These are the full responses from these series of questions we asked members of our community in March 2023 about the impact of their involvement in Rite to Freedom.
Has being part of R2F supported you to make more positive choices and choose healthier directions in your life? If yes, please give an example.
“Experimenting with meditation in the mornings whilst my two young girls (5&6) played. They would occasionally disturb me, and I would go back into the meditation. Useful for my practice, and useful for them to be in that space with me, observing, and noticing the impact on the atmosphere. Something that I thought I couldn’t do in their presence as they would “disturb” the process. But no more than my thoughts and the world can disturb the process.”
- Siôn, participant 2021
“Rite to Freedom has been a huge part in personal growth for me. One area that I struggled with was that I found it extremely difficult to speak in groups, even my name. Since being with the RTF tribe I now am confident to speak in groups and that would never happened if I wasn’t given the support and the safe space and encouragement it’s huge for me. Also I can’t live without nature connection now and this has come from RTF Home Turf Days and time on Dartmoor.”
- Jo W, participant 2018
“It has showed me that there are many ways to achieve and maintain sobriety/recovery and this helped me to stop trying to force solutions on the addicts in my life, which has created harmony where there was friction. It has also helped me test the boundaries and gently widen the circle of my approach to my own recovery, which was quite rigid. R2F gave me the courage to move out of my comfort zone and the support to manage the emotions round that.”
- Sarah, participant 2018
“I started meditation again, developed more awareness of using food and screens to self-regulate, inspiring me to try and become a councillor as a long term life goal . Connecting with the part of me that needs to sing and run and be in dialogue with creative expression as a 'release valve' and like minded folk who value meaningful relationship.”
- Naomi, participant 2020
“I decided to give priority to work that implies interaction with people. I realized I had isolated myself and my involvement with R2F rekindled dramatically my innate sense of belonging, serving and learning in a community oriented environment.” - Massimo, participant 2021
“R2F has helped me connect better with myself firstly, it has shown me on many different occasions that it's okay to be vulnerable. The connection I get through nature now is amazing, my awareness has grown massively through working with R2F.”
- Paul, participant 2021
“I was working frontline in supported housing which was really impacting my mental health. I was supported to look at healthier ways of being and explore options. As a result I’m now in the place I’m meant to be, working for R2F.” - Ali, participant 2016
“It has been very helpful to reach out to RTF staff and community for support when times have been challenging. This helped me get back on track with a healthier and more positive outlook and directions.” - Alex, participant 2021
“I noticed I was holding back in some of the group settings - part of but at a distance, I was also struggling to be authentic in some ways and had been recently working with a personal counsellor.”
- Gary, participant 2022
“Yes definitely. I have been able to take the time out that I needed for my own personal health reasons and I was able to process this and look after myself.”
Jo I, participant 2018
“It’s helped me believe in myself again and given me more room to explore outside of AA. It’s also taught me to value me and how to work on sensitive areas.”
“I now carefully consider how to spend my spare time as it is precious. I am also studying carpentry at college.”
- Dave, participant 2021
“R2F enabled me to feel confident and skilled enough to develop my career and become a psychotherapist.”
“I chose to look at my relationship with God in a deeper way and have been making healthier choices.”
- Phil, participant 2019
“Support is there - I isolate and have been unwell but I know amazing support is on offer.”
Kay, participant 2022
“Finding the confidence to climb again - out of the past and the pain.”
“To try and clear past stuff blocking my relationship with my mother.”
- Tor, participant 2022
“It has helped me move forward to full time employment.”
- Denise, participant 2018
Since being part of R2F have you felt less isolated and a greater sense of community and connection in your life? If yes, please give an example.
“I have many friends who I connect with from RTF and again feel part a wonderful community of supportive amazing people.”
- Jo W, participant 2018
“Recently I was having challenges and difficult issues with house mate and I reached out to RTF staff who spent time with me on the phone to talk about conflict resolution and other ways to handle the situation more effectively. I felt a huge relief in a situation which otherwise would have put many addictive behaviors into a much more vulnerable place.”
- Alex, participant 2021
“There is always some form of connection, whether in person or via a group or a meeting.”
“Yes. It didn’t matter that I had to take some time out for myself, I knew that when I was physically and mentally ready to reconnect with the tribe I would be welcomed and supported in many ways.”
- Jo I, participant 2018
“I have become more involved in projects that require cooperation and interaction with others at a peer level. This is serving well my desire to overcome certain co-dependent patterns that have been hindering my life and fuelling my addiction.”
- Massimo, participant 2021
“I recognised I was living a life driven by work and lacked any meaningful connection. I have worked on how to look at my own reasons for this approach to life.”
