A Parent's Story >> Arriving in OC >> You Can Love Yourself >> High Expectations >> Recovery from CA to TX
"Safe Harbor will love you until you
can love yourself." "This is what I was
told by Velvet during my first week, when I was
shaking with trepidation and unsure if I could do
this 90 day recovery program. Still in my disease,
I would find any excuse not to like it here. In
fact, I put a lot of time and effort into being
displeased with my peers and surroundings. But,
alas, I was unsuccessful. I could not stop myself
from forming bonds with the other girls in the house.
I could not stop myself from looking forward to
art therapy and body image counseling. It sounds
bizarre, but the more counseling and love I received
from the staff, the more excited I was to be me
and to help those around me. I have worked on my
abandonment issues, my codependent issues, my love
addiction issues, and my body image distortions.
This is not to say that I have become perfect, for
it is progress rather than perfection. What I am
saying is that with each experience I encounter,
I have learned something new and enlightening, which
will help me better understand myself, my feelings,
and my actions. There are times when I feel that
I want to take a drink or smoke a joint, but the
trust, love, and structure and accountability that
Safe Harbor provides allow me to play the tape out
and to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I
feel truly grateful and blessed that Safe Harbor
found me and that I've had the opportunity to grow
and know happiness."
Kate Tyler
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