Paul talks about what he's missed and how he's lived:
Paul's Detox Diaries:
It’s all in the head really – done this for 25 years – comas, collapsing, all sorts of injuries and I’ve had too many lucky escapes - been run over and that’s all been down to being smashed out of my skull - My luck is going to run out – my back is not too good either. So whatever anyone says or tries to blag – and I can blag with the best of them, I really needed to come on this detox. It was no secret I was heading for destruction – Donna collared me after a visit to the basement – she said: “I looked like shit” – gave me a cuppa and sat me down – Told me about the residential – that was two weeks ago. She got me on it – Listen I was living in an old people’s care home mate - it’s where 'social services' chucked me. Didn’t really think about it until I got there, then I realised how low I’d sunk.
I’d visit my family and their kids would run away from me – saying I “stank of piss” – I made them ashamed of me. So it was stuff like that that made me say yes to this detox – but I’ll be honest I didn’t think this would work – but Donna convinced me and I have nothing to lose. So here I am.
So what’s all this been like?
Early on I thought: “What are we going to do next week when the ale runs out?”
But the way the reduction has gone I’ve coped with it – But I’ll be honest I was ‘clock-watching’ for that next bottle at times and I when I knew I wasn’t getting a drink I’d try to go to bed and sleep through it – even with the cold sweats. It got better, my sleeps have got better, my food intake better. Personal hygiene… all of it really. I’m dry and clean for the first time that I can remember.
Listen I was living in an old people’s care home mate - it’s where 'social services' chucked me. Didn’t really think about it until I got there, then I realised how low I’d sunk.
I’m going home tomorrow – I don’t want to go. I want ‘squatters rights’ here mate! Made some great friends, where we’ve all helped each other. I am going into ‘supported housing’ and not back to that old people’s home. I’ll have three new flatmates at higher levels of rehabilitation than I am at the moment, and a key worker to come in twice a week to see how we’re all coping.
I told you I didn’t want to leave so I’ve enrolled on the basement’s 'peer- mentoring' course - having been in the kitchen all week here next to staff members like Dave and Mo, who have gone through all of this before. They’ve proved to me that this can be done!
P.S. Got to go now because I’m responsible for the Spaghetti Bol! - Paul.
I told you I didn’t want to leave so I’ve enrolled on the basement’s 'peer- mentoring' course - having been in the kitchen all week here next to staff members like Dave and Mo, who have gone through all of this before. They’ve proved to me that this can be done!
P.S. Got to go now because I’m responsible for the Spaghetti Bol! - Paul.
Wish me luck...and I'll wish you all the luck too..."
I don’t want to go. I want ‘squatters rights’ here mate! Made some great friends, where we’ve all helped each other.
