Elizabeth Zwirner Ruggiero
GBI am living my life When my family confronted me with the fact that my drinking was out of control I said I could handle it myself. They persisted and I went to St. Jude's. At first I was wondering how did I end up here? After a week or so I dug my heals in and concentrated on the program. On me. On what I was doing to myself and my family. Six weeks later when I went home I felt lighter better more centered. That was less than a year ago. Since then I have traveled to Tahiti ,become a great grandmother, watched a granddaughter graduate from high school, move to a beautiful condo on the ocean, and within a year I will celebrate our 50th anniversary with my husband. Yes I have a lot to live for.
Brian
GBExcellent program that teaches self-accountability. The program is excellent, and focuses on choices that we are free to make every day. It wisely separates each life issue from others, so the analysis and elimination of unwanted issues is very simple. This program is not one size fits all, where you are coerced into thinking a particular dogma. Rather, the onus is upon oneself; to define yourself, see where you have succeeded and failed at being yourself, and laying out goals and plans of action to become yourself again. Touching on a variety of modern research topics including behavioral neuroscience, group dynamics, philosophy of nature, and cross-cultural fixed concepts, this program will challenge you to think hard about what is important and how to gain meaning in your life. I highly recommend.
John
GBA Great Experience After many years of battling my addiction, depression and unhappiness; St. Jude Retreat was the solution I had been searching for. I had tried many different 12 step programs over many year, and never felt like it was right for me, or I really fit in. The program, staff, environment and activities over my six week stay at St. Jude, brought a clarity and understanding of myself, the "addiction" thought process and how it can be easily replace with happiness, enjoyment and a feeling of satisfaction. I made many friends that I will be in touch with for the rest of my life, between staff members and other guests. I highly recommend St Jude Retreats to anyone, even if you don't think you have a "problem" or "addiction"; but simply feel like things may not be quite right in your life. Life is meant to be great. Your days should be filled with happiness. St Jude Retreats will open your eyes as to how to consistently make it happen. And...it's easier than you think!
Shawn Meritt
GBI AM NOT DISEASED My name is Shawn, I am an ..... Wait wait wait. Let me start over. My name is Shawn I am not diseased. I am not powerless, I am not out of control, nor have I ever been. Now just to let you know before I got here I would not have said these things because I totally fed into the diseased mentality. Completely believed I was powerless. I prayed and prayed everyday for God to remove my obsessiveness and defects to no avail. Now if you're one of those closed minded people like I was you may be thinking, well if you really worked the program you would stay sober. To those I will say I went to 180 meetings in 90 days. Three and four meetings a day. I worked the steps to the best of my ability more than once. I still had the desire, and believed it was up to God alone to relieve me of the obsession. Now I know the truth. Now I know I and I alone am responsible for my decisions. I chose to drink and drug and until I faced this fact nothing or no entity was gonna save me from myself. realizing the power is mine, that my success is in my hands, is so freeing and empowering. I can change myself from the inside out. I can control myself and my thinking, How depressing it was to think one little can of cold beer would make me drink thirty more. I am not weak. I am powerful but had been brainwashed otherwise. My happiness and my life are mine to make whatever I want to out of. I have total confidence in myself thanks to Saint Jude Retreats. The best most productive years of my life lie in front of me. I cant wait to show people that I can succeed on my own.
Chris Geddes
GBGreat place I loved my stay here it changed my life. They have great amenities an truly caring people.