Testimonials

Dear Challenges Staff,

I completed Challenges 30 day inpatient program this past November (2007) and have been a little slow in writing, but I just wanted you to know how Challenges saved my life. I have been clean since I left and am so grateful for the opportunity that I was given by Challenges to get my life back. Sobriety is such a great gift and you and everyone at Challenges gave me that.

Tell Ron North that he is the greatest. And tell all of the other staff that I thank all of them from the bottom of my heart for all of their support and care.

Sincerely,
Michael W.

I wanted to write to all of you at Challenges and tell you that sobriety has brought my wife and I down a wonderful journey.

As for my recovery, I have been clean and sober now since December 27, 2005. I have a sponsor that just celebrated 12 years yesterday. I have a wonderful home group, I make coffee and reach out to newcomers.

I must be honest, that if it were not for the long days and meetings at Challenges, I wouldn't have been able to handle going meetings on the outside every day. But I do, and it is a big part of my life today. One of my favorite parts at Challenges was the morning meditation.

My wife and I own a successful business now called Sassy Scooters and we just went on a Sober Cruise last month. I could never imagine that my life and the promises that have come true for me could happen. I am grateful to the staff at structured living, when I felt like there was no hope, they would listen to me and allow me to share my feelings no matter what time it was. I must also thank my counselor who told me what I did not want to here with love and tolerance and was always by my side.

Thank you Challenges for everything.
Brian J.

I first came to Challenges in November of 2000, I had come to the point in my life I realized I could not continue to live my life this way. The first thought I had every morning when I got up was where can I could get my next fix, then spending hours or even all day chasing my high. My drug of choice was prescription medication and I was a very big manipulator. My biggest enabler was my insurance card, which eventually helped save my life. I was in a desperate place and on one hand I wanted to quit using and on the other hand I was craving for one more hit so bad my eyelashes were hurting. I had my insurance card in my hand trying to figure out which doctor I could call and manipulate a prescription. For some reason, I turned over and looked on the back and in little letters there were the words Mental Health Hot Line. So I called the number and they put me in touch with Challenges. I will never forget how understanding, nice and concerned the person was on the other end of the telephone. They talked to me for a long time and we came up with a plan to help me help myself. I went through a detox facility and then enrolled in the EIOP program at Challenges and this is where my life started to change and the fog lifted a little I could see that I was able to get my life back in some sort of order. The counselor for the EIOP group was very knowledgeable and passionate person when it came to the disease of addiction. I learned a lot from my time with them and other addicts like myself. They taught me how to start living life without the use of drugs. It was an amazing experience for me I was able to hold a job get married, buy a house all the things normal people do in their day-to-day lives.

Unfortunately I was not able to stay clean and I forgot how bad it was and thought I could just do just one of any chemical and it would be ok. Well a year and a half later (October of 2004) I found myself looking at a divorce, I had already pretty much lost my job because I was making very little money and what I was making went into my habit. Fortunately I knew what I had to do. I went through detox again and called Challenges and re-entered the EIOP program. I was really lucky because the group was strong and we seemed to have a good chemistry between us, everyone was focused on staying clean. I really allowed myself to get to know some of the staff members this time, they really seemed to have an interest in my recovery process and I will be internally grateful. I decided to listen to the suggestions and went to outside 12 step meetings and learned that that is what I needed to maintain my recovery once I completed the EIOP program at Challenges. I am part of the Alumni Program at Challenges to give back what was given to me, and it helps to remind me what is like for me when I entered Challenges for the first time. I also attend outside 12-step meetings on a regular basis.

Today I have a choice on what I want to do with my life I am not a slave to substance abuse. I like waking up in the morning. I may not have everything I want, but Thanks to Challenges I have the chance to obtain anything I work for.

By Mike M.