Recovery Stories - Seb

When I was 15-16, I had my first joint and got really into it. I then got to an age when I was going to parties with friends each weekend, where there was a lot of drinking and smoking.

That scene led me to try cocaine. I was hard on it from then on and ended up turning coke into harder drugs.

For a long time I managed to keep on top of things, holding down a job and owning my own house. I’ve always enjoyed work and over time developed many technical skills as I worked my way up the employment ladder. I worked in medical & electrical engineering roles amongst others and built up a whole host of practical skills along the way.

When I was 31, I put my hands up. I had hidden my addiction as best I could for ages. But I wasn’t eating and was in a state. I had to be honest with myself. I needed help. It had taken a long time to come to this realisation. But I knew this was the time to change my life. I desperately wanted to. I just didn’t know how.

I tried different rehab programmes over the next three years. They didn’t work, and I kept going back to my old ways and the same old social crowd.

Then a life coach recommended River Garden to my mum. I wanted to be sure that this was going to be different, that it would be the right environment for me. I wanted to change my life so I volunteered for two weeks before joining the programme. I liked what I saw and made an approach for a place.

I’ve been at RGA now for 18 months. It’s a special place full of special people. The camaraderie and the work are very special. Having the opportunity to work outside each day in a beautiful setting has really helped. I love seeing things transform. Life is a journey with all its twists and turns. I now feel really good that I am heading firmly in the right direction and I feel so much better within myself and around others.

I have recently moved out of River Garden and am now living in my home in Kilmarnock. It's a big change but I still attend evening meetings at River Garden and have such a bond with the other residents so I love going back. I hope I can be something of a role model to newer residents and that my success can be something that others aspire to. If I can help then I'd like to. 

I am currently training to be a gas engineer and have now completed my 40 week course, and now am carrying out additional training with a sponsored employer. I then hope to secure a full-time role as a fully qualified gas engineer. I have recently met a wonderful lady who makes me happy and totally understands the journey I’ve been on. I very much look forward to what the future holds. RGA has helped me turn my life around to somewhere I never thought I could be.