Luke’s Story

Hi I’m Luke.
I’ve always had a problem with alcohol for as long as I can remember. From my 1st drink I wasn’t in control.
I would behave in ways which I wouldn’t dream of when sober.

Addiction made me into a liar, selfish, victim mentality, the list goes on.
I would always put myself in danger.
I would go missing of a weekend, always ruining special occasions. Constantly falling out with loved ones.
Now, strangers let onto me, I can look people in the eye, I now like the man I see in the mirror.

When I attended AA, NA & CA, I think I was doing it mainly for my wife. Basically, people pleasing. As nothing ever worked for me.
Now I believe that it wasn’t the programs, it was just that I hadn’t had enough.

By the time I’d got to the point where I couldn’t carry on living in this misery, chaotic nightmare. I’d found a different program, something I’d never tried before. Here we studied AVRT, how the brain works, patterns in behaviour, separation of yourself & the addiction. This program wasn’t spiritual, but science & fact based.

My wife has gone from being disappointed in me, from being depressed & having anxiety attacks to being proud of me, happy, content & excited for our future together.

After living in fear, being too uncomfortable to go out anywhere knowing my addiction would ask & because I had no awareness & no tools to fight back, my addiction always got what it wanted.

Now I can go anywhere, with anyone, at any time or day.
I am comfortable being uncomfortable.
I am content, I am at peace.

Because of recovery, I am present. No longer a hollow shell of myself.
I am excelling in my job.
Recovery has given me health, wealth & happiness.

The darkest time of my life was losing our baby girl when my wife was 5 months pregnant & I was 10 months free from addiction.
The addiction asked when I was at my most vulnerable. It was at that moment I realised I did have power over my addiction.

Its very rare I hear from my addiction now, but whenever I do, it gets shut down very swiftly.

I can now look after & protect my wife, instead of her always carrying me.
I am the best version of myself.

I go the gym every other day, I go on walks in nature with my wife & dog, we enjoy holidays abroad.

My life now is polar opposites to what it was.
Life truly starts when you stop.