Hi, my name is Anthony, alumnus of Avenues Dublin.
Before I came in, I was all done with life. I had no desire to live. I really didn't know what was next. I had already lost everything, and I felt like I didn't have anything left to gain. I told myself, if I wasn't going to take this chance, to just end it now. Instead, I came here.
When I first got here, I felt that everybody kind of understood me. Before they even knew me, they accepted me for who I was, and I didn't even know who I was yet. So they allowed me to feel confident in my treatment before my treatment ever even really started. I was able to love myself again because of the love that was given and shown to me. Now that I love myself again, I'm able to be a part of that same group of people that loved me when I first came. I have enough love for myself that I can share that with the new people that come in the door. So it's a continuing cycle, and I didn't understand it at first, but now I do. It's a never-ending cycle of love. Before I came here, I wish that somebody had told me about the sense of community. Because I didn't know what to expect. I was terrified of acceptance. I was terrified of being vulnerable.
We’re not used to people loving us for our truths and our faults. We're not used to people acknowledging their strengths when we can't see them. I was out of hope. I was done with life. Simply by coming here, I know that I have a long, fulfilling life ahead of me, and I will be able to help others live a long, fulfilling life as well.
My name is Anthony and I found my way home. You can find your way home too.