Dian Paterson was living on the streets, in trouble with the law and addicted to alcohol when she was introduced to Teen Challenge North East.
She first started struggling with drink at the age of 40 which led her to become “homeless, in trouble with the police and with a serious addiction.”
She said she had been experiencing “hurts in life” which led her to become a “broken woman.”
But she took matters into her own hands and saw a doctor with “a real heart,” who recommended she called into Benaiah, a rehab for women near Mintlaw.
‘Clean, free and truly happy’
This meeting would be the start of her road to recovery and, later, the first step on her journey to helping others struggling with addiction.
Dian, now 47, explained: “I took his advice, submitted an application and on August 16 2019, I entered the centre; a decision that totally changed the direction of my life.
“I successfully completed the programme, which definitely came with challenges but was so incredibly worth it.
“I am now clean, free and truly happy.”
As she came to the end of the programme, Dian was given the chance to complete an internship with the organisation.
She’s now officially employed as a support worker at Benaiah, and added: “I love my job. It is very rewarding and it’s an amazing privilege to help women to live a life free of addiction.”
Dian has also restored her relationships with her two sons – and also now has the “joy” of being a grandmother.
She is encouraging anyone struggling with addiction to visit the drop-in Rehab Placement at Trinity Church in Aberdeen, every Tuesday from 3-5pm.
There, they can find more info on Benaiah or the charity’s men’s rehab, Sunnybrae, near Fyvie.
“These are great opportunities for people to go to and have a chat to someone and get more information or even for some support,” Dian said.
“Here they can receive all the correct information on how the application process work, which is all confidential and handled caringly and professionally.”
What happens when you take the step to go to rehab?
Teen Challenge North East support worker Paul Beaton describes the process of taking the next step and finding a place in one of their Aberdeenshire rehab facilities.
However, anyone interested needs to show a “level of commitment” – filling out the necessary forms and having regular communication.
He said: “Something we ask of all our applicants to call in every day, we have a list of everyone that’s applying.
“We do this for a couple of reasons; one for showing a level of commitment, but also so we can speak to them, encourage them and they can have a focus as well.
“Once we’ve got all the paperwork, we get them in for an interview and we can decide at that point whether or not they’d be coming in.”
Paul says the rehab staff at Benaiah and Sunnybrae are often very much on the same path with those trying to overcome addiction and reintroduce structure to their lives.
“It’s a year-long program, so we’re on a journey with them and it’s a big commitment to head away for a year, it’s a big step,” he said.
“We’re out in the countryside and there’s a lot of routine and structure because people caught in addiction generally either had no routine or they lost it.
“It’s a real mix between class-based work, personal advice sessions, work duties and recreational activities,” he explained.
‘Staying clean is the tough part’
Paul also stressed that the process of getting clean might be relatively easy, but maintaining it long-term is the main challenge.
“It can take a while to unravel the mess that has been made in the past,” he explained.
“Getting clean, in many ways, is the easy part – and I’m not belittling getting physically clean.
“But in many ways it’s the easy part, staying clean is the tough part. That’s why our program is a year long.
“Getting someone physically off alcohol, heroin, Valium or whatever it might be is relatively early doors.
“Then you work with them and help them with their attitude, self-discipline, goals for the future and through any trauma that maybe drove them to drink or drugs,” he added.
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