Here is a raw and honest look into the sober journey of our clients. We have chosen to honor and respect their anonymity throughout this learning process. We thank them for being willing to share the highs and lows of working this 12-step, adventurous program known as Back2Basics. Let their stories take you away…
New Found Clarity
Yesterday, was the most memorable day in recent memory. Most of my adult life has been spent doing the same thing-doing whatever I had to, to get to my next high. I got creative, resourceful and said whatever you wanted to hear, which I felt entitled me to do what I wanted with the rest of my life. I worked my ass off for my addiction- always came correct- and didn’t rip people off for my addiction. This further entitled me. At least that was my attitude then, but this is now and things have changed. I’ve got 14 days sober, which is my longest streak in 15 years, and I feel the best I’ve ever felt. The saddest part, to me, is that I now realize how clouded my brain was. Remembering things from my past is very difficult, and even though I was high most of the time, I had some great experiences that I struggle to recall. Knowing that I can remember yesterday with some new found clarity is exciting. Our day began early, about 7am. when we woke to pack for our trip to the Grand Canyon. An hour and a half drive turned into 3 hours with the unexpected traffic, which left us just enough time to set up camp and see a few sights before sundown. We knew our hike the next day would be difficult so we went to sleep early, once our fire burned out. Again we woke up early to clean up our campsite and fuel up for the hike. Six miles on the Kaibab Trail didn’t sound too bad until we saw how steep the grade was. We weren’t going from the rim to the river, but we planned to drop in about 2500 feet to Skeleton Point. As expected, the hike down wasn’t bad, but knowing we had to hike out was a daunting thought. As we dropped in elevation, the temperature grew noticeably hotter. The views were amazing, surreal really. We saw a California Condor while resting at Skeleton Point. After a good rest and a snack, we turned back. We grouped together with friends that were hiking about the same speed. I hiked with one of my best friends in the program and we agreed to stop at every shady/windy spot to rest/regroup and enjoy some of the views. While my legs were burning and my heart pounding out of my chest, his company made the trip up quite easy and enjoyable. The shady spots seemed to appear just when we really needed them. I can honestly say it would have been miserable without his help. We were better than the sum of our parts. A special thanks to our guides as well. They were extremely considerate of all of our needs and pains, and I felt in good hands the entire time. I am looking forward to our next trip.
— B2B client
Building Stamina
Being in my first rehab center that I have gone to, B2B offers much more activities for me than any other boring rehab center. I’ve always liked going camping when I was younger. When my using got in the way of both camping and spending time with my family I thought I had lost all hope in life and with my family. B2B offers camping weekly. I’ve had many good experiences camping, I’ve seen many different places that I would never have seen if I was still using. An example of this would be the San Francisco Peaks, Grand Canyon, White Mountains, and many more to come. I would like to talk about the experience that the clients and I had at the Grand Canyon. I was really excited to see the Grand Canyon for the very first time in my life. The day started out with the clients and I packing for the trip. We also got all of our food supplies ready to go. Then we headed off for the Grand Canyon which is an hour and a half away from B2B. When we got their we set up our tents depending on if we were doing a base camp or backpack. This particular trip we base camped. After everyone had their camelbacks ready with water, we got on the shuttle bus and drove to the Grand Canyon. Here, we hiked to different look out points along the rim. After the guides decide the day has come to an end, we head back to camp. The clients learn how to cook their own food, then depending on if their is a fire ban, we have a fire. After this, we will have a big book study and community. Through this there are helpful shares about sobriety and maintaining it from all the clients including the guides. After the meeting, we go to bed to rest up for the next day. The next day, we have breakfast, then we start to pack for the day. Depending on whether we are day hiking or back packing we decide how much water and snacks we need to bring. When I first arrived at B2B, my hiking experience was very tough. I never went hiking very much. The hiking gets better the more and more that I do it. My legs get stronger every trip that we go on and it feels really good to see the progress skills and my stamina as well. It’s also very motivating to yourself when the rest of the clients help you through the hikes and pushing yourself to overcome hardness in your hike. This I can relate to the rest of my life. Such as not quitting when the going gets tough and overcoming your inner power so you have more focus on your higher power. Experience of a life time for me.
— B2B client
The Right Fit
When I first arrived at B2B from Reno, NV, I had a picture in my mind. That picture was a happy life living sober, when I was dropped off at the Hunter House, my mind was in such a blur, that I thought I would never be able to cope with life without drugs or alcohol. I couldn’t realize at first the good I was doing, I just wanted to lower my tolerance and leave B2B. After I met all the clients at the house, I wasn’t sure how it was going to work. Personally I felt like I would never fit in and it wasn’t the right fit. It wasn’t like the clients weren’t being nice because they were. The first week was probably the hardest thing I’ve ever dealt with in my whole life. After the first week things were starting to get easier and easier. I was starting to get to know each client on a personal level. As more and more clients started coming to the house, it made me feel better inside. This was because a lot of them were in a lot worse place then when I had come into the house. Being the youngest in the house was very frustrating at first. I thought that I was missing out on the best parts of my life. In reality, when I look at it now, it makes me feel good to know that in a sense,staying on a sober path younger is the best thing that I have going for me. As I kept developing better relationships with the clients and most of the staff, everyone was very helpful when I first came in to the program, only detoxing from cocaine and weed. My problem could have been much worse if I had not committed to detoxing in Reno. The also committing to a rehab center where I am at this point in time. I’m doing this mostly for myself, but it means a lot to my parents that I’m doing rehab because it was my choice and that I realized my life was unmanageable and that I needed a new start somewhere. If I could choose any rehab center I would have chose this same place for the reason that this is unlike any other rehab in the fact that we have a lot of trust put in to the clients to maintain the house and learn exactly how to cope with life on life’s terms. I hope that I can have the same relationship with my parents the way I had it when I wasn’t using drugs and our relationship meant something to me. When I was using my parents didn’t really mean anything to me, that’s probably the reason why I was stealing from them and didn’t care at all. B2B is teaching me how to cope with life and my parents and to learn how to live sober.
— B2B client
