Info Hub
Corporal Jones CW Op Signals Recon 69 North Irish Horse Signal Sqdn
By UK SMART Recovery on
The veterans meetings have helped me so much since I joined 6 weeks ago. I have been battling addiction for years and have tried various groups and therapies but none worked. Just like my time in the RAF, I've had so much support and advice from my fellow veterans.
I have learned from the meetings using the SMART recovery process which is CBT led, that I am empowered, rather than powerless to succeed in my recovery. I also look forward to the meetings due to the camaraderie and the good banter between the group.
I'd recommend this recovery programme to any veteran who has substance misuse problems and wants to turn their lives around. The Vets meeting gives me the feeling of being back with loyal friends who have your back at all times; the meetings give us a chance to be a group from different forces and different eras like me being cpl Jones frae Dads Army that me era, auld school but still was a soldier of my day in the Cold War times. You guys are the modern time and fighting different wars. I Salute you all me cpl Jones was a CW op Signals Recon 69 North Irish Horse Signal Sqdn but still in step with my younger fellow troops.
Meetings bring us together thru all era's and different times but at the end of the day in the meetings we still have each others back fighting the enemy of addiction. I got you bro; always there tae help and we never leave a wounded bro behind. We know that and SMART meetings prove that and so good for my morale and better way of life. Thanks to everyone and roll on more meetings, the highlight of my day.
Veterans meetings help me to keep myself grounded. Being able to get together with like minded people makes all the difference to me. Trying to explain to others how I feel is hard but with other vets it comes out easily and I know they understand. I have battled addiction from a young age and to have a veterans SMART meeting is a godsend. No judgment just positive help.
I wish I had this help years ago as my life would have been so different.
Join the challenge this May
Sign up to walk this May and raise funds to support people to live a more fulfilling and balanced life.
You may also like
Recovery Story - Lily
By UK SMART Recovery on
How did your addictive behaviour develop?
Looking back, I think I had an unhealthy relationship with alcohol from a very young age. I started drinking at about 11 or 12 with my mum. Only a little at that point but I was never satisfied and always wanted more, sneaking alcohol into the house, and stealing my mum’s alcohol.
However, things got really out of hand when I started ‘self-medicating’ with it, to feel better when I was depressed, cope with trauma and anxiety. It became an emotional crutch.
What challenges were you facing?
Life was unravelling at an alarming rate of knots. I had been done for drink driving, had lost three jobs due the in direct results of my drinking. I was becoming increasingly isolated and realised that I had...
Recovery Story - Matthew
By UK SMART Recovery on
I had been using my Destruction of Choice for more than twenty years. I originally heard about SMART several years ago, whilst I still lived in England and even attended a few meetings. I was self-medicating with alcohol and had no real desire to abstain and was attending to appease my employer. I had the irrational belief that “moderation” could, and was, working for me. I quickly found excuses not to attend, citing other more important commitments. I felt that my “moderation” of two bottles of wine per night (instead of a litre bottle of Vodka) was a marked improvement and everyone got wasted at weekends so that wasn’t an issue anyways.
However, after too many failed attempts to moderate, and my weekend activities starting to creep back...
Recovery Story - Graham & Angela
By UK SMART Recovery on
How did your addictive behaviour develop?
Graham: I began drinking when I left school and started my apprenticeship. Every Friday we all went to the pub. The drinking culture was everywhere, in my engineering jobs, and in the police. Then I got a job as a pub landlord. I thought I had to drink to have a good time and working in a pub was a great opportunity to drink all day and night.
Then I met Angela 25 years ago, I stopped smoking, but I didn’t stop drinking. I was a good pub landlord and we won awards, but no one seemed to realise I was under the influence all the time. Like many people I hid bottles everywhere to be sure I would always have access to alcohol. I was drinking a lot, but I thought I had it under control. I also thought...