“I Went to Rehab 49 Times” – Danny Shannon’s Story

Ten years ago, Danny Shannon’s life was bleak.

Key points

• At 14 years old, Danny booked into rehab for the first time.
• “Christmas Day 2009 was the day that my life changed forever,” Danny said.
• With a Diploma of Community Services and soon to graduate with a Bachelor or Counselling, Danny is passionate about helping others.

From homelessness, heroin addiction, to time in prison – he was wandering in the darkness, hoping for a way back to the light.

Danny attempted rehab 49 times, to no avail.

But on the 50th attempt, everything changed.

Danny is now a counselling graduate and entrepeneur of a brand-new mental health and recovery app called Encapsulator.

Back to where it all started

At just 14 years old, Danny booked into rehab for the first time. His family had moved from Sydney to Bundaberg and he had fallen in with a bad crowd.

By 16, he was in a boy’s home.

Caught up in a cycle of heroin, meth and crime, Danny inevitably ended up in jail and sadly, spent his 18th birthday in prison.

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At 14 years old, Danny booked into rehab for the first time.

After 12 months in Silverwater Jail he broke out in 2001, fleeing across the country, only to be found by police a week later and sent back to prison.

Danny spent the next ten years in and out of prison. And when he was out, he says, “Getting drugs was all that mattered.”

The turning point

After 49 failed rehab attempts, Danny hit rock bottom on Christmas Day, 2009.

“Christmas Day 2009 was the day that my life changed forever,” he told Finding Hope.

“I went home for a family visit… and to be honest, I didn’t want to go.

“I’m sitting around the family Christmas table, surrounded by loved ones, neighbours… I had hurt, stolen, robbed from every one of them.”

After seeing his family, Danny left to go home and on his way, he hit his turning point.

“Christmas Day 2009 was the day that my life changed forever,” Danny said.

“The turning point for me was Town Hall Station,” he said.

On his way to buy heroin and cocaine, Danny saw a bus that would take him to rehab.

“I thought… I’m going to end up back in rehab, back in jail [or] dead.

“That day, somehow a miracle happened.

“I didn’t pick up that next drug and one day at a time, one foot in front of the other, I continued to move forward.”

The future is bright

These days, Danny is a father and is relishing the opportunity to create a healthy family environment.

Danny is passionate about helping others.

With a Diploma of Community Services and soon to graduate with a Bachelor or Counselling, Danny is passionate about helping others.

He runs mental health workshops, championing those in recovery – and has created the Encapsulator app for others who are struggling with drug addiction (or who’d like a different option for journalling). The video journaling program is designed to help individuals express themselves, stay on track, and plan for the future.

Through reflection and accountability, users are encouraged to unlock the potential within, transforming their aspirations into reality.

Connect with Danny online, on Facebook or on Instagram.

Hear Georgia’s full conversation with Danny in the listener above.

Feature image: all images supplied.