"My wonderful experience with Logan Family Recovery"

The lead up to LFR:

After setting things in motion with booking in with HADS and LFR the wait time and game on time started. With LLW the motion started with engaging in two programs being Parenting Under Pressure and Virtual Delivery Day Program. There was also getting my house and affairs in order to be able to attend LFR and to not be returning to a home and life that had been lived for too long. In order for my children to attend LFR, they had to transition to a local state school which was a hard decision to make to uproot them but I knew it was our recovery, not my recovery because they'd lived the addiction, the mental health, the trauma.

LFR Arrival:

LFR's natural environment is, in my opinion, open, spacious, green, countrified with an abundance of wildlife. The units, wowee, was like being at five star getaway - new, modern, equipped, clean, fresh, open and beautiful views.

The staff were welcoming, soothing, supportive, dedicated, focused, adaptive to our family's needs and goals. Having been in addiction for 20 plus years I felt like I was being spoilt having two provided meals a day, it also gave an increased variety of menu to my children who I'd just fed what I knew they liked and wouldn't complain about, to get through the day with as little fuss as possible.

LFR Program:

Focused around learning to live a family life more structured around routine, consistency, open-mindedness, learning, increased knowledge. The program focused on parenting, addiction, budgeting, relapse prevention, safety planning, other forms of support, goal setting, values, decision making, cravings, triggers, healthy boundaries, communication styles, emotion management, cognitive behavioural therapy, problem solving and balance.

Realistic versus Unrealistic Expectations:

I came to LFR expecting possibly everyone to be on a similar journey of hope to recovery which in my opinion, is not reality. If I could go back and change my experiences and some of the not so good experiences it would be to focus essentially on my family's recovery, not other individuals. I think I came to the program quite judgmental and it was through the not so good experiences that it was either take the high road or learn to look a little bit deeper and realise that every addict is on their own journey and with their own pain, with their own history taught me not to judge a book by its cover. I also expected things to be quite regimented after my experience attending a private clinic, staffing and program wise. I was overwhelmed by the lack of security, lack of staffing and trust given to residents and again it all came back to realising that life is 10% of what happens and 90% of how I choose to react to situations and experiences.

How LFR gave us our future and freedom back:

LFR taught us about our family's rupture and repair, the parenting under pressure modules were invaluable and will be implemented for the foreseeable future. The modules covered gave a firm groundwork for moving forward through addiction and mental health. The support was invaluable from each and every one of the staff and they'll be sorely missed. I really feel that they held our hands through the worst of the worst and gave us a glimpse of a more secure and bright future. I was petrified leaving LFR to return home without the supports to call on when we really needed them and to be returning home to no work, school holidays, programs temporarily on vacation or shutdown. However knowing that I had LLW program to return to, mental health supports put in place within LFR, I was able to hop, skip and jump life's little hurdles and move forward and continue with LLW for the foreseeable future at this stage.