The story of a NEO Center client: A new chance at life

The story of a young woman who found her way back to herself from the bottom. After years of struggling with depression, addictions, and a loss of meaning in life, she discovered hope and learned to love herself again thanks to NEO Center. Be inspired by her journey to change.

How a client found a way out of deep uncertainty

My childhood was not easy, I was especially affected by the death of my brother.

I was prone to depression and was very sensitive.

My mental problems started with eating disorders. My doctor prescribed me addictive drugs. Everything multiplied. At first they helped me, but then I gradually became addicted to them. Over time, my depression and anxiety worsened. I couldn't leave the house without them.

I had suicidal thoughts and became addicted to alcohol and drugs – they made me a completely different person.

I couldn't bear the reality or the pain that came with it. There was a voice in my head that whispered that I wasn't good enough. I hated myself.

It wasn't until Neu that they showed me how to love myself and helped me understand that everything bad that happened to me in my life wasn't my fault. I accepted my addiction and stopped blaming myself for it.

It will soon be a year and a half since I have been sober. NEO showed me how to give my life another chance. Without NEO I would not be in this world anymore.

Thank you NEO.

Do you need help?

Psychologist and addictologist of the NEO Center Michael Ramon Bruer on the client's story

Is it possible to overcome addiction even with depression and anxiety?

Absolutely. Depression and anxiety are often co-occurring symptoms of addictive behaviors—sometimes a cause, sometimes a consequence of addiction. Sobriety is not just about abstinence, but also about learning how to constructively deal with such issues, which is actually a major part of the journey to recovery.

Do addicted people only have suicidal thoughts when they use drugs/alcohol?

It often happens that once a person stops using drugs and alcohol and starts living a sober life, the urge to self-harm disappears. However, the psychoactive substances that an addicted person can take are depressogenic, i.e. they cause depressive states. Therefore, the risk of suicide is relatively high, especially in the first months of abstinence. However, it may not be exclusively a consequence of addiction. However, everyone can have suicidal thoughts at some point in their life, regardless of whether they were addicted or not.

How to help a loved one who is thinking about suicide in the first moment?

Be close to the person in question and direct them to professional help. It is ideal to recommend that they talk to the person who could help them the most, if they are willing to confide in them about their situation.

We are accredited by the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic

CERAD s.r.o. holds the accreditation of the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic for the implementation of the specialized educational program "Healthcare Psychologist - Clinical Psychology"