A Magical, Life-Changing Place: Angie’s Story
I had as close to a perfect childhood as you could possibly experience. I went to college and university. After giving birth to my first child when I was 27, I started to feel very strange and was eventually diagnosed with postpartum psychosis, a rare condition. It was a scary experience and doctors were of no help. I discovered the horrible feelings disappeared after taking dihydrocodeine tablets. I was eventually taking 40 30mg tablets a day, just to feel normal. When I stopped taking the drug, I experienced horrendous withdrawal. I was prescribed methadone and my journey into heroin and crack use began.
One day, I tagged along with a friend who visited Penryhn House. The best decision of my life. The second I walked through the front door I felt genuine love. I think of the place as a shining light in the darkness of my life at that time. I was the first woman to live at Penrhyn and I stayed a year. I like to think of it as my small contribution paving the way for the women who have lived there since. The bonds I established there are stronger than any, other than those with my family. Penrhyn is a magical, life-changing place.
Eight years on, I live just behind the house with my second daughter, Sophia. My first daughter, Shannon, is now a successful lawyer and has recently made me a grandmother for the first time. I feel so safe knowing that I live so close to Penryhn House, but I know I will never use again. I am writing a book about my experiences in addiction and finding recovery. I’m going to dedicate it to the folk at Penrhyn House. The staff and residents there are the most beautiful, kind, loving, and selfless people I’ve ever met.
Solace, Comfort, and Success in Recovery: Luke’s Story
Cocaine was my drug of choice in the depths of my addiction, with crack being the main form in the last years when my life became unmanageable. My addiction led me to become the worst possible version of myself: lying, being deceitful, stealing from family, being irrational, and blaming others for the choices I made. I kept questioning myself as to why I kept using, creating stress and harm not just to myself, but also to my family. However, I had no idea of the solutions that were available to me. I was eventually hospitalised with drug-induced psychosis in February 2019, having being found half dead in the street by two police officers.
Being a resident at Penrhyn House helped change my life dramatically. The support of recovering people there helped me relearn how to function mentally and behaviourally. Experiencing and processing everyday life in Penrhyn’s environment helped me change my character, and rebalance and strengthen my mind. Through the groups I attended, I found strategies that worked best for me. The social activities and days out helped me integrate back into normal life.
I now have my own beautiful little family, which includes my little boy for whom I managed to gain custody. Along with my sister, I cared for my terminally ill father during his last days and he, and other family members, were able to see how much my life had changed for the positive in finding recovery. This has given me great solace and comfort. I now own and run three businesses, which employ ten people, that help fund the lifestyle I once only dreamed of, and supports my family with whatever they need. I donate funds to NWRC as a thank you for all they did in helping me change my life dramatically.