VRC gave Nick the help he needed when no one else would.
I’ve been sober since 11-15-17. I just took 18 months and it’s been a huge blessing.
So, my experience at VRC has been extremely profound. It’s changed everything about my life.
Before I got here, I was miserable. I wanted to die. I had no hope for any kind of future for me or for my family. Going through this program they have here, it’s… I’m blessed. It’s extremely multifaceted.
See, for me, not only do I have an addiction problem, I also have the problem of chronic pain. When I was a child I fell off a cliff 40 feet and broke damn near everything in my body. I’ve had a lot of metal that’s been put in. And I have to get these surgeries every three years just so I can walk right and keep up with everybody else. I’ve had doctors tell me before, prominent ones, that there was no hope for me ever being able to enjoy life.
This place, what they do for you is amazing. I got to try yoga 5 days a week. And that’s something I never experienced before. I’ve worked with very prominent facilities: Kerlan-Jobe that does the Lakers and the Dodgers, USC, UCLA, doctors of physical therapy. And the results I got out of working the VRC program, doing the yoga changed my life. I am able to function more. I am able to be on my feet longer.
And then they were able to really dive in and go over some of the mental and emotional trauma I’ve had to deal with. I got to do a therapy called EMDR. When I came in I was diagnosed with PTSD and things were very difficult for me to socialize, and to really just live life. Going through the counseling and the different types of therapy, I find myself loving life and enjoying it and that’s something I never thought would have been possible.
This facility is so great I even got a dietician that helped me figure out an anti-inflammatory diet. They cook all the food for you and make everything you need.
Then, what really changed also, for me, as far as my perspective of understanding how to live my life sober was, they put us through The Steps. And they help us with that. Before I was able to do that I had nothing but drama and fear and hate between me and my family members. Family members didn’t want to communicate with me. They didn’t want me around. After going through this process, that gave them the ease and the comfort to be able to express themselves, knowing the type of response that I would have would be positive. It’s completely changed. Now I am an active member of my family. I get invited to vacations and I house sit. As opposed to before, they would do whatever it takes to not have me around.
I’m extremely extremely grateful for everything I’ve experienced here and it’s an amazing facility to be able to tailor itself to every patient that comes through. I’ve tried going to other facilities and I’ve gotten turned down because of the chronic pain element that I have. But, for this place to provide so much more than just recovery. They bring in people to help you with guidance counseling for careers and jobs. And they want to get you out there in the community and be able to give back.
I have a wonderfully bright future and I am looking forward to being an active member of society. So, thank you so much for this opportunity.
-Ventura Recovery Center Client