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• Somewhere House

Last Day of Placement at Somewhere House

I have come to my last day at placement with Somewhere House, I have only had a short placement here of 5 weeks; however, this doesn't mean that I haven't learned anything such a short amount of time.

During my time here, I have been able to learn about myself which can include a resentment and why I might be carrying this resentment. Even though this has only been through participating in group sessions and not completing recovery studies. It really is an eye opening way to be able to learn about why someone might show the addictive behaviours they might be exhibiting. Even so, this has been an eye opening way for me to learn about how to explore someone's mental health. This is a tool in which I will benefit from for the rest of my career, as an adult nurse (hopefully). I have really been able to learn that addiction is more than just the substances the individual is indulging in but there is a lot behind the individual and something they might be hiding through using the substances.

Somewhere House has also taught me that addiction is not what I thought it was, and the individual is not their addiction but their addiction has just got the best of them. Coming to Somewhere house has helped me to realise that there is a stigma behind addiction- whether it's drug or alcohol use and this is something in which I want to be able to combat during my time working as a nurse- especially whilst working in A&E and prison placements, where I am most likely going to be encountering individuals who are living with an addiction.

Addiction is something I used to be scared of, due to personal experiences and I chose this placement as a way to overcome this. I have been able to learn about the clients here and hear their stories that have resulted in the lifestyle choices they have chosen and the path they have gone down. Through this, I have been able to gain a different perspective on addiction and the individuals; hearing some of their rock bottoms helped me to see them as more than someone with an addiction but they are individuals who just got taken the wrong way in life, some way or another.

Thanks to Somewhere House, I have been able to better myself as an individual and become more open minded, empathetic and enthusiastic to help people. I have also been able to see the help and support needed to help these individuals and I have nothing but respect for the staff here who work tirelessly every day to help these individuals in their journey of recovery. I am more excited to start my university degree as a result and I now understand what I need to do to help the people who might be the most in need; I have a better understanding of mental health and I believe I am walking away from here a better person.

Thank you all.

Sinead Evans