Amethyst Sober Living saved my daughter’s life!

Amethyst Sober Living saved my daughter’s life!

After years of narcotics abuse, my daughter was at crossroads as she nearly drove through my house in her car. That was my bottom as her mother and my enabling ended. Neither she nor I could deny her problem. Unknown to me she had been trying to find help for several months with no luck. We called all the numbers that advertised help and without insurance, there was no help. We did find a clinic willing to help which worked for about a month, but there was no focus in long-term abstinence from drugs.

Another crisis with her living arrangements and transportation became a problem and we began looking for somewhere in Bakersfield for her to live and recover. We were fortunate to find Amethyst Sober Living, which had just opened. For the first time in six years, I was able to sleep without worrying about my daughter. I had peace and the reassurance that my daughter was safe and getting the right help.

She lived at Amethyst Sober Living for 15 months and is now independently living on her own, parenting her child and working a full time job. Her life was saved with the love and support of the Amethyst approach,

Amethyst’s approach is comprehensive. It is not just a roof over their heads and a bed. The approach is comprehensive including definitive rules and guidelines. The women are required to attend meetings and medical treatments to focus on their addiction, treatment and recovery. They make goals, get sponsors and work the program. After a time the women are required to serve as a volunteer and eventually obtain a job as they re-learn daily survival skills. These survival skills include being responsible for their rooms, doing routine chores, interacting with housemates, learning to resolve conflict, cooking, laundry and looking forward to independence. My daughter learned these skills as a young adult but as the addiction took over her life, she neglected to perform which affected her child and all those around her. We worked closely with Magda and Elizabeth for the 15 months that my daughter was in Amethyst.

When it was time for her to move into her own place, they supported and encouraged her. She continues to attend meetings at Amethyst and considers Magda and Elizabeth part of her extended family and a primary support for her in Bakersfield.

Amethyst takes these women in crisis and in love work with them to recover. The women learn that they are accountable for their own behavior and with encouragement and support transform their lives.

Magda and Elizabeth truly care about the women in Amethyst and this does not change when the women move out. Magda and Elizabeth have become part of our family and we are so thankful for their dedication to help those that are in crisis of addiction. If you want a comprehensive, loving and supportive sober living environment, I would highly recommend them to your family. They can help them restore and save their lives.

Valerie K.

From a family that now has hope.....

It is with great appreciation and gratitude that I write this letter of recommendation for Amethyst Sober Living.  My daughter is bipolar with suicidal tendencies and refused to take her meds as prescribed. She preferred to self-medicate with pot and would abuse her meds.

My daughter is 22.  It has been a very long, lonely and often painful road from when she was diagnosed at 20 to now.  My bright beautiful daughter became a complete stranger that I, frankly, had difficulty liking. Her mood swings were out of control.  She was very aggressive and self destructive. Her siblings were terrified of her. We tried everything we could think of, including telling her she was no longer welcome at home.

My daughter decided to take acid and mixed it with her prescribed meds.  She was completely delusional. She thought she was Wonder Woman. My husband and I took her to her doctor and called the police.  She was placed on a psychiatric hold. (Sadly, this was her 3rd hold)

My husband and I were completely at the end of our ability to cope and started to accept that our daughter (the one we know and raised) is gone.  Her doctor stated that if she did not go into a residential recovery home for women, he would no longer be her doctor. As this time, we were given information on Amethyst Sober Living.  We told our daughter that if she wanted our support and a chance for a real life, she would go to Amethyst. I could not force her because she is an adult.

The best decision my daughter ever made was going to Amethyst.  I certainly did not think she would make the chouse. My fear was that she would commit suicide...she hung herself and barely survived… Doctor’s said it was a miracle she did… So, it was and still is a big fear of mine.

I called Amethyst and spoke with Magda.  I explained everything. She said she would go to the hospital and meet with my daughter and see if she would be a good fit.  To my great surprise, Magda said yes and made arrangements to pick up my daughter when she was released.

The first few days were horrible.  Elizabeth called and told me she was determined to save my daughter, but it was going to be very hard before it got better (if it did get better).  My daughter was aggressive, threw tantrums, and was extremely difficult. But, Magda and Elizabeth did not give up on her. They have a program that combines tough love with compassion.  It works! Over time, my daughter began to control herself. She took her meds as prescribed.

My daughter stayed at Amethyst Sober Living for 6 months.  She is a different person now. We still have our moments but we are able to work through them.  Magda and Elizabeth still offer their support to us. What I greatly appreciate is they did not just help my daughter, but my husband and I.  They gave us support and understanding.

I am sure that my daughter was extremely difficult.  It is very hard to help someone who has dual diagnosis.  My daughter was not just a “pothead”, she has mental illness.  Magda and Elizabeth never let that scare them!

I will always have a special place in my heart for Amethyst.  Magda and Elizabeth are very special to me. I would not hesitate to contact them in the future.  I hope I never have to.

They are the reason my family has another chance.

Sincerely,

A Mom Who Now Has HOPE

Teen Challenge, Walk for Recovery

Recently, the women of Amethyst Sober Living participated in the "Walk for Recovery" for Teen Challenge.  It was an amazing event and it felt great to get out into the community and raise awareness.  Seeing the hundreds of people from Bakersfield out so early in the morning, all trying to raise money for Teen Challenge in Bakersfield was awesome.  The women of Amethyst enjoyed being part of the community and participating in the event, clean and sober.  For a few, it was the first time being part of such a big event and they left with big smiles on their faces after completing the 5k walk!!  Great accomplishment!!!

8.18.17

ITS UP, UP and Away!

Follow our new account on Instagram!  The women of Amethyst Sober Living will be posting content from their own point of view!  How absolutely exciting!!  We can now follow their journey of recovery throughout Bakersfield as they post their own personal pictures to our newly made Instagram account.  Follow us @amethystsoberliving   From motivational posts to silly pictures because recovery is awesome and being clean and sober is fun!!!  Bakersfield sober living for women is available in a home where recovery comes first and fun follows!

http://instagram.com/amethystsoberliving