Month: August 2017

When I first contacted Sarah at The Harrogate Sanctuary I was in that vicious circle of stopping and starting drinking. I knew I had a problem and was out of control but after a couple of weeks of using will power to stay AF those voices would take over telling me that I didn’t drink any more than my friends, that loads of people drink a bottle of wine a day, it was my ‘treat’ for having had a bad day, that I wouldn’t drink until the weekend – or only on a day that ends in a ‘y’ etc etc etc Then the cycle re started: the guilt, hangovers, what I call ‘the fear’ of what I said or did the night before. I had lost hope that I could ever win the battle with the ‘ugly juice’ and certainly knew that I couldn’t do it on my own.

The first day I contacted Sarah I was desperate but immediately felt as if I was in safe hands and finally talking to someone who understood. It was such a relief to admit to someone that I had a problem and to have my anxiety taken seriously (voicing my fears to friends/my husband were met with the usual oh-you-dont-drink-that-much conversation or, as I call it, the Emperor’s new clothes syndrome). Sarah helped me over the first few difficult weeks with her wise words, humour and non judgemental attitude and carried me through the blips with her positivity and a constant reminder of what was to be gained. She is clearly totally passionate about her work and responds to emails/calls very quickly.

Sarah has helped me get my life back and I can honestly say that socialising without booze – which was my biggest fear – no longer bothers me. I thought I would be bored, and boring, without it but looking back the reverse was true. Granted it took a period of adjustment but I’ve got there (it happened far more quickly than I ever imagined) and, believe me, it feels good. My anxiety has gone, energy levels have increased and my previously much-flagging self respect has returned with gusto. No more black shadows of denial lurking at the back of my mind like the spectre at the feast – dominating my headspace and wasting precious time.

If you are hesitating to take the plunge then ask your self the following: If alcohol makes you so happy then why are you reading this blog? Yes, there is the financial consideration but if you think how much you spend a day, week, month, year on booze then the investment soon pays for itself and you can’t put a price on being the best version of yourself you can possibly be.

Go for it… if I can do it then anyone can. And Sarah is the person who can help you achieve your goal.

Debbie, London

When I first contacted Sarah at The Harrogate Sanctuary I was in that vicious circle of stopping and starting drinking. I knew I had a problem and was out of control but after a couple of weeks of using will power to stay AF those voices would take over telling me that I didn’t drink any more than my friends, that loads of people drink a bottle of wine a day, it was my ‘treat’ for having had a bad day, that I wouldn’t drink until the weekend – or only on a day that ends in a ‘y’ etc etc etc Then the cycle re started: the guilt, hangovers, what I call ‘the fear’ of what I said or did the night before. I had lost hope that I could ever win the battle with the ‘ugly juice’ and certainly knew that I couldn’t do it on my own.

The first day I contacted Sarah I was desperate but immediately felt as if I was in safe hands and finally talking to someone who understood. It was such a relief to admit to someone that I had a problem and to have my anxiety taken seriously (voicing my fears to friends/my husband were met with the usual oh-you-dont-drink-that-much conversation or, as I call it, the Emperor’s new clothes syndrome). Sarah helped me over the first few difficult weeks with her wise words, humour and non judgemental attitude and carried me through the blips with her positivity and a constant reminder of what was to be gained. She is clearly totally passionate about her work and responds to emails/calls very quickly.

Sarah has helped me get my life back and I can honestly say that socialising without booze – which was my biggest fear – no longer bothers me. I thought I would be bored, and boring, without it but looking back the reverse was true. Granted it took a period of adjustment but I’ve got there (it happened far more quickly than I ever imagined) and, believe me, it feels good. My anxiety has gone, energy levels have increased and my previously much-flagging self respect has returned with gusto. No more black shadows of denial lurking at the back of my mind like the spectre at the feast – dominating my headspace and wasting precious time.

If you are hesitating to take the plunge then ask your self the following: If alcohol makes you so happy then why are you reading this blog? Yes, there is the financial consideration but if you think how much you spend a day, week, month, year on booze then the investment soon pays for itself and you can’t put a price on being the best version of yourself you can possibly be.

Go for it… if I can do it then anyone can. And Sarah is the person who can help you achieve your goal.

Debbie, London

I feel my last diary should have a background ‘ta-da’!

So, I have accomplished my six weeks, under your care and guidance and feel:

– very proud of myself (I can’t now recall what I was wailing about 6 weeks ago)

– a lot healthier (even though not a pound has fallen from my frame – not the point, but just …)

– confident and capable to go forward. My time with The Sanctuary has given me a framework and though I am sure I shall have wobbles, all the drama has gone out of it.

Also, the biggest revolution is ‘I don’t like the taste of alcohol…!’. If you would have told me this 6 weeks ago, I would have said you were mad.

My brother and sister-in-law insisted we all had a glass of sparkling wine last night to celebrate our homecoming, with our meal. I refused, but then did not want to make people uncomfortable, as they had gone to a massive effort, so I conceded to half a glass. Paint stripper! Cheap sparkling so popular now, was not a favourite, but a glass would have been very palatable before my programme. Very glad that my cognitive thought process has altered, the switch has been flipped.

It was funny to be with the children too to understand this from a different perspective. For example, they had a taste of mum’s cocktail when we were away and screwed their faces in disgust. This is a natural reaction to alcohol. Granted I haven’t tasted red wine, my drink of choice, but honestly now I think it would be similar.

This is a most unexpected and welcome development.

It has been lovely working with you, Sarah. Thank you so much. The biggest intervention was meeting you and being told, with no frills, that the underlying cause of my drinking was that ‘I could’ and that if I continued, things would be so much worse. I have then just really enjoyed our correspondence. Your messages have been like the ‘stabilisers’ on the bike. But mostly they have been warm and funny, which has been lovely. Unlike the anticipation of what this unique method would be like.

I wish you every success with business.