“My life had gradually become smaller and smaller. I felt trapped in an endless loop of misery, with no way out. My behaviour put me at risk, and although I didn’t care about living, I was still afraid of dying. Yes We Can was the first place where I truly felt safe and seen. The group therapy and the support from expert-by-experience counsellors were life-changing. The coaches stood by me through both my best and my darkest moments. They reminded me how to laugh and showed me that there were people who genuinely cared. Alongside them, the counsellors always seemed to know exactly how and when to challenge me – and they did so with love, care and the wisdom that came from once being in the same place themselves. And when I was finally ready to look inward, my therapist helped me reconnect with my body for the first time in years and to truly see myself. Today, I am preparing to move to a new city to study a subject I love at university. I am working at Lions Campus, where I can give back what I have received. Around me I have built a beautiful and loving support system. Every day, I now experience the freedom and peace I once only dreamed of. My motivation to remain in recovery lies in the little moments: sitting in the sunshine, grabbing coffee with friends, hearing new music. These are all gifts of recovery – gifts I first discovered at Yes We Can. My favourite spot was always the garden, where I felt at peace lying in the grass, soaking up the sun, and seeing the world through fresh eyes. It is in treasuring those small moments that I now find life worth continuing.”
