During the programme I became much calmer, I stopped panicking and learned to cope with triggers. I stopped running away from problems and started solving them. I used to be afraid of being alone with myself. Now I have learned to live through my emotions, to bring them to God and, most importantly, to look at myself honestly. I can express my thoughts without destroying other people. I have become far steadier emotionally, life has become easier and, above all, I have come to accept myself.

Woman, 52

I joined when the group was already on the fourth step. The warmth and unity of the group wrapped around me straight away. I almost always arrive feeling sadness, resentment, anger, loneliness, envy and many other painful feelings - and it is always good to sense that you are not the only one, that you are not alone in how you experience the world. Many times I have watched people's feelings change over the course of two hours. In my own case, gratitude and love come in place of the difficult feelings - I can feel my heart opening up to love.

Woman, 32

I came to this programme wanting to understand myself and to help myself out of a crisis. Having reached the eighth step, I can see deep work and real change. My endless need for control has noticeably eased. There were outbursts at my child, flashes of anger - now they happen less often. I have seen and admitted many qualities and feelings in myself that had been hidden away. I understand other people better. I saw how much dishonesty there was in my life: I could lie automatically, to others and to myself - I am learning to be honest, and it is working. I used to pray rarely and barely felt God; now prayer is one of the ways I talk with God, whom I feel in every day.

Woman, 42