Testimonials
Four Unique Individuals – One Common Journey
Hear firsthand from four patients about the individualized treatment they received at Lakeview Health Systems.
The following letter came from a former patient at Lakeview Health Systems. We appreciate her kind words and hope that it may help you in your situation.
"Drugs took me to
places I 'cringed' at
prior to using."
|
July 2, 2010
My name is Terissa K. I am a 40 yr old female who is clean today by God’s mercy and Lakeview’s program!! I picked up my first drug at age 19, and it was a long, slow, and very lonely journey from that point on. Drugs took me to places I “cringed” at prior to using. My family, friends, job and well-being were the least important to me when drugs were in the picture. In the 20 years I was using and abusing drugs I went to jail, treatment centers, 12 step programs, doctors and psych wards… None of these were able to keep me clean. I did somehow achieve 3 years of abstinence in early 2003, I hadn’t surrendered fully because my father passed away and I was unable to be there be there due to my addiction.
The seven years that followed were the beginning of the nightmare that jolted me to ask for help. In January 2010, I reached out for help through a psych ward at a hospital and asked them to find me treatment for drug addiction. A short time afterwards I was speaking with a woman who was working at the call center in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida named Sherry. She was empathetic, and very willing to talk to me and guide me for two days. Shortly after I was on a bus headed for Lakeview Health Systems in Jacksonville, Fl. I was residing in Jacksonville, but my addiction had taken me to a town that was 3 hrs away.
"The counselors were
more involved than in
any other treatment
facility I have ever
been in. They truly
wanted to help me find
the solution."
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I was admitted to Lakeview On February 2, 2010. The next six weeks I had the opportunity to take the most in depth look at myself I have ever experienced. The counselors were more involved than any other treatment facility I have ever been in. It was more personal to me somehow. It was as if it wasn’t just a job for them. They truly wanted to help me find the solution. On March 18, 2010 the day of my discharge I met with the clinical director, my counselor, and Dr. Jerry who runs the family program which I highly suggest to anyone. They expressed concern about my going back to where I was living. Half-way houses were something I had never done before and I need to tell you when the suggestion was made by these people I took it! I felt like I was special. Why were these people so concerned with me? It may be worth giving it a try. Every step was taken by Lynn the clinical administrator to ensure I went straight from the treatment center to a half-way house in Ft. Lauderdale. It has been a blessing.
"I'm not what drugs
made me. I'm
becoming who God
intended me to be."
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As I write this I have five months and three days clean. I’m sitting in my “own” apartment and my life is full. I attend more than 7 meetings a week in a twelve step program, have a sponsor, a job and a relationship I’m working on with myself so I can better the ones I have with my family. I want to mention that the counselors I had at Lakeview were very instrumental in this process. Ari, Robin and Sherry, Thank You!! I realized I’m not who I thought I was or what drugs made me. I’m becoming who god intended me to be.
Additional testimonials from our Facebook page:
Heather N. writes, “Lakeview saved my life in so many ways, more than just life or death. They saved my kids from losing a good mother and they saved my friends and family from losing an incredible person in their life. They showed me that life is hard, but if you take it one day, even one minute, at a time and be patient, you will be able to live a more peaceful and enjoyable life.”
Sonya C. writes, “I was a proud patient of Lakeview from November 9, 2007 to November 27, 2007 and wanted you all to know that by the grace of God and my stay at LVH I have been an upstanding member of Alcoholics Anonymous since. I have been humbled by being asked several times to come back and share my story. Just call me anytime and I'm there. Wishing you all love, peace, and happiness.”
Garrett G. writes, “I was in rehab at Lakeview Health Systems back in 2008. I just want to thank everyone that worked there when I was there. Lakeview is a great rehab. I have learned a lot about myself since I was there. You all helped with my problems in life and with everything else. The GLBTQ class was freaking awesome - I loved it! I would love to come there again and speak to the patients about when I was there, my life, and what happened to me when I was on drugs. Well, I just want to thank everyone there for helping me out with stuff and finding the real me.”
Chrissie M. writes, “I was admitted to Lakeview on 8/15/2008. Happy to say that I am still clean and sober. Thank you to my counselor, Nancy, for all your help and support. You will always have a special place in my heart. Lakeview helped me to finally deal with my post traumatic stress disorder. A big reason I took drugs was to help hide and mask the pain and fear from the demons that haunted me. Thank you, Lakeview, and all the wonderful staff. I couldn’t have done it without you all!”
If you have questions about how our patients feel about the program, or if you need help or advice about a drug or alcohol problem, you can call our free Addiction Helpline, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, at 1-800-884-1727. You can also reach our Helpline by using Live Chat or through our Contact Us form.
