| ‘With your help of Adrian I am finally living the life I always dreamed of and achieved it by waking up to the truth. After a long and tiring ten years of trying to beat my cocaine habit, I have found more peace and happiness than I could have imagined. Thank you.’ RG 2007 |
| Ayesha had a little girl, Matilda today. The thanks and gratitude we owe you two is far beyond anything words can describe. Thank you for me helping see real life and the pleasures you receive just living it. B.S 2007 |
| ‘After coming to my lowest point in my life not knowing where to turn, with drink and drugs making me the unhappiest I had ever been. I came across Adrian and the 6 weeks that I spent with Adrian has quite literally changed my life, I have never felt this happy since I was 18, I'm relaxed, alert, have a new job and a new girlfriend! (although that wasn't down to Adrian just the way that I feel about myself). I didn't think anything could or would change me, but this has. Give it a try I promise it will be the best thing that you ever do.’ JC2007 |
| What a difference day makes and what thanks I give for the day I met Adrian . I was a size 24, weighing in at over 18 stone, a compulsive, secretive eater, with a past that included self-harm and a failed suicide attempt. I'd become a heavy smoker, drinker and drug user, I never left the house for a weekend out without a hundred pills (ecstasy) in my pocket, at least half of which were for my own personal consumption. All my life my head tortured me with tales of how I wasn't good enough, how I would never really fit in and how all my friends, although they were nice to my face, actually were just being polite and really they didn't like me. It told me I was ugly, fat and grotesque and that I didn't deserve to be loved because after all, just look at the state of me. It told me to eat the cream cake, take the pill, drink the bottle of whisky and then once I'd done it, I was told I was disgusting, greedy and pathetic for the very same thing by the very same voice!!!!. I never questioned it, I just did as I was told and took on board all the insults and totally believed I was what it said I was and then spent my time trying to escape the pain my thoughts were causing. So, after over 25 years of listening to my head telling me I was a disgrace, not worthy and never, ever, good enough, it was such a blessed relief to find out that I didn't have to listen to it anymore, or react to it and that actually all the things it told me, were lies. Adrian showed me how to turn my head off without using food, drugs, drink or any other addictive behaviours, it was wonderful. But more importantly he let me know that I could love, trust and believe in myself after all, despite what my head said. He taught me that NOW is all we have and that it was about time I started making the most of it, I could let go of my past, I didn't need it anymore and that I didn't need to worry about the future either, because the future doesn't exist (apart from in our heads). He helped me to see that happiness doesn't come from things or circumstances, it comes from inside of us and that I didn't need a reason to feel it either, I could just be happy for no reason and I didn't have to suffer any guilt because of it. I've been living in the NOW for over a year now, I'm 5 stone lighter, I don't drink, don't take drugs, I've given up smoking, I don't even bite my nails anymore and do you know what, I feel absolutely amazing, so content, so happy and just so alive. So glad to be alive. MP 2004 |
| Paul's story After trying unsuccessfully for 3 years to kick my £3,000-a-month cocaine ‘habit' – I finally came across New Choices via their web-site. At first tying will-power, then 5 weeks in the Priory and 18 months in-and-out of A.A. / C.A meetings – nothing seemed to help me, and I would regularly re-lapse after 2-3 weeks of not using. Even the clean time I did get was a struggle…. Each relapse was worse than one before…more guilt, more pain, more remorse the next day, just the same old story again and again. The pain and misery of the last 2 years of my cocaine using left me penniless, physically ill and mentally unstable. A bright boy from a good home, with a good job in the City had slowly but surely become someone who couldn't be trusted, who lied continuously, who was becoming increasingly angry and violent and who had no real interest in life outside of the next ‘session'. The solitary nature of my using (holed up in my flat with the curtains shut, completely scared and paranoid) was particularly frightening – this wasn't why I started taking coke! Didn't it used to make me confident and outgoing? What happened to me? Where's the fun now…….? I started the programme with New Choices in August 2003, aged 28 – more in desperation than in hope, but soon saw some real changes. For the first time in years I had some relief from my ‘washing-machine' head, some space, some peace. Adrian taught me how to deal with the cravings, my feelings and thoughts by using some very simple techniques. By learning how to stop thinking, I suddenly was able to manage my once seemingly crazy head, and take back control of my life. Most importantly, I actually felt happy for the first time in years…. I have worked hard at my recovery and have been helped enormously by the additional phone coaching provided by Adrian , but the rewards I have received back are immeasurable. 12 months on and I am not only still clean and happy, but I have also lost 4 stone in weight (taking me down to a healthy size!!) and have gained my life back….. PM 2004 |
| Everything in life is great now, happiness and inner belief has arrived. A few months ago I had no belief in myself and the world around me, the end was near. I have had many stumbling blocks which I believed at the time were a problem. These blocks were aides to my learning and progress in being in the “now”. This programme has helped me achieve fulfilment and to appreciate the “now” and my life is as great as it has ever been. PG 2004 |
| I hope that if you are reading this it will give you hope because what ever you think this problem can be beaten. I thought there was no hope for me, I have been to several rehab programmes and had even had a stay in the Priory - I told work it was for depression, but the truth is I was addicted to cocaine, booze, sex, food, and anything to fill the awful emptiness inside. Nothing seemed to help. I couldn't handle the NA meetings and was using more than ever, my debts were out of control and I was about to lose my job. In a fit of madness I bought an ounce of sniff to sell and get some heavy people off my back. I ended up doing the lot. The 28 gram binge sent me mad and nearly made my heart explode. When I'd finished it I wished it had. I was in a total mess I broke down in front of my family and told them everything. My sister found New Choices web site and she took me along to the assessment, she even paid for the treatment. The assessment wasn't anything like I expected, for the first time I felt someone understood, what Adrian said made total sense. I was doing drugs to try and deal with my mind. He told me to drink a glass of water and experience it as fully as I could and then to guess my next thought. When I tried I found I had stopped thinking. Peace at last. Adrian taught me that I am more than my thoughts and showed me how to watch my thoughts and to stop torturing myself with my thinking. He taught me how to live in the now and how to sit with painful feelings and to surf cravings. Within two weeks I felt better than I can remember. It was amazing. But my ego got hold of it and I messed up a couple of weeks later, but found that I just didn't want it anymore, it made me feel awful. I have been clean for six months now, sometimes my mind still bothers me, but I'm usually able to just laugh at it. I practice what I have learned and I meditate every day and it keeps me safe and happy. I still see Adrian once a month to keep on track and I can honestly say I've never been happier. Thank you BS 2004 |
| Thank you, for : Showing me the way to my garden Teaching me how to be present Taking away my pain Finding love and peace Experiencing the most incredible highs Giving me support and guidance Being my right hand man Drinking coffee and coke with me Thanks for being there and helping me on my journey to a new life LS 2002 |