I arrived here March 16, intending to stay 30 days. I am now on day 64 wondering how I can complete all remaining work in less than 30 days! Needless to say I am happy that I was able to stay for 90 days and am grateful for all that I have gained. Self-confidence, self esteem, self worth and empowerment have to be the greatest gains for me that are the most recognizable, but there are many others as well.
Because of the rigorous schedule with very little down time I rarely experienced cravings. At home I would often have cravings because I wasn’t eating regularlyand HALT was very common for me. Here, with regular, nutritionally balanced meals and enough rest I feel so much better.
At first I thought two core groups a day was a bit much, but I have come to understand and appreciate processing through things and find myself needed to process other situations in my day that I never would have thought twice about.
Practicing mindfulness has been especially helpful for me as I tended to jump from one thing to another in the past – losing things in between, literally and figuratively. I feel much more intact and organized. All the DBT skills have worked for me at one time or another and I have happy to carry them in my tool box now.
The beautiful, safe, nurturing environment is a real perk as is the level of care clients receive. Staff is wonderful.
I have come to understand why I used the maladaptive coping skills that I came here with and so have a new awareness and appreciation for life and the interconnectedness of it all.
“Progress no perfection” is my new motto. Thanks for heading me in the direction of a life worth living.
