“No-one chooses to be an addict.” South Eastern Trust’s Addiction Team Peer Support Worker, Mark Sharkey-Greenhalgh has shared his powerful and inspirational ‘lived’ experience of his journey as a recovering addict of over 20 years as a way to support others on their own path to sobriety.
A child of the 1980s and growing up against the bleak backdrop and devastating fallout of the Miner’s Strike in England, its impact on Mark’s home life and environment saw him and others turn to the burgeoning warehouse rave scene with drugs readily available. “In my 20’s I was using Class A drugs and it got to the point that I was seeing so many friends pass away and I was thinking to myself, ‘I don’t want to be in my 40’s and in addiction so it was a case of exploring changes at that point,” said Mark.
Mark spoke poignantly how he had distanced himself from his family and children. “There was a two to three year period I was trying to get sober, it had just got to the point, I wanted to be around for my kids and I got to where I needed to be.”
Mark described how there can be a “misconception” of what an addict can be perceived as. “I worked the whole time I was an addict. I was a bricklayer for about 18 years, my work ethic was always there.”
Mark continued, “I was three years into my recovery and I saw a job come up in Health and Social Care for a Peer Support Worker in Mental Health with lived experience of addiction. It was the first service set up at that time and it was like a dream come true. I never thought I would get the job, but I did. I started in Downpatrick and it has been great to see those in their recovery come together for our weekly group sessions which is a safe space to ultimately talk freely.”
Downpatrick’s Emma Lynch has praised the Addictions Team at Bernagh House and her time spent as a patient on Ward 15 for the resolute and ongoing support she receives in her own ongoing recovery from addiction.
“From a young age I was surrounded by drink and drugs. Both my parents were addicts, it was what we had seen growing up. I went to live with my granny along with two of my siblings and from there I became rebellious. It was a big change for me and I rebelled against everything, it was ‘my way’ or no way,” said Emma.
Emma continued, “At the weekends I was pretending to be at youth clubs when I would be in the park drinking and the drugs started at the age of 15. It was all or nothing with me and that lasted for around 20 years. I could not escape my addiction. I was surrounding myself with people that were not good for me. By the end of it, I had my daughter and I was struggling because it came to the point that everyday I needed to ‘use’ to get myself out of bed. I was crying out for help, but so afraid of going and asking that my child would have been taken away from me, but I was doing more damage for her.”
“When the Social Workers came knocking at my door, the ‘house of cards’ just fell. Everything hit the fan. It was the worst and best time of my life as I was actually able to admit that I had a problem.”
From that point in her life, Emma was introduced to the Trust’s Community Addictions Team. “At the start I did not want to be there, I was ticking boxes.”
Emma was then admitted to Ward 15 for a period of three weeks which proved to be life changing for her and her family. “I came out of the Ward a different person and I was learning about myself and getting ‘high’ on the air that I was breathing. I did not need a drug to keep me surviving anymore. I went in and learnt things about myself that I did not know. I found myself again.”
“The 4 March 2024 was my first day sober.”
Emma described how her pathway to recovery is on a, “day-to-day basis.”
“For me, addiction is a disease of the mind and you do have that devil on your shoulder. My time is structured and I have routines such as going to bed early, getting up early and going for a walk, keeping my mind active. It does take time. Everybody has the willpower to do it if they really want to. My self-esteem, my anxiety were at my feet, I had no confidence and that was one of the reasons I was using to be able to walk out the door.”
Emma shared proudly the difference as to where she was and where she is now. “I did put in the work and it was through the Community Addictions Team and Mark especially, that everyone in recovery are all on the straight and narrow.
“I have lived experience with addiction and it would be great to follow in Mark’s footsteps and go out and share my experience. Seeing people with their addictions remind me of where I was and it makes me want to put the effort into helping others and not dwell on my past. My advice is do not be afraid, do not be ashamed. If you need and want help, reach out. You have to want it. If you reach out, you are doing something about it. If I can help one person then that is amazing. Sober life is good.”
Mark added, “To those going through their recovery, I would say do not think back, and do not think too far forward. Stay grounded. The mind is a wonderful thing, but if you think too far back, it can drag you into dangerous territory. It is one day at a time. The clinical staff here really do save lives with their knowledge and skills.”
“I was in addiction for the best part of 20 years, I have been in recovery the best part of 20 years. Service Users like Emma and so many others have come back from a place that was just unbearable. They have so much to give and they are the future of our services.”