{"id":378,"date":"2023-04-23T22:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-04-23T22:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peggy-sue.com\/post\/het-verhaal-van-mathias-zonder-peggy-sue-was-ik-nu-dood\/"},"modified":"2026-08-20T17:00:55","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T17:00:55","slug":"pieters-story-without-peggy-sue-i-would-be-dead","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/peggy-sue.com\/en\/post\/het-verhaal-van-pieter-zonder-peggy-sue-was-ik-nu-dood\/","title":{"rendered":"Pieter\u2019s story: without Peggy-Sue, I would be dead now"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Pieter\u2019s story: without Peggy-Sue, I would be dead now<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Apr 23, 2023 | 9 min read | Updated: Nov 27, 2025<\/p>

A professional intervention really can save lives. Former client Pieter (34) knows this from experience. After a turbulent childhood spent in residential institutions and foster homes, during which he experienced sexual abuse, he sought refuge in drugs. Pieter has now been clean for 22 months and works as a social worker. Interventionist Peggy Sue was closely involved throughout his recovery journey. We look back on this period with Pieter.<\/p>

Pieter:<\/strong> The drug use began while I was living in a residential institution. I desperately wanted to fit in. Other people were snorting drugs, so I joined in. I was using speed from quite a young age. Speed is a hard drug that makes you feel happy and alert. It gives you a euphoric feeling, similar to being drunk. The difference was that you could drink even more alcohol because you did not really feel drunk. We saw speed as a kind of miracle drug.<\/p>

When I was 18, I switched to cocaine. I do not know the exact reason for that switch; perhaps I had simply grown tired of speed. A boy I spent time with dealt coke, so it was fairly easy for me to get hold of it. This continued for a long time, until I realised at the age of thirty that I could not carry on. At the time, I had my own business and worked as a painter. Drugs had become an escape that allowed me to avoid confronting my past and who I had become. Everyone in my social circle used drugs, so it felt normal too. Live it up\u2014that was our motto.<\/p>

For the final two years, I was using crack, a smokable form of cocaine. From then on, my employees watched me deteriorate further and further. Apart from the staff at my painting company, I had surrounded myself entirely with people who used drugs. Everyone close to me used some form of drug. Once you are isolated among people who do nothing but use, breaking free is not easy.<\/p>

Do you find it difficult to think back to that period?<\/strong><\/p>

Pieter:<\/strong> No, I do not find it difficult to think back on it. It keeps me alert. It is a place I genuinely never want to return to. I have had various forms of therapy, which have helped me cope with it reasonably well. But it is something that always remains in your mind. I would still like inpatient trauma treatment, but I am on the waiting list for that. Among other things, I have received psychomotor therapy and EMDR. EMDR can help people process negative memories or experiences from the past.<\/p>

The most successful form of therapy for me was Tension & Trauma Releasing Exercises (TRE). You could see this method as a type of trauma release using breathing techniques. Less talking and more working through your own body. A friend of mine told me about this treatment method. TRE was not covered by my health insurer, so I had to pay for everything myself. But it was certainly worth it; I benefited enormously from it.<\/p>

Pieter:<\/strong> I was 32 when I contacted Peggy-Sue myself. After all, I knew that I was not doing well. However, communication did not go very smoothly. Eventually, Peggy-Sue suggested that we “have a cup of coffee”. That sounded pleasant. I did not immediately suspect there was more to it.<\/p>

You kept doing things your own way. At first, you sought help yourself, but then you buried your head in the sand. You did not want to recognise the seriousness of your own problems. That gave us the idea of suggesting that we come to your home for a cup of coffee. Meanwhile, we were already talking to the family about a possible intervention. We did this without Pieter knowing. Pieter was in a very bad state at the time. I clearly remember speaking to your sister on the telephone and her saying that you were driving everyone mad again, from constantly failing to keep appointments to behaving aggressively. She had virtually lost hope. I suggested setting the family intervention in motion. Peggy-Sue and her assistant believed in Pieter. And as long as we believe in someone, there is hope.<\/p>

Pieter:<\/strong> Peggy-Sue and the assistant interventionist first visited me at home for that cup of coffee. Of course, they quickly saw that I did not feel comfortable there because, at the time, my home had become a full-blown crack den. We therefore decided to continue the meeting at my sister\u2019s house, unaware that she was part of the plan. My father and three sisters were sitting in the garden. The weather was lovely; I remember that clearly. As soon as I saw my family, I suspected something was not right. My father had tears in his eyes, and the atmosphere was serious. Then all the letters came out. One by one, everyone told their story. I became emotional too. My emotions were partly dulled, however, because I had not slept for three consecutive nights. The message was that I had one final chance to turn my life around and accept help.<\/p>

