Mi hermano: una historia de adicción, recuperación y aprendizaje

Two years ago, I accompanied my brother to his last day in rehab. During the closing circle, I remember saying, "I don't know what you all are doing here, but I think we should all go to rehab. I'm a therapist, and I don't know how my brother managed to change in 52 days—something that takes many people years to do." As a clinical psychologist, his process made me question many things—even my own approach to therapy. Since he left, I've always wanted to know what really happened while he was at Proyecto de Vida—and this conversation is a record of the moment I asked him. Today, I can say that Tomás is the same person, and yet he isn't. Some changes have been subtle: he's no longer glued to his phone, he listens attentively when we talk, and he doesn't interrupt like he used to. Others have been more noticeable: he's no longer constantly in a bad mood, he can have difficult conversations without getting exasperated, and he sets boundaries assertively without taking things personally. In these two years, I've seen how he's taken charge of his life, put it in order, and maintained everything he learned during his time at Proyecto de Vida. I feel deeply proud of what he's accomplished, as he was the first person in my family to raise their hand and voluntarily enter the program. I not only applaud him, but I also thank him, because I believe that this decision can prevent history from repeating itself in future generations. Thank you, Tommy, for letting me be a part of your journey and for teaching me so much through your own experience. — If you know someone who needs help and would like to receive it, you can contact Nicolás Merizalde, founder of Proyecto de Vida, here: WhatsApp: +57 314 4704863 Instagram: @nicomerizaldez Instagram: @proyectodevidapdv