- Gary, participant 2022
“I have made so many dear and true friends since my residential. The legacy has been that I have a beautiful circle of friends that I regularly meet up with outside of R2F and also in R2F. I found that being in community and able to connect in lockdown really helped with the impact of isolation. I would have really struggled with mental health issues had the zooms and online retreats not been in place.”
- Ali, participant 2016
“The ongoing connection with R2F since the residential.”
- Tor, participant 2022
“R2F was a real lifeline through the pandemic. Some of my dearest friends are part of R2F and it is a very special recovery community to be part of, l could not be in long term recovery with just 12 step input. I always know l can reach out and someone will respond with empathy and support.”
- Naomi, participant 2020
“I now have great relationships in my life that I really value and am able to maintain in a healthy way. My communication skills have much improved.”
- Dave, participant 2021
“I feel R2F are like a strong family and friends to me.”
“Yes. It has definitely widened my recovery life.”
- Phil, participant 2019
“R2F have become like family, I have made new friendships and am able to participate in many activities with them beyond what I got from the retreat. The retreat was really just the jumping off point for deepening my involvement, my growth, my compassion, my pursuit of healing and having a meaningful life. I have been invited and welcomed into a tribe and I feel supported and loved by it, and also feel I may have a worthwhile contribution to make myself. I never felt like that before I started this journey with R2F.”
- Sarah, participant 2018
“At first I didn't feel a part of R2F, it took a while but by being shown love and compassion that soon changed. Through my constant engagement with R2F I feel like I belong. I'm held and supported and I never feel alone. I'm a tribe member and proud to be one. It helps me engage more in my work, my day to day life and I feel part of my community.”
- Paul, participant 2021
“My job means I communicate with people from all backgrounds.”
- Denise, participant 2018
“There have been occasions on the Multi Addiction recovery calls that we would have break-out sessions, and these gave me opportunity to connect with people I’ve not properly connected with 1-2-1. During the residential in Nov 21 I made friends with Massimo, and felt very connected to his journey. I subsequently supported him to develop his coaching practice, whilst offering myself as a guinea pig to his newly designed programme. And in the process I felt deeply supported by him.”
- Siôn, participant 2021
Through your involvement with R2F have you been better able to navigate conflict, both with others and with yourself more compassionately? If yes, please give an example.
“R2F leadership has modelled for me an attitude of honesty and courage in facing conflicts that I really need. I am very good with honesty, but I am very scared of conflicts, so witnessing courage is a great gift.”
- Massimo, participant 2021
“The Creative Pathways programme and staff training have given me a navigation point through the archetypes to better understand conflict and how to deal with it in a compassionate way. I used to self harm as a way of managing conflict, I no longer use cutting my body to speak my words I articulate them with clarity, thought and compassion. As with all things recovery a work in progress.”
- Ali, participant 2016
“Yes. I am able to process things much better. I respond differently to conflict due to what I have learnt about myself and my growth in my recovery which R2F has played a big positive influence in.”
- Jo I, participant 2018
“Not engaging with toxic relatives, learning to trust myself, stepping away from drama. Being able to see the suffering of others more clearly.”
- Naomi, participant 2020
“My new neighbour was sat with his mate on the roof outside my window smoking weed and playing music. I usually wouldn't have said anything but would have had a huge resentment, especially if this would have continued. I was able to have an honest conversation with him about this and he was very understanding of how I felt. I also had compassion for him as he needs somewhere to go. Previously that could have ended badly.”
- Dave, participant 2021
“Yes. Being calm, and breathing in nature when I get angry or upset.”
“I don’t have too much conflict in my life but I know if I did then RTF provide a very good structured way of talking through honestly and openly with the person with a third party so each person feels safe to speak and resolve situations openly and honestly which is an amazing thing to offer as a community.”
- Jo W, participant 2018
“Having widened my perception of recovery I have been more compassionate to the using addicts in my life, and this has naturally led to less conflict. I have gained more compassion for myself because I am invited to give input and feel heard, and also am told that my input is valuable, which through the love I have been shown I actually believe.”
- Sarah, participant 2018
“I have learned to work through problems in being around and working with others.”
- Phil, participant 2019
“I've learnt through mindfulness and my engagement with R2F to be kind to myself, I've also been held accountable for my actions, challenged with love. Showing me how to carry myself in a higher regard.”
- Paul, participant 2021
“I have a deep calmness about my self and this reflects onto other people.”
- Denise, participant 2018
“Sharing an ancient resentment with my mother in a kindly manner.”
- Tor, participant 2022
“I find I have more tolerance and acceptance. I have learnt how to phrase things better and learning clean talk.”
“Through the self awakening I did during my time on my resdential and when I have connected into other group events I tried to develop my own compassion towards myself and to learn and heal from my own trauma some of which I didn’t realise till I did my experience at R2F.”
- Gary, participant 2022