The Recovery Lodge

12/01/2026

10 Years. Hundreds of Lives. One Mission. 🎉

Today marks an incredible milestone: 10 years since The Recovery Lodge first opened its doors! We welcomed our very first client into our Kent countryside facility with a simple but powerful belief, that everyone deserves a chance at recovery, delivered with compassion, expertise, and genuine care.

A decade later, that belief hasn't changed. But what has changed are the hundreds of lives we've had the privilege of supporting.

To every client who has walked through our doors, thank you for trusting us with your journey. Your courage, honesty, and determination inspire us every single day. Watching you reclaim your lives, rebuild relationships, and rediscover hope is why we do what we do.

To our incredible team, past and present - therapists, support workers, medical staff, chefs, administrators, you are the heart of The Recovery Lodge. Your dedication, compassion, and expertise have made every success story possible.

To the families who have stood by their loved ones through the hardest times, who have engaged with our family support programmes, and who have learned to heal alongside those in recovery, you are part of this journey too.

10 years. Countless transformations. One community.

Here's to the next decade of changing lives, breaking stigma, and proving that recovery isn't just possible, it's beautiful.

Thank you for being part of our story. 💚

Donna and Jamie x

11/01/2026

Well done Liv. You pushed through those dark days and turned your life around. Sharing your journey will be such an inspiration to others 🫶

She was also peeing blood, and needing to go to the toilet every 10 minutes

02/01/2026

Catherine suffers from neuropathy in her feet and Crohn's Disease and is dependent on carers to wash and shower her, provide her with food and tend to her basic needs

01/01/2026

Happy NewYear from everyone at The Recovery Lodge 🎉

20/12/2025

Have Your Lifeline Ready, Don't Wait Until Crisis 📱

One week until Christmas. If you haven't already, save your support numbers right now.

Not "later." Not "if I need them." Now.

Save these numbers in your phone TODAY:

📞 Your sponsor's number (saved as "CALL FIRST")
📞 Your closest sober support person
📞 The Samaritans: 116 123 (24/7 free helpline)
📞 Alcoholics Anonymous: 0800 9177 650
📞 Narcotics Anonymous: 0300 999 1212
📞 The Recovery Lodge: 01795 431751

Recovery isn't about being strong enough to resist alone—it's about being smart enough to ask for help before you relapse.

Christmas week is high-risk. Your phone is your lifeline. Make sure it's ready.

19/12/2025

If you're in recovery and feeling anxious about the week ahead, you're not alone. It's easy to spiral into worry:

"What if I relapse at the Christmas party?"
"What if my family asks difficult questions?"
"What if I can't cope?"

Stop. Breathe. Come back to now.

You don't have to manage Christmas Day today. You don't have to have all the answers right now. You just have to manage today.

One day at a time isn't just a slogan, it's a survival strategy.

When anxiety about the future feels overwhelming:
🕐 Break it down to one hour at a time
🧘 Ground yourself in the present moment
📵 Step away from catastrophising and future-tripping
🗣️ Talk to someone, don't let the worry build in silence

Christmas week will unfold one day at a time whether you worry about it or not. The only difference is whether you exhaust yourself with anxiety beforehand.

Today, focus on today. Tomorrow can wait.

18/12/2025

Don't Let Isolation Win This Christmas 💭

One week until Christmas, and if you're struggling, it's easy to retreat into yourself. Sitting at home, brooding over what you've lost, what's gone wrong, or how everyone else seems to be having a better time.

But here's the truth: isolation feeds addiction.

When you're alone with your thoughts during a vulnerable time, resentment, self-pity, and old patterns creep back in. Before you know it, you're convincing yourself that "just one drink" will make things easier.

You don't need to feel motivated to take action. You just need to move. The feelings will follow.

Christmas week can be tough, but brooding in isolation makes it tougher. Get up.
Get out. Get moving.

You've got this. 💪

17/12/2025

Your Recovery Doesn't Take a Holiday 🎄

With just one week until Christmas, it's easy to let routines slip. But this is precisely when structure matters most.

AA meetings continue throughout the festive period, and they could be your lifeline during a challenging week. Whether it's your regular meeting or an extra one for support, showing up is an act of self-care, not inconvenience.

If you're feeling wobbly, isolated, or overwhelmed by the festive chaos, remember: your fellowship is still there. Meetings are happening. People understand. You're not alone.

Finding meetings over Christmas:
🔍 Check with your local group for festive schedules
📱 Virtual meetings run 24/7 if you can't get to in-person sessions
💚 Don't skip meetings because "everyone else is busy" - your sobriety comes first

One week until Christmas. One day at a time. One meeting at a time.

08/12/2025

Recovery is possible. ✨

One of our clients recently shared their story with us, and we're honoured to pass on their message of hope:

"Want to know what addiction looks like, look no further. Here is a photo of me on the verge of ending my life, contemplating suicide-a broken man, a shell of the man I once was. Consumed by drugs. Scared, not seeing any end game or way out of the rut I was fully stuck in.

People used to say to me, 'You're going to lose everything, your lovely Mrs and daughter, your house, family, job, everything. Why are you doing this to yourself when you've got everything a man could want?' Unless you've ever struggled with addiction, you will never understand how it works.

When you're in the madness, none of this matters. If you're struggling and this resonates with you, let me just say: the only person that can do something about it is you. I had all the help and support I could have ever wanted, but none of it stopped me until I got honest with myself and wanted that change.

It's taken a lot for me to share this-to be honest, it makes me feel terrible and totally ashamed. But today I sit here 6 months clean from my drug of choice, and I wanted to share a message: if you are struggling and can't see a way out, it's definitely possible. You just have to want it enough.

6 months ago, I thought my life was over. Today, it feels like it's only just beginning.
Life ain't easy, but it's certainly a lot easier without substances constantly in your system.

Recovery is a beautiful thing."

03/11/2025

Sharing your story could the the inspiration that someone else needs to start their journey in recovery 🫵👥💞

16/10/2025

If recovery were simply about strength, wouldn't everyone who wants it have it? 🤔

We need to shift the narrative around addiction. It's a complex health issue, not a moral failing. The journey to healing requires much more than a strong will - it requires professional guidance, therapy, and a nurturing environment. 🌱

Swipe to see the key elements that make a successful, lasting recovery possible!

At The Recovery Lodge, we provide the comprehensive care that truly supports long-term healing.

07/10/2025

It’s not about what you give up. It’s about what you gain ♾️