Imagine a loved one slowly slipping away, replaced by a distant stranger. This is what our family endured for years as my mother battled a hidden addiction to alcohol. For an estimated five years, she drank in secret, the effects gradually changing her personality. The warmth and love we knew vanished, replaced by coldness and indifference. This transformation was incredibly hurtful and fractured our family bond.
Just before losing her to complications of addiction, our family was referred to Kelsey Family CIC. We were at a breaking point. As an only child, the weight of the situation fell heavily on me. My father was on the verge of a breakdown, and I desperately tried to shield my three young children from the truth. On top of that, I was my partner's sole source of support while managing my mother's escalating needs and health crises. It felt like a constant state of crisis, with calls to emergency services, social workers, and medical professionals becoming a terrifying routine.
Kelsey Family CIC stepped in and offered a lifeline. They provided practical support, arranging for Ben, a counsellor, to visit my mother and advocate for the help she desperately needed. This intervention was crucial as our previous experiences with the Derbyshire Recovery Partnership had been disappointing.
But their support went beyond my mother. They offered a holistic approach, recognizing the toll addiction takes on the entire family. They helped my father understand what was happening and provided him with the tools to cope with the trauma and grief. For the first time in a long time, I wasn't alone. Kelsey Family CIC equipped me with tools for self-care and helped us rediscover the joy of spending quality time together as a family.
There are many charities that help people with addiction, but few offer the same level of holistic support for families. They recognized that someone, often the only child, becomes the pillar holding everything together. In our case, that was me, and I'm eternally grateful for their intervention.
Kelsey Family CIC's impact on our lives is immeasurable. They helped us navigate the darkness of addiction and find a path towards healing. Their unique approach ensures no one is left to face this battle alone. They empower families to rebuild their lives, and for that, they deserve continued support and funding to reach more families in need.
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