It was March 10, 1984 — my father’s 57th birthday and my 27th year of life. I had smoked for almost two-thirds of my life, had been addicted to alcohol for 15 years, and had been living a self-destructive life for over ten years, coming into conflict with the law. A prison sentence for various offenses was looming. Even that morning, I had been drinking when I congratulated my father at lunch and promised him I would enter therapy. I had made this promise to my family many times before, but had never kept it. That day, I promised my family, I would change my life and contact the therapy community. This time, I must have said my promise very convincingly because everyone looked at me amazed and astonished or hugged me.

That evening, I hit rock bottom for the last time, but the next morning I contacted the addiction counseling service. The day after, my parents and I had a counseling session, and a week later, I started therapy at "La Strada – Der Weg."


therapeutic community - „La Strada – Der Weg“

Thanks to a three-year therapy, I was able to say no to alcohol, medication, and drugs. I only continued smoking until a few years ago. The therapy at "La Strada – Der Weg" helped me work on myself and deal with problems and situations differently. The focus of the treatment was on me as a person, with my fears, insecurities, and difficulties. Through group and talk therapies as well as living in a community with other young people, I could no longer escape reality. Instead, I had to learn to admit my problems, talk openly about them, and face them instead of fleeing into a fantasy world through drugs. I had to learn to take responsibility, be reliable and honest, and respect others. I understood that I am the problem, not the drugs or others.


Since then, I have been clean. Even though sometimes I crave a cigarette, or would like to enjoy a good glass of wine, or feel the high from a drug, I know I have to fight against it because life is too precious and beautiful to live it in a "fogged" state.

My advice: never start using addictive substances. That way, you’ll never have to face the difficult path of breaking free from them!