Patient Demographics
Patient Name: Patricia Pais
Age: 34 Residence: Lucena, Spain
Profession: Pastry Chef
Diagnose: Alcohol and Prescription Benzodiazepine
Addiction Treatment: Inpatient Medical Detox and 90-Day Residential Rehabilitation
Treatment Destination: Valencia, Spain
Cost: Approx. €18,000
Medical Tourism Facilitator: PlacidWay
My name is Patricia. By trade, I am a pastry chef. My world is supposed to be one of precision, control, and creating sweetness. I weigh sugar to the gram, I temper chocolate to the exact degree. For years, my work was my pride, a reflection of the order and beauty I wanted in my life. But outside my kitchen, my life was falling apart.
My secret was a chaotic, spiraling addiction to alcohol and prescription anxiety pills. It started slowly, a glass of wine after a stressful 14-hour shift, which became a bottle. Then a doctor prescribed benzodiazepines for anxiety, and that felt like a magic solution, until it wasn’t. I was living a double life: the competent chef everyone admired, and the woman who couldn’t get through a day without a drink and a pill. The shame was a constant weight.
Living in a smaller city like Lucena, privacy is a luxury. Everyone knows your family, your work, your story. The thought of walking into a local treatment center, of my secret being exposed, was paralyzing. I was terrified of losing my career, of becoming the town gossip. I felt completely trapped, drowning in my own life but too scared to call for help where anyone could see me. My rock bottom was a quiet one—not a big crash, but the slow, agonizing realization that I was losing myself completely.
One night, shaking and desperate, I searched online for “private rehab Spain” and “anonymous addiction treatment.” I wasn’t looking to leave my country, but I knew I had to leave my life behind to save it. I found PlacidWay, a name I associated with international travel, but I reached out anyway. I needed an expert, a guide to find a safe place I couldn’t find on my own.
“Making that first call was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. The person I spoke to at PlacidWay was incredibly kind and non-judgmental. I explained that I needed help within Spain, but that it had to be discreet and far from my hometown. They understood immediately. For the first time, I felt like someone was on my side, helping me find a confidential solution, not just a clinic.”
PlacidWay presented me with a few high-quality, private residential centers. They had one in a tranquil countryside setting outside of Valencia that specialized in dual diagnosis. It felt right. It was a place of healing, not punishment. They handled the confidential intake and all the arrangements, making a terrifying step feel manageable and secure.
The journey from Lucena to Valencia was quiet. I was terrified, but for the first time, I felt a flicker of hope. The rehabilitation center wasn’t a cold, clinical hospital; it was a peaceful retreat designed for healing. The detoxification process was difficult, but the medical staff was there 24/7, managing my withdrawal with incredible compassion.
The 90 days of residential treatment that followed were the hardest and most important work of my life. In therapy, I unpacked the years of pain I had been trying to numb. In group sessions, I sat with others who understood my struggle, and the shame began to dissolve in the face of shared experience.
“The program gave me the tools to understand my addiction, but the community gave me the courage to face it. Being in a safe, supportive environment, far from all my life’s triggers and pressures, allowed me to focus purely on getting well. It wasn’t just about stopping; it was about learning how to start again.”
Coming home was a rebirth. I returned to Lucena not as a broken person, but as someone who was consciously rebuilding her life. I look at my kitchen now not as a place to hide, but as a place to create with clarity and newfound passion. Recovery is a journey I walk every day, but now I have the tools and the strength to face it.
My journey didn’t involve crossing international borders, but it was a journey to a foreign land: the land of sobriety. I couldn’t have taken that first step without a guide. PlacidWay provided the map and the crucial, confidential support I needed to find a new beginning right here in my own country.
Disclaimer
The narratives presented here reflect the true experiences of individuals, though names have been altered to ensure privacy. These stories are intended to offer information and inspiration but should not replace professional medical guidance. Outcomes and experiences can differ widely from person to person. Always seek the advice of qualified healthcare professionals before making any medical choices, as they can provide tailored advice and support for your unique health needs.
