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All I remember from the last time is how DIFFERANT he was after being there for 2 weeks. He LOVED it. He was back to his sweet, sensitive, funny self. And, one of the most noticeable changes we all noticed was --- he wasn't selfish like before. When we went to see him for family day -- they served lunch. After me and his parents were done eating he took our plates and threw them away. I about fell out of my chair. That would've NEVER happened at home with the old Brett. He'd have just left everything on the table and went outside to smoke. Never thinking twice about it.

They go to classes, meetings and church. But, they also are given jobs. Washing dishes, peeling potatoes in the kitchen (everybody wants the kitchen jobs), cutting grass. They have to work every day. They also have room inspections and if they get a demerit they lose things like free time, movie time, and if they get too many -- phone time. They have to pay for phone time and laundry facilities. They have a laundry room in the back and it's just like at the laundromat. So, everything costs money. And, things are taken away if they screw up. If they continue to screw up they risk being expelled from the program. I never saw that happen to anybody the last time he was there. There was one guy though that kept "running away". Poor guy. Every time they had outside time he would take off down the road. It's kidn of funny and Brett and the other guys kind of laughed about it. Somebody from the office would run get him and bring him back. He'd be crying, etc.

It is VERY overwhelming being there I'll tell you that. For the family members I mean. The men at this place -- some of them are so broken. You can see the humiliation in their eyes. Some are young kids that mommy and daddy (who usually have money) put them there. I remember one specifically. His dad was a big UGA fan - I guess he went there or something. So, his young son who got into UGA started getting dui's, etc. They put him at Penfield to "straighten him out" (and probably because the court told him to). This guy joked with everyone about his partying, how he was going to party when he got out, etc. His dad even wanted to take him to a UGA football game while he was there (not allowed). We were astonished. Then there are the older guys -- beaten down, tired, look like -ell. Or the ones who you can tell are at their last "stop". Their families have paid the money this one last time or else. I feel most sorry for them. Some are older - like in their 50's. Health problems from drinking/drugs. They are soooooooooooooo pitiful. But, so sweet to talk to them. Once you can separeate the addiction from the addict -- you can really SEE the wonderful people underneath.

Ok -- sorry to ramble.....

But, this time could be differant. I don't know. I'm just praying.

Loraura wrote:

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Just remember, it may very well get WORSE before it gets better. Right now, as unbearable as he can be, he still has his own coping mechanism to fall back on. Soon, if he sticks it out in rehab, he won't have that, and he won't know what else to do yet either. So for a while, things may seem worse. That's to be expected. All of his feelings are about to come flooding up with no way to push them back down.