“The Road Back Home” – addiction treatment centre

Joanna’s story

Meet Joanna — one of our patients who thanks to her hard work and our support has won her life back:

I am 28 years old, and I am addicted to drugs and pharmaceuticals. Throughout the years of my addiction I was unable to quit doing drugs although I knew that would eventually kill me. That would have been the most likely outcome, had I not ended up at “The Road Back Home” meeting Andrzej and Lilla.

I have gone through many detoxes, and many failed attempts to get rid of my addiction. Today I owe Andrzej a lot, since he has always believed in me. I first arrived at “The Road Back Home” in August 2017 after binge-using amphetamine and benzodiazepans for four weeks. My overall state was such that it might as well have been my last “binge”. “The Road Back Home” has given me hope that I no longer have to do drugs. I no longer feel the need to “run away from myself” by doing drugs as was the case for me earlier since I was unable to function normally in the real world on my own. I have been “clean” thirteen months already and I used to think that would have been impossible. My obsession with drugs was stronger than anything else – I would take such quantitives of drugs that I eventually ended up in bed unable to lift my finger. I would just stay in bed obsessively doing drugs and terrified at the same time that the next “round” will be my last.

I remember the day, when trying to get up from my, I fell to the floor. I was able to crawl to the bathroom while crying. My hands were completely pale and I had a seizure, but once I was back in the room I took drugs again. I do not want to go through that experience again.

Today my life looks completely different. I have a stable position in my profession. I am about to graduate from my studies and I am learning intimacy in a relationship with a man who has given me the sense of stability. I no longer feel the need to do drugs, but I do know that I am an addict and will remain one till the end of my life. I have moved to Wrocław since “The Road Back Home” is just around the corner. Andrzej and Lilla are like a family to me. I visit the centre regularly since I feel here at home – the one that is genuine and full of love. I attend the support group run by Andrzej and I am learning to “live in the here and now” and I do know I am on the right track.

Joanna
An Addict