I still keep the so-called impact letters on my bedside table. I had never considered the impact my addiction had on my loved ones. It was only after the letters were read aloud that I realised what they had been going through all that time. I had really been thinking only of myself. It affects you deeply when you hear that your little niece wonders why Uncle Piet does not love her any more. After all, I no longer came to her birthday parties. My father noticed my absence too. And when he did see me, I was different from before. The smile I had always worn had disappeared. He wanted to see that smile again\u2014the old Pieter.<\/p>

Were you able to accept help immediately after the intervention?<\/strong><\/p>

Pieter:<\/strong> In words, yes, but not in my mind. I had to leave everything behind. I had two days to pack my belongings for the journey to the clinic in South Africa. The plan was to spend the final night before my departure at my sister\u2019s house so she could take me to Schiphol the next day. Those few days were anything but calm. The police suddenly appeared at the door with an arrest warrant. I had to go to the police station because of unpaid fines. The timing was obviously far from ideal, as I was due to leave for Africa.<\/p>

“Just before I left for the clinic in Africa, the police nearly detained me in lieu of payment”<\/strong><\/p>

At that point, I telephoned the assistant interventionist. After a long conversation with the police, he ensured that I did not have to go to the station. The unpaid fines were temporarily put on hold so I could fly there and back without any problems.<\/p>

All\u2019s well that ends well?<\/strong><\/p>

Pieter:<\/strong> Well, everything went completely wrong during the night at my sister\u2019s house. In consultation with Team Peggy-Sue, my family had bought me some beers and joints, but I wanted more. Everything had to be done my way.<\/p>

Peggy Sue:<\/strong> The alcohol and joints were intended to keep Pieter calm until he actually left for the addiction clinic. This may sound contradictory, but experience has taught us that it is unwise to give someone who uses so many intoxicating substances nothing at all without warning. He would then tear the whole place apart. This has drastic consequences for the family, and you risk the person concerned refusing to cooperate any further.<\/p>

Peggy-Sue team member: At 1 a.m., his sister telephoned me to say that the situation was getting out of hand. I had deliberately left my telephone switched on. Experience has taught me that people sometimes back out at the last moment and behave unpredictably. In a fit of anger, you argued with Peggy-Sue and me over the telephone. Eventually, we arranged for you to stay at a hotel near the airport. Once at the hotel, Pieter used crack again. That was obviously not part of the plan, but I was simply relieved that he was near the airport.<\/p>

Pieter:<\/strong> There was a battle going on inside me. Although I did not want to go to the clinic, part of me did want treatment. I was going to be evicted because I was no longer paying the rent. I had already sold all my furniture and belongings to pay for crack. I had also sold my own van so I could buy crack. It was clear that things could not continue this way. The following morning, I boarded the flight to South Africa.<\/p>

With Peggy-Sue\u2019s colleague by my side as my recovery companion. I am very glad that he flew with me. During my first few weeks at the clinic, he also visited me at least three times. If that colleague had not come with me, I would have approached the first person I saw in Africa to get crack again.<\/p>

Peggy-Sue:<\/strong> Pieter\u2019s stay at the treatment centre was not without difficulties. About six days after his admission, I received a call from the counsellor. They said Pieter had completely lost control and was constantly angry. They genuinely no longer knew how to handle him. At that time, our colleague was still in South Africa, so we were able to step in fairly quickly. Pieter\u2019s intense emotions had not come out of nowhere. By then, he had been clean for several days. The feelings you have always suppressed with drugs suddenly rise to the surface. This creates feelings of helplessness, sadness and other intense emotions\u2014emotions you are unable to process at that point. I travelled to the treatment centre and, as it were, gave Pieter the kick up the backside he needed. From then on, things improved and he remained at the treatment centre.<\/p>

Pieter:<\/strong> Yes, having a recovery companion was enormously valuable to me. Not only while I was at the treatment centre, but also afterwards. I was kept firmly on track to prevent a relapse. I spent a total of six weeks at the treatment centre. I then lived in a safe house for a year and a half, where I could work on myself. Team Peggy-Sue supported me there too. For a while, we spoke on the phone every day, even though I was officially no longer a client by then. That did not stop Team Peggy-Sue from helping me. I could unburden myself to someone who had been through something similar. My contact made me feel that I was not alone\u2014that I did not have to face it alone.<\/p>

