Why We Exist
When I came into AARC, I was absolutely hopeless. I could not picture my life without drugs nor could I even see a point to living; seventeen years old and my life was basically over. I people-pleased to get my way, while being extremely fake to hide what I was really feeling. On the inside I was extremely bitter, hurt, lonely, insecure, ashamed, and angry. One of the hardest things I have ever had to do was to look at the terrible person I had become through my disease, and to see how much I had hurt my family and those around me. As I went through treatment I struggled with self-acceptance and resentment, but I also learned to be honest with others and myself. Today I am sober, full of hope and excitement for life; I am grateful for a second chance.”
Braydon B., AARC Graduate #504
“Nothing can describe the darkness I felt as a hopeless 15-year-old drug addict. I was living on the street and was stealing money to buy drugs. My entire life’s purpose was to get high. I didn’t care about anyone or anything and I only cared about taking my pain away. Finally one night, even the drugs stopped working. I had been doing drugs all day and all night and it wasn’t taking the pain away. As I walked around town, I didn’t know what to do and I found myself at my parents’ house. I rang the doorbell and for the first time truly asked for help. The next day, my dad and I were in the car on our way to Calgary to go to AARC. I was so scared; so scared of going back to drugs but I was also terrified of living life without them.
AARC was the best thing that ever happened to me. It changed my life completely. I learned to deal with my feelings, with my pain and with my shame. I returned to school, eventually making my way to university where I earned a Bachelors of History. Today, my life is amazing. I am a teacher, I am married to the most amazing woman and I have spent the last 6 years living and travelling around the world. All of that aside, today, I can say that I am at peace. I feel like a different person when I think about the hopeless kid who couldn’t go a day without getting high.
Every day, I am thankful for AARC and the staff that works there because they could see the light when all I could see was the darkness.”
Steve B., AARC Graduate #86
Read more of AARC’s inspiring success stories at http://aarc.ab.ca/success-stories/