Drinks started taking over my life not just physically but mentally too. My life was revolving around my drinking because of which I started loosing friends, family and my business. I had reached such a stage where I was sick and tired of being sick and tired. The first few days in the rehab was pure misery for me. I used to feel trapped and betrayed by my family. After a couple of days I started realising in the therapy sessions that I was not alone as I used to think in my problem, and could identify with other alcoholics and addicts. I started to enjoy my stay there because I was learning more about my problem and was living among people with a similar problem.

My family is more relaxed around me and my friends whom I had lost started coming back into my life. I also made many new friends in the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous, who had gone through similar experiences. The stay in the rehab was the best thing to have happened to me! Not only did it give me an insight into this extremely dangerous and sometimes fatal disease, but also taught me, and armed me with tools to deal with it on a daily basis.

At the age of 16, like any other boy of my age, I had my shares of fun with friends and one such form became consuming beer. The thing that started as fun went on to become a habit, which increased day after day. I never realised till the evils took over all of my mind. I was gradually becoming an alcoholic.

At the age of 20, I found that there is more fun in hard liquor and became a hardcore alcoholic. Life in the world kept moving and so was my life but hardly I realised that I was getting away with the real happiness of life in the real meaning of life.

During one of my high toxic stage, I met with a major accident, which ever can be said "close to death". But the prayers of my family & well wishers made me come out of it. But could not stop me being an alcoholic.

After the sad demise of my father, I became the eldest one of the family and this situation & ego became a bigger boost. Now I have no one to question me. I was superior to any one in my family.

The tears in my family increased. I could not give my family support and happiness; all I gave them was sad days in tears.

I could not understand the value of tears and those were the black stages of my life.

I tried to come out of it but could not, tried hard but didn't succeeded. My addiction to alcohol was at its peak. My mother and my family used to be very sad and worried seeing my condition, but could not see theirs.

It was at this point of time I was admitted to HOPE TRUST and was introduced to the 12 steps programme and it was here I realised all my problem and wrong doings. I started recovering out of my addiction and one fine day came out, bringing smiles to my mother and my family.

I started attending AA meetings regularly and today I am dedicated to my business and family.

Even though, some times I am unable to attend the meetings, I kept in touch with my senior AA members on phones. When ever possible I also interact with recovering alcoholics thereby sharing my feeling with them.

I still follow the tools of the 12 steps programme in my day to day life and pray to my higher power and try to be sober in the coming 24 hours.

Today I am happy that I have a happy life, happy family and a happy business community. I share my happiness with them and pray to be same for the rest of my life, one day at a time.

I am a recovering drug addict. I started drinking heavily and abusing drugs when i was 16. I didn't realize what was happening to me and soon I was in the grip of addiction. I couldn't stop using drugs and everyday would find a reason to get high. Slowly, I was so addicted to it that I had to use every day to survive. But I couldn't do anything when I was using, my brain was so clouded that I didn't realise that I was making a mistake and most importantly I didn't know that there was way to stop.

I hit rock bottom when I lost 3-4 yrs of my educational career, lost the trust and faith of my family and most importantly lost faith in god. Every night there was violence at home. I was admitted to Hope Trust on march 19th 2003. I was tricked into coming there otherwise I would have never gone. Once there the company of other recovering addicts and alcoholics (like me) made me relax. I felt that there are other people like me when I met them and shared our experiences. I was really down and I was very guilty about the whole thing as my mind started to clear up in the 4-5 days of de-toxification. When I spoke to my councilor I realised that there are people who care for me and would like to see me live happily, I was really motivated to quit drugs.

As the weeks passed and as I attended the sessions and followed the daily routine, I began to understand the ill effects of drugs on my body, mind and soul and also on the people around me. I realised that I cannot drink or use drugs "socially". I was taught how to keep away from drugs and alcohol and most importantly how to say NO. I was taught anger management and learnt humility. Today I am trying to complete my graduation. I celebrated my 1 yr clean time in the rehab. By using the same program I have quit smoking and am able to get a broader and more clear perspective to life.