Success Stories

At North County Serenity House we believe it's important to hear inspirational stories from clients themselves.

NCSH strives to provide a safe and secure environment that promotes abstaining from alcohol and other drugs while learning to live life on life's terms.

The women's stories below are as varied and unique as the NCSH clients and graduates who have written them in their own words. We hope you will be inspired by these North County Serenity House Success Stories!

 

Gina’s Story

After using heroin for 23 years and having her ninth child, five of which were born positive for drugs. Gina was told she would not be getting her youngest son back and that he was going to be placed for adoption. Even after receiving the devastating news she stayed to complete her alcohol and drug treatment at Serenity Center and worked on her recovery. Through AOD classes, behavioral classes, therapy, parenting process, parenting classes and hard work, Child Welfare Services decided to allow her youngest son to be reunited with her just shy of his first birthday. “I’ve come out of a 23 year history of drug use, twenty year history with Child Welfare Services and a ten year history with the prison system. After being sixteen months clean and sober, I will be successfully reuniting with my son in May and my CPS case will be closed. I could not have done it on my own I am very grateful to Serenity House, all the staff and childcare. All of the resources made available to me and the support is awesome. There is hope!!”

 

 

Ingrid’s Story

Her drug use started socially by smoking weed with her friends. After losing her mom to cancer she was introduced to Meth and her life began to go down hill rapidly. Soon she was in jail and on probation ordered to a residential facility. She brought her son to NCSH on June 11, 2009. With the support of her family and the motivation of her son she has been able to get and stay clean. Now Ingrid and her son have moved to transitional housing where she can work and her son can continue coming to CDC. Her son is 1 ½ years old now and he is learning fast in the CDC program. “They have mentored me on how to be a better parent. Today I have regained my self esteem, self worth, and peace of mind. I am taking my recovery one day at a time.” 

 

 

Renee’s Story

I wanted to introduce myself, I am 34 years old. I am a business professional and single mom with two beautiful kids. I have many accomplishments in my life, including amazing marketing, business and management and corporate contract negotiating skills- to master the ability to conquer success.

I have struggled with one problem – alcohol and trying to manage my life as an alcoholic. I masked my disease by my career, being an “all star mom,” etc.

Alcohol was still taking a toll on my life, career and motherhood. I did not understand the power of this devastating chronic disease and was fighting alone “tooth and nail” to survive – I knew in my heart and soul I could not live/function without it. I became severely dependent upon it. It erased any fear, the alcohol replaced all real feelings, or reality. It slowly took over my mind, body and spirit, and was working on my kids.

I had been in treatment for alcoholism since I was 14 – I did not want it and refused to accept it. It was my mom’s disgusting disease. I was in treatment centers that cost thousands. I learned how not to act and how to act to get out – I decided to learn every way around not becoming an alcoholic.

After two kids and many years of drinking – I split up with my daughters’ dad – This was so painful and my disease really took over and my family decided to move me to Escondido where I admitted myself into North County Serenity House inpatient program. Again, I was willing to admit that alcohol had caused many problems for me in my life. However, I did not feel I ever soaked in or learned the tools to live life successfully in the real world as a recovering alcoholic. I quickly learned to turn in what was required to be able to gain access to passes and free time, but I did not absorb the tools to stay sober. I was just doing time, my life did improve and I graduated after eight months. It was back to life in the real “big” world and sadly I was not prepared. I relapsed after two months of being on my own. I could stay sober no problem, in my inpatient program, however, I did not have a chance in the real world.

Every obsession of an alcoholic is to “drink like a normal person.” I tried very hard after wonderful jobs, being a great mom, etc. Alcohol had control of me and my life.

I went to an outpatient program in Oceanside. I was treated very different because I was there on my own accord. I was surrounded by criminals that did not want to be there and it scared me. The place smelled and clients were disrespectful to staff. It was dirty and treatment was taught out of a meditation book and a 1970s drug VCR tape. I knew there had to be something better to help me save my life.

I knew/ remembered Serenity House. The knowledge I did have directed me back. I was now on a mission to save my life and try to keep custody of my kids. I was consumed by my disease.

With this snapshot of my past I really feel the need to share with you my experience with you here at Serenity Too outpatient. Here I was… I could not believe it! It was clean! And we had tables to sit at. I was amazed!

After my experience at the other day program I was surprised. They had a nice clean place for an alcoholic like me to come to. Another thing was the outpouring of love beaming from the rooms. There was a sense of strength here I was attracted to.

I did my intake and was accepted to start the day program. I tried to work full-time, come to group and be a full-time single mom. I failed and was drinking within a week. I came back defeated by alcohol again. Kim was at the front and explained to me I was very sick and needed help. Cynthia came to me, hugged me, and told me she was here to help. I was sent to detox. I did not feel or want to be on mat in detox for 24 hours. I had a clean home but there was something they all had here and transmitted through love and compassion. Something told me to listen to them and I did.

