, things could not be going better. The treatment here is superb, I’ve just completed Step 4 and I couldn’t do secondary in a safer more beautiful environment. It has been a real pleasure here and I am now off seeking jobs locally in my extended period. In fact it has been so good here that I am open to getting a permanent job, and staying in my own flat in until at least Easter, with support from centre and the local AA & NA. My family are delighted with this possibility as they trust I can now pick the right environment for my recovery, and I have discussed the whole scenario with them, rather than hiding my plans and not thinking them through. My whole attitude to life is different and I am now looking on life as less of a struggle and more of an adventure.

I know it is early days yet but I am much more confident I can make it from here, and you were right about the importance of secondary. The primary treatment in London was good, but the treatment here is astounding. I would recommend this place to all. (Funnily enough a local magazine is doing an article about it and I was in just about every photograph – talk about being happy in Rehab!).

I can’t thank you enough for all that you have done for me and, who knows, we may see each other again.

I would like to say a very big thank you to you for your help and support over the past few months. Your regular phone calls became somewhat of a lifeline for us and for the first time in months we, as parents, felt listened to, understood and not judged. The support, advice and practical help that you provided was invaluable and was so much needed and appreciated.

As you know we are now facing the future with much more optimism and confidence, and undoubtedly the help, guidance and practical support provided by yourselves has played a significant part in getting us to this point.

So again, a heartfelt thanks from all of us.

Best regards.

Thanks for getting back to my web enquiry so promptly. I never expected to be offered a free counselling session the very next day within 8 miles of my home.

Though your encouragement and support I have begun to face up to my problems with a more honest and open outlook. I am glad you encouraged me to talk to both my wife and others. I have also been to AA meetings and met some lovely people and now know I am not alone. I can share my experiences with my new friends.

I am sure I can build on the five nearly six weeks of sobriety I have enjoyed since I met you face to face.

Thank you once again.

Coming across Recover when I was in need was a godsend. The advice and recommendations for treatment received has completely changed my life and given me a new start. I can't thank you enough for your help.

I would like to thank you and your organization for the help and advice you have given my wife and myself while my son goes through the process of sorting his life out and coming to grips with his addiction. Your constant phone calls and regular advice has been invaluable for people in our situation and genuine care that you have shown has hopefully gone a long way towards him getting his life back on track and joining the real world again. Your advising and arranging his secondary care in South Africa was nothing short of a godsend as we would not have known where to start. I have no hesitation in recommending your organization to anyone in a similar position. Hopefully my relationship with my son will go from strength to strength.

Thanks again.

My encounter with Recover completely changed my life and saved the life of my son.

It is not often that a chance encounter with a total stranger can change the course of your entire life. My encounter with Recover completely changed my life and saved the life of my son.

I had been through years of desperate anguish and despair as I had witnessed my son’s decline into drug addiction. I was desperate to claw him back, to save him from himself but so powerless to stop the nightmare – only my son himself could end the agony. Throughout our son had flatly refused to access the professional help he needed to save his life and time was running out, he was looking skeletal, his skin had a strange green hew and his eyes were dead. I simply couldn’t believe it when he finally admitted he needed help and asked me to get him into rehab.

I had no idea where to go or what to do and I was so emotional with relief at even the prospect of him recovering - it was more than I had dare hope for. It was at this point that I came across Recover on the net – I called the number and got a real human voice - little did I know that the reassuring voice at the end of the phone was David Gilmour.

David listened to me through tears and reached out in a very understanding and caring way. Moreover he was very practical and took control of the situation he took my number, sourced suitable rehabilitation facilities for my son and called me back. He even gave me his personal mobile for me to call at any time – This was some special advisory service.

Thanks to David and the wonderful work Recover does in this field and the amazing work at the residential rehab centre they suggested, my son is drug free, healthy and happy for the first time in years.

I have my son back and I too have been liberated from the most indescribable despair.

The day my son told me the truth about his drug addiction was one of the worst days of my life. It was enough to try to cope with the emotional turmoil of realising that my son was a drug addict. However, I also knew that, if I didn’t get him the right type of help urgently, we might lose him forever. I didn’t know where to turn. One phone call to our local drug team told me that they didn’t have the resources to help my son. I was completely lost. I simply didn’t know where to even begin to find him the help he needed. I began to search the internet. Lots of information came through but how did one know which was the right place? Then I noticed the Recover site, I clicked, telephoned the help-line and immediately I no longer felt I was on my own.

The support we were both offered was superb. Being offered advice on the most appropriate rehabilitation programmes was just the beginning. Recover stayed with us every step of the way and it didn’t end when my son finally entered rehab. They kept in touch, offering much needed moral support every step of the way. The sensitivity of their response was over-whelming, they understood how we were both feeling and gave us time to talk it all through.

My son now has a chance of a new life. I cannot express how grateful I am to Recover.