Stacey Dinsdale was a heroin addict. Having kicked her habit, she dreamed of a new life, but lacking a way to make her dream a reality she risked slipping back into her old ways. Then she was introduced to Goal Mapping. This is her inspiring story.

When you have an addiction your whole life revolves around it. Days become months, months become years, and before I realised it I was a 31-year-old woman with no idea how to survive in the ‘real’ world.

I got clean from heroin – and had been clean for approximately 11 months – yet I found myself lost and scared with nowhere to turn. I had such a clear picture as to what I wanted from my new life, but not a clue as to how to get there.

My mental health symptoms (which had been masked by my use of heroin) came flooding back. Facing a long wait ahead for a mental health reassessment, I slipped up and had a small relapse.

I had almost given up on myself, but one day when I dragged myself out of bed to get the post, there it was – the letter confirming the start date of the Goal Mapping course.

A couple of days after receiving that letter, I had my rewind sessions with Jane and I couldn’t believe my luck. I had been seeing various counsellors and psychiatrists since the age of 15 and nothing seemed to work for me, but Jayne was like a miracle.

The Goal Mapping course is an essential tool for people like myself (and believe me, there are plenty) who are desperate to get away from their predicament but just cant see life after addiction.

At first I was worried I would be stuck in a room with a load of junkies who had no intention of moving on, but were on the course as a get-out clause for some reason or another. You can’t imagine my delight to find I couldn’t be further from the truth. They was such a diverse range of people from all walks of life, and who I am pleased to say I will stay in touch with and become life-long friends.

The tutors, Accredited Goal Mapping Practitioners Jayne Bell and Bethan Stritton, could not be more suited to the job – talk about finding your vocation in life! I have never met anyone like them; they understand us, share their own experiences with the group, and can see the good and potential in each and every one of us. The tools they use are like nothing I have seen before and would not be able to have access to if it weren’t for this course. I have always known I was put on this earth for something special and thanks to Jayne, Bethan and the people who fund this scheme, I am no longer a thinker but am becoming a go-getter.

As my Dad says… don’t tell me the sky’s the limit when there are footprints on the Moon.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for believing in us and being willing to put time into a group of people who are not a lost cause – we were just lost. So many people can benefit from this opportunity and I am privileged to have been one of the first.