Raymond's Story
When I was younger, I felt like I was pushed away as a child, not from my Mum, she was always there for me, but from my stepdad. He was aggressive and very strict. I started solvent abuse from the age of 12 as a way to escape the way I was feeling, not realising how much this would affect me and how damaging to my health it was. This progressed into harder drugs like LSD, Ecstasy and cannabis.
School was a joke and a laugh as well. I was never really there. My head was always somewhere else, always thinking about getting high and going to raves was my go-to. I enjoyed the feeling, it gave me an escape from myself and from reality. Little did I know that this was impacting on my Mum and other close family members. I was so selfish and had no awareness; this went on for years and I kept digging a deeper hole of addiction for myself.
When I was 21, I met a woman who fell pregnant and gave birth to my daughter. Things started to get better. We tried for another child, and when my son Raymond was born, I was very happy. Then, 8 weeks later, he sadly passed away. This left me very sad and angry and the only escape I knew was to drink and take drugs. This time I went off the rails ended up in jail as I had done things to either get money or when I was high.
When I came out or prison, my partner and I decided to have another child once she got better and clean as addiction affected her as well. Sadly she passed away from a heart attack trying to get clean. I was so sad and this again destroyed me and I started using again. My daughter had to live with her nana as I was not in a good place.
My using went on for years, I ended up in a mess from prescription drugs and street substances, I was out of control.
Then one day I met someone again and from day one there was lots of drug intake. I got close to her brother but sadly he ended up killing himself. After this I decided to go home to my mums and during this time I met a girl from school, we fell in love and got married.
A few years later I got a phone call saying my brother had been murdered. This had me in bits and again I was back to using heavily and hiding it as well. I ended up splitting up with my wife, fell out with my Mum and close family and ended up homeless and broken.
One day I ended up meeting Richie from Steps to Hope and I asked him for help. He told me what l needed to do. I got into the program and learned a lot about myself and my addiction and suffering.I took everything onboard and gave it my all. Now I work as a recovery support worker along side Richie and Mel at Steps to Hope helping those in need to gain a new and better life.
Today my life is better; I have my own flat, I drive have a car and have a full time job all thanks to Steps to Hope. Life is not a challenge anymore, life is a blessing and I am truly blessed to have them in my life.
Thank you so much.
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