For most of his life, Tomás felt disconnected, lonely and fearful. He was overwhelmed by a deep sense of emptiness. At 27 years of age, he ran out of options because of his chronic addictions. He was just about to enter a residential six-week treatment centre that had recently come to Ireland. He had heard stories about this place: very confrontational staff in group therapy; they put toilet seats around patients’ necks (piece of shit); put soothers in their mouths (big baby); and hung signs around their necks (do not speak to him/her – silent treatment).