Member Testimonial: Sharing Hope and Inspiration by Hero Health Care (H&H)

Member Testimonial: Sharing Hope and Inspiration by Hero Health Care (H&H)

The following testimonial has been shared by our member organisation, Hero Health Care (H&H), and is based on the lived experience of A. Farooqi, shared with his consent. Written on his behalf, it tells the story of his journey towards recovery and the support that helped him along the way.

Testimonial from A. Farooqi, Sharing Hope and Inspiration.

This testimonial is written by an individual member representing H&H, Hero Health Care, Islamabad, on behalf of A. Farooqi (with his verbal and written consent). Hero Health Care Rehabilitation Centre (H&H) is a leading organization in the twin cities that provides compassionate care and evidence-based treatment for individuals with addiction and mental health disorders. With more than seven years of experience in handling cases and providing residential as well as outdoor treatment, the centre operates as a 20-bedded inpatient facility dedicated to helping individuals suffering from substance use and mental health issues.

A. Farooqi was born in Islamabad to a family originally from a village in Sialkot. He is the fourth among six siblings, including three brothers and three sisters. Coming from an economically stable household, he grew up in a supportive environment. His father, a government employee now retired, and his mother, a homemaker, provided balanced guidance and raised him with care. He completed his B.Com degree and worked various accounting-related jobs. His relationship with his family was always good, and his upbringing reflected healthy, normal parenting without harsh restrictions.

Despite this stable foundation, Farooqi’s life took a difficult direction during adolescence. With a very large social circle and a prominent presence in his community, he was well-known and surrounded by friends. During his years in college and university, he also remained indirectly involved with politically active student groups. Peer pressure gradually began shaping his choices. At the age of seventeen, he started smoking cigarettes, which soon progressed to alcohol and cannabis. A significant emotional turning point occurred when he developed a conflict with a religious teacher at the madrassah. The frustration and stubbornness he felt during that period pushed him toward alcohol as a form of defiance.

As years passed, his peers introduced him to stronger substances such as ice and heroin. What initially seemed recreational soon evolved into dependence. Farooqi eventually accumulated ten years of substance use: five years of alcohol and another five years of heroin. His heroin dependence grew to the point where he required the drug every twelve hours simply to function. During this time, his father had become seriously ill and required regular dialysis. Farooqi recalls moments when he would take his father to the dialysis centre and, while waiting through the four-hour procedure, would leave to use heroin before returning to sit beside him. This period made him acutely aware of how deeply trapped he had become.

He attempted multiple times to break free. He joined religious groups for months at a time, travelled to Dubai hoping that distance would help him quit, and even sought help from another rehabilitation centre. Each attempt was followed by overwhelming withdrawal symptoms, including severe anxiety, nausea, pain, panic attacks, and drastic weight loss. Despite his determination, relapse repeatedly pulled him back. In his own words, “relapse is only one puff away.” His brothers, throughout this journey, remained unwaveringly supportive and tried their best to help him, but the addiction continued to overpower his resolve.

His first experience at another rehab centre was discouraging, and he left within fourteen days due to the environment and poor system. After returning to drugs once again, he finally reached a point of clarity. Realizing that he could not continue living this way, he sought help through a reference and decided to admit himself into H&H Hero Health Care. One night at 10 p.m., driven by a genuine desire to recover, he walked into the centre of his own free will.

Upon admission, Farooqi struggled with severe heroin withdrawal. He suffered nausea, vomiting, deep muscle pain, intense anxiety, and significant weight loss. He also described episodes of panic attacks, antisocial behaviours influenced by his previous lifestyle, and moments of self-harm. These early days were extremely painful, yet they marked the beginning of his transformation. H&H played a central role in guiding him through this difficult period.

His daily routine at the centre became a source of stability. He began each morning with Quran recitation, followed by meditation-based morning meetings that helped him calm his mind. He attended psychoeducation classes designed to teach insight into addiction, its consequences, and strategies for recovery. Relapse prevention sessions further strengthened his understanding of how to safeguard himself from falling back into old patterns. Morality and life-skills classes guided him toward healthier values and decision-making. One of the most influential aspects of his recovery was the daily individual therapy sessions, which he describes as pivotal. His trust in his therapist became one of the strongest pillars of his healing journey, and he emphasizes that trust between a client and therapist is essential to recovery.

Farooqi stayed at the rehabilitation centre for three months, fully committed to the process. He had also previously researched extensively about addiction on his own, searching the internet and gathering knowledge on how to sustain recovery. When he found that the treatment style at H&H aligned with evidence-based approaches, he felt deeply satisfied and motivated. Even after discharge, he continued attending follow-ups with remarkable consistency, sometimes even independently arranging them when his family hesitated.

Today, Farooqi has been in recovery for six years. His transformation is profound and inspiring. After leaving rehab, his brother provided him with Rs. 10,000 to help him restart his life. With this small amount, he began selling French fries from a stall. Through dedication, hard work, and his commitment to sobriety, this humble beginning slowly grew. Today, he owns his own pizza brand with seven shops, a testament to how dramatically life can change when recovery is embraced wholeheartedly.

His family relationships, once strained due to addiction, have healed. Relatives who had grown distant now embrace him warmly. His circle of friends has transformed into a group of supportive, sober individuals. Whenever he meets someone struggling with addiction, he refers them to H&H and helps connect them with the right support. During his own follow-ups, he often takes time to join therapists in motivating new clients. His presence has a deeply positive impact on others in recovery.

He consistently credits the techniques he learned at H&H, relapse prevention strategies, boundary-setting, life skills, role-play exercises, individual and group therapies, journaling, and coping mechanisms, as the foundation for maintaining his recovery. He now serves as a role model for many clients, offering hope through his lived experience.

In Farooqi’s own words, “If you don’t respect and love yourself, recovery becomes a challenge, because recovery is for your own self, not others. One should realize his self-respect and self-worth to be able to navigate through challenges and stay on recovery.”

His journey from addiction to stability, from hopelessness to purpose, and from struggle to success now stands as an inspiration within the community. His life reflects the power of will, the strength of proper guidance, and the profound impact that compassion and structured treatment can have on a person’s future.