I came back after detox and was congratulated my Kim, Cynthia and Andrea. They loved me and welcomed me back. I was encouraged to quit my job and come here five days a week. My daughters’ dad was trying to take my kids. Cynthia and Kim made a strict plan for my recovery and Kim took me over as a client. They were not mean or mad at me. They told me that if I did what they laid out for me I would be okay and they would be there every step of the way. It was weird for me to be loved, supported and treated with respect. There was 1% of me that screamed give this a chance.

Serenity Too - Non-Residential Program - had a different taste than any other program I had attended and there were five.

I was pleasantly surprised to see that this place was drama-free and ego-free from the staff. I quickly realized that the system Kim had in place was safe, real, giving, and most importantly for me, they did not judge me or look down on me because I was sick. I have noticed the “norm” in treatment is the staff is usually equipped with tough skin and a bit of ego to deal with alcoholics and addicts. Being a manager of a team in a big corporation, I always smelled out the drama, ego, etc. Most often when there is the “office drama,” everyone can feel it, mostly the clients.

There is a sense of respect that comes down from the top and affects everyone, even the clients. I know it takes hard work to accomplish in this environment! I was quickly accepted by the other clients here and I was treated with respect. The staff realized what a serious alcoholic I was and they loved me and redirected me until I could “ walk/fly” straight. I cannot put into words the life saving knowledge and love I received here.

Kim, the director, walks around with a smile that says she is open to talk to and I must add she tells everyone this too. Andrea and Cynthia never let you see the negative in their job. They too walk in every morning with beaming smiles! It is contagious.

Without a word we all know they have an open door policy and I use it. I know they are busy and inundated with their jobs but we are never turned away. This includes Kim, she never shuts here door. Again, very rare to find this.

Andrea teaches two classes that I regularly attend. One is Big Book study and I must say I believe her calling was to teach grade school. She intrigued me with our Big Book study. She gets up so animated and on fire for recovery. She teaches with so much passion and love for the knowledge of the disease we are battling. We read and stop on command so she can explain in detail what we are reading and learning. As a new recovering alcoholic, I could not wait to be blessed with the power/ tools and knowledge she taught me in these groups. Before I knew it, I was gaining the knowledge of my disease to gain power to understand who I am and to live with my disease. She also does Seeking Safety and with being so tuned in with every one of her clients, she would zone in to that person sometimes me, to pull us or me out of relapse.

Cynthia is such a beam of sobriety that walks thought the door every morning armed with tools to share with us. Cynthia seems to cut to the chase and tends not to sugarcoat what needs to be done and heard to save your life. She redirected me with a ton of love and strict guidelines when I stepped foot in Serenity Too. And I have to say it was the antidote my disease needed and she knew it. Cynthia is not my direct counselor; however, she speaks about being a mother in recovery and the powerful affect it will transmit on their life and yours. Cynthia does not accept slacking or disrespect. She is diligent on expressing and teaching, this is part of being accountable and respectful in our new sober life.

Being in the day program, I have learned that the tools I use from the team all day I have to take with me to directly utilize when I leave. What has benefited me in so many ways was while on my journey outside of program, I was able to go to Cynthia and ask her “expert recovery advice” on how to deal with the real problems I was facing. Again, she always gave very real and solid solutions to these real life problems. She addressed all my concerns or questions about life sober with complete compassion and love. Cynthia speaks from her soul and finds every creative way she can to teach recovery. She is very tender and strong and shares deeply about her American Indian culture, reaching out to all clients to teach them knowledge of the spirit and 12 step Indian knowledge. She is very powerful in her walk; she loves all of us like we were her kids.

The system in place here at Serenity has not only fed me knowledge about my disease. I feel what is most important is that the team in place here taught me how to live with my disease in mind. I feel this is very easy to teach and execute in inpatient, however to execute these skills in real life, in a normal world is the true challenge to any chance to survive the devastating statistics of our disease. I was not sure how to express my experience, I can never ever say I am “cured.” However, I have never felt such love, devotion and true care and concern to ensure my true success to recover daily from my disease. I am a chronic relapser, all odds were against me in putting one month together. I even did not have the faith to walk this far without these angels from Serenity Too.

It has saved my life, it has given my babies the mother God intended me to be. My disease had control of my soul. I hope I never have to relapse and I am scared to death. However, I know Kim, Andrea, Cynthia and the staff at Serenity would never turn me away and you sure can’t bottle that love and support I have received from this six months of treatment.

Thank you for supporting with such a wonderful team to fight for me life.