Cam had a problem with alcohol — and he knew it.
“I would work a lot. And then with my free time, I drank a lot.”
He tried stopping on his own, ending up hospitalized multiple times for alcohol withdrawal. He never lost his job but his marriage was dissolving, which aggravated his drinking. He entered several rehab programs, only to relapse every time.
He realized he needed something more. Something that would go beyond helping him to stop drinking. Something that would help change his life. And he found it at Guiding Light.
It was clear right away this would be a different experience. “The biggest thing was the dedication that you had to be able to provide, knowing there was going to be a probationary period in the beginning to kind of prove yourself before you were even accepted.”
Next, Cam said, he learned about Guiding Light’s emphasis on being not just physically healthy but also healthy in mind and spirit. “Once I got into the program, I realized that — with a life coach and a therapist and spiritual adviser — it wasn’t like any other program that I had been to. One of the biggest things I realized very early on was they were going to make sure you were true to your word. When you said you were going to do something, you were going to do it.”
This included being challenged to embrace the discomfort that comes with living differently. Cam recalled working with his life coach as he struggled with how to begin building a new relationship with his parents. He has learned to simplify his approach and just let them know he loves them and wants to spend time with them.
Along the way — amid the presentations and CrossFit exercises and meetings and coaching and therapy sessions — a transformation starts to take place, Cam said.
“As you’re going through the program, you kind of become changed before you even realize it. You learn more about yourself. You kind of develop a confidence, become closer with the guys. And as you progress through the program, you kind of become maybe a leader in the program. Some of the other guys may look up to you, have questions for you and things like that. Like I did in the beginning of the program.”
That’s another hallmark of Guiding Light — it’s a supportive community where strong relationships are built. “I was lucky that I met a couple of guys from the time I walked through the door and I’ve been pretty close with them my entire time here. I spent time in the probation room with some guys that I’m still close with now. And we’re all still in the program.”
After completing the Foundations stage at Guiding Light, Cam has moved on to the Achieve phase where men are supported in their search for employment. He looks forward to the opportunity to move to the sober living community of Iron House. That continuity and long-term commitment is another quality that makes Guiding Light stand apart from other programs, Cam said. Because the program is 100% donor funded, it does not face the same restrictions as time-limited programs that depend on insurance.
“Being donor-funded is something I’ve never experienced before and it’s amazing. We get three meals a day, a place to stay, and there’s not just an end goal to where you reach a certain point and you’re out. You go to Iron House and there are guys who have been there for a year or longer. And I think it’s something to certainly be grateful for.” The clarity Cam has gained at Guiding Light leaves him looking forward to returning to work, being realistic with himself and talking a rational, healthy approach to life. Just as he once knew he had a problem, now he knows he has possibilities. “I think self-awareness now is being able to manage your feelings, have a more logical approach to things. And I think that’s one of the biggest things I’ve gained. Coming to Guiding Light is one of the greatest, if not the greatest, decisions I’ve ever made in my life.”
