"How Ashley House and its services has helped me as a carer."

I care and live with someone who has an addiction to alcohol. I felt lonely, frustrated and a mixture of many other negative feelings and emotions. I actually was recommended to go to Ashley House by my GP about a year before I actually plucked up the courage to go for support, help and advise.

I wish I had made the phone call at the time the GP mentioned the place to me as it has helped me so so much. My first port of call after phoning for an appointment was Donna and I spilled everything out to her and was really upset and told her I had no-one to turn to anymore and described my feelings. I felt as though I had always known Donna..she is so approachable, friendly and caring.

Donna listened to me, chatted to me and told me all the things that Ashley House had on offer for me to go to that may help me. I started with the carers support group and the carers who attend it were great and made me feel comfortable. I also drew comfort from the fact that other people had, and were, and are going through similar thoughts and feelings as me.

I still attend this group when I can around my work rota. I also had some counselling sessions with Jane which helped. I also attend the VIDA holistic therapies and I have found the treatments have helped me to relax and destress so much. The Vida ladies are fantastic (Diane, Tracey, Jen and Karen). They are non-judgemental, friendly, caring and their treatments are thorough and very worthwhile. I have a laugh and chat with the lovely Vida ladies and also the lovely carers who go to the sessions. The Vida sessions are the most beneficial to me. I find that the treatments and the chat on a wednesday morning much needed by myself and they are really popular with other carers and service users. The only thing I can say is that more VIDA sessions for carers wouldn't go a miss.

There are a lot of other carers who cannot make the vida sessions due to work and children commitments. I am a big fan of Ashley House and its services and staff etc. I have been attending Ashley House as a carer for about a year now...my only regret is that I did not go to Ashley House sooner. A big thanks to Ashely House and its staff and services and keep up the good work. I would be lost without you.