Free 24hr Assistance: 813.882.3003
Search
Close this search box.
Search
Close this search box.
A Long Way From Home I Found My Home, Anonymous

A Long Way From Home I Found My Home, Anonymous

“Where am I and what have I gotten myself into now?” I remember asking these and some other soul-searching questions when I finally arrived to Turning Point of Tampa for residential treatment. I was over 1,000 miles from home and could barely remember getting on a plane to Tampa from Philadelphia because I was using heavily. My drinking and drugging days ended tragically and traumatically and I was desperate for help. I had never been to treatment, and for that matter, I had never tried to stop drinking and drugging. I had no idea what to expect.

I remember those 5 days in detox after almost 2 weeks in the hospital and feeling shell-shocked. I vaguely remember getting a call from someone to do an “assessment” where I had to recount all of my drinking and drugging prior to admission. It was all still very much a blur; I was far from completely detoxed after drinking and using for the past 25 years. I was absolutely terrified, not knowing what to expect.

My last day in detox I was finally able to keep food down and even walk around a little. There was an AA meeting in the detox and I had nothing else to do, so I decided to attend. I have no idea what the topic of the meeting was or what anyone said, but I remember one gentleman talking about being in that same detox and then attending Turning Point five years ago. He talked about how incredible his life was now. A life without alcohol and drugs seemed unfathomable to me. It was all I ever knew, and starting over at 41 seemed equally unrealistic. But, I do remember feeling something that I had not felt in a long time after that hour long meeting, I felt hope. I had an inkling that maybe, just maybe, there was a chance that I could change.

I remember the day I discharged from detox. A man from Turning Point wearing a fedora picked me up in what I later learned was affectionately referred to as the “druggy buggy,” and brought me to the campus. I don’t remember much about that day. I wheeled my belongings back the “Village” and saw people outside on the benches smoking cigarettes. A man eventually approached me, welcomed me and introduced himself. We did not exchange many other words, but he gave me a smirk and said “I know man, but it will be alright.”

I STRUGGLED through those first several hours. I was terrified, uncomfortable, a thousand miles from home, spiritually, and emotionally broken.  It was Wednesday night when I admitted; Wednesday night is when TPOT hosts their Fireside meeting. As long as I live, I will never forget seeing all those people walk back to the fire pit before that meeting (I have goosebumps as write this now). Again, I felt hope. People were telling my story and expressing how great their lives were now that they were sober. I had another moment of quiet reflection, but this time it was different. I took a deep breath, bowed my head, and prayed to God, or something out there, for the strength to make it through another day. I continued to do that every day for the next 60 days and something much stronger than me carried me until I completed the program.

I would never want to mislead anyone about getting sober. It is not easy. It is actually the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. However, with the biggest struggles or difficulties come the biggest rewards. I feel fortunate to have had no real experience with treatment, so I never had any expectations coming into TPOT. I know the staff at TPOT were integral in saving my life and they helped me find a new way to live. As I heard early on in my recover, life continues to get better and better. And, just when I think it’s gotten as good as it can get, the BEST HAS YET TO COME.

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
LinkedIn
Telegram

Call To Speak with our Admissions Department

Toll Free: 813.882.3003

Contact Us

If you’d like more information about our programs please select from the list below and we’ll contact you.

List

Please provide any necessary details about your reason for contacting us.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Turning Points of View