'KB’s Story
Story shared with client’s consent
"Beyond the beautiful facilities, the program was truly incomparable. Thank you to Shahir and the team at Savasana for helping me rebuild my life."
-KB
I have been battling addiction and mental health challenges for over ten years. I had been to more residential treatment facilities—both public and private—than I could count. I engaged with AA, numerous therapists using different modalities (both individual and group), and various medications. I can honestly say that through all these experiences and over all this time, I never came across a facility like Savasana.
I laugh that I ended up there by accident, having rung the wrong number. However, after speaking with Shahir, something inside me felt that this was going to be special. I was not wrong. Beyond the beautiful facilities, the program was truly incomparable. The education groups were designed to inform on a general level, but I also had the chance to reflect on how they applied in my own life. I was challenged to look inward with curiosity and compassion. Understanding my true values for the first time has now given me a compass that guides me daily.
My stay was over the Christmas and New Year period, and I spent a large portion of my time as the only client. I never felt lonely. I felt consistently supported and safe, thanks to the caring staff—no request was ever too big or too small.
The morning routine I developed for myself during my stay is something I brought home with me. With a few adjustments to suit life in the ‘real world,’ I still practise it today, four months later. My confidence has grown exponentially.
The greatest gift I received from my time at Savasana was learning to take ownership of my actions. Yes, I believe addiction is a chronic disease, not of my choosing, but I now accept that it’s up to me to manage it. No one else can fix me. This change in mindset and perspective has touched every aspect of my life. I’ve found safe accommodation, retrained, and started new work that allows me to prioritise my recovery. Most importantly, I’ve learned how to communicate with my family in a more empathetic way. With Shahir’s assistance, my family and I sat down and had an authentic conversation about how my addiction affected them—and how I’d like to move forward.
I did have a short hiccup after leaving, but for the first time in a long time, I was able to pull myself out of it without intervention. With my new mindset, I had the confidence and trust in myself to know what needed to be done—and I did it.
Thank you to Shahir and the team at Savasana for helping me rebuild my life.