Pieter:<\/strong> I currently attend several self-help groups. They hand out keyrings to mark clean time. This means that, after uninterrupted periods without using drugs or alcohol, you receive a physical keepsake to celebrate the milestone. The first keyring is awarded after 30 days clean. You then receive one after 60 and 90 days, 6 months, 9 months, 1 year, 18 months and several years clean. I will soon be able to collect my 2-year keyring. I am certainly proud of that.<\/p>

Pieter:<\/strong> Recovery is becoming easier for me all the time. I continue to attend the self-help groups. You can share your story there with people who have had similar experiences. The group includes all kinds of people, some with a long period of clean time and others with a short one. That helps me enormously. At the start of my recovery, I deliberately avoided all social occasions so that I would not be tempted to use drugs. I used to go to house parties all the time, so that was well and truly a thing of the past. I now occasionally go to a party again. If I attend a festival with friends who are also in recovery, we make a specific plan beforehand for scenarios that might arise. I no longer feel the urge to use. Thoughts about drug use still sometimes pass through my mind, but the actual craving is gone.<\/p>

Pieter:<\/strong> No, I do not think so. I truly needed the family intervention to see the pain my loved ones were experiencing. I had not seen that pain before because I was too preoccupied with myself. It helped me cross a threshold and realise that it was time for change. My eldest sister said that I can now be a little brother to her, something I had not managed to be for the past 30 years. Before my admission to the treatment centre, I had taken an initial step myself by contacting Peggy-Sue. Somehow, I was unable to follow through and take the one step needed to truly turn my life around.<\/p>

“Without the family intervention, I would never have accepted professional help”<\/strong><\/p>

We refer to him as Pieter, although that is not his real name, because of the stigma that still exists.<\/em><\/h6>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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All Posts 5 min read Het verhaal van Pieter: zonder Peggy-Sue was ik nu dood Apr 23, 2023 | 9 min read | Updated: Nov 27, 2025 Een professionele interventie kan echt levensreddend zijn. Daar kan ex-client Pieter (34) over meepraten. Na een roerige jeugd van internaten, pleeggezinnen en seksueel misbruik zoekt hij zijn toevlucht […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":354,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_seopress_titles_title":"Het verhaal van Pieter: zonder Peggy-Sue was ik nu dood","_seopress_titles_desc":"Lees hoe een professionele interventie Pieter hielp na jaren van verslaving en mislukte behandelingen, en waarom persoonlijke begeleiding het verschil maakte.","_seopress_robots_index":"","_seopress_robots_follow":"","_seopress_robots_imageindex":"","_seopress_robots_snippet":"","_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_robots_breadcrumbs":"","_seopress_robots_freeze_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_custom_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_canonical":"https:\/\/peggy-sue.com\/post\/het-verhaal-van-pieter-zonder-peggy-sue-was-ik-nu-dood\/","_seopress_social_fb_title":"Het verhaal van Pieter: zonder Peggy-Sue was ik nu dood","_seopress_social_fb_desc":"Een professionele interventie kan \u00e9cht levensreddend zijn. Daar kan ex-cli\u00ebnt Pieter (34) over meepraten. Na een roerige jeugd van internaten, pleeggezinnen.","_seopress_social_fb_img":"https:\/\/peggy-sue.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/groepsfoto-team-anoniem-v1.png","_seopress_social_fb_img_attachment_id":1167,"_seopress_social_fb_img_width":1492,"_seopress_social_fb_img_height":1054,"_seopress_social_twitter_title":"Het verhaal van Pieter: zonder Peggy-Sue was ik nu dood","_seopress_social_twitter_desc":"Een professionele interventie kan \u00e9cht levensreddend zijn. Daar kan ex-cli\u00ebnt Pieter (34) over meepraten. Na een roerige jeugd van internaten, pleeggezinnen.","_seopress_social_twitter_img":"https:\/\/peggy-sue.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/groepsfoto-team-anoniem-v1.png","_seopress_social_twitter_img_attachment_id":1167,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_width":1492,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_height":1054,"_seopress_redirections_value":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled_regex":"","_seopress_redirections_logged_status":"","_seopress_redirections_param":"","_seopress_redirections_type":0,"_seopress_analysis_target_kw":"","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-378","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/peggy-sue.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/378","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/peggy-sue.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/peggy-sue.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/peggy-sue.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/peggy-sue.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=378"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/peggy-sue.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/378\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1146,"href":"https:\/\/peggy-sue.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/378\/revisions\/1146"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/peggy-sue.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/354"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/peggy-sue.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=378"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}