Trapped in a spiral of depression and screen addiction, former fellow Adam had completely withdrawn from the world around him. His days were spent in bed, disconnected from reality and struggling with even the simplest tasks. But everything changed when he came to Yes We Can Youth Clinics, a place he now calls ‘life-saving’.
Before Yes We Can Youth Clinics, Adam’s world was shrouded in darkness. “I did not have a life. I would spend all day every day nocturnal, always in my pyjamas. I was not showering for months and never left the comfort of my bed.” Trapped in a cycle of depression and screen addiction, even the thought of human contact terrified him. His days blurred into nights, fuelled by an overwhelming reliance on his iPad. “I would spend hours on my device, watching series or gaming. Anytime I wanted to try and help myself, I couldn’t because of my addiction. I couldn’t do basic things anymore like going downstairs to get food or take the dog out for a walk. I hated myself and my life, yet I couldn’t change anything. I couldn’t do it on my own.”
Adam speaks with heartfelt appreciation for the colleagues at Yes We Can who guided him through his recovery. “The youth coaches are amazing,” he says. “They are always there for you and help you along the way. They make daily fun at the clinic, which I believe is crucial during your treatment. On top of that, they help you talk through all of your issues and come to realisations you otherwise wouldn’t have.” That same admiration extends to the clinic’s expert-by-experience counsellors. “They push you until you can’t be pushed anymore, at which point they keep going. The work they do is amazing and by the end of your treatment, you realise that everything they did was needed.”
And while group activities are essential, Adam credits his therapist with playing a pivotal role in his personal breakthroughs. “While you do most of the work with other fellows and in group sessions, none of that would be possible without your therapist. I can’t tell you the amount of time I was having a bad day or a tough time, but I would always come out feeling better after my one-on-one session. You truly build a special bond with your therapist that can’t be described.”
“Having the identification with someone and the feeling of not being alone is so comforting.”
Everything changed when Adam came to Yes We Can Youth Clinics. “Yes We Can means everything to me,” he reflects. “I look back on my treatment with the fondest memories, because it genuinely saved and changed my life. It was difficult, there were times where I wanted to give up. But I’m so glad that I didn’t. The clinic means the world to me.”
What stood out most during his time in treatment were the other young people – known as “fellows” at Yes We Can – whom he connected with through intensive group sessions. “Having the identification with someone and the feeling of not being alone is so comforting,” he explains. “Yet, it’s also the moment where you do the most work on yourself. What other fellows say and how they confront you with your own behaviour is so helpful. It’s not the most fun thing to go through, but it’s definitely worth it.”
"I look back on my treatment with the fondest memories, because it genuinely saved and changed my life."
Today, Adam’s life looks remarkably different. “My life after Yes We Can Youth Clinics is a day to night difference compared to my life before. I’m now in university, going to the gym and working. Overall, I’m so much happier than before Yes We Can. I’m a productive member of society now, where that was impossible to imagine before.” His motivation to stay in recovery is deeply rooted in the lessons he’s learned and the relationships he’s rebuilt. “It’s a mixture of respect for myself and my relationship with my family. I never want to go back to the way I was before Yes We Can. That feeling keeps me motivated to carry on.” And when challenges arise, Adam now has the tools and support he needs. “My support system is really good at letting me know if they think I’m slipping, which is really important. Not every day is going to be great, but when I’m having an off-day, I try to remind myself what life was like compared to now.”
