Christian Science came into my life at a time of abject unhappiness and confusion. I had married as a teen-ager for many wrong reasons, and the situation was terrible. Also I had become dependent on a variety of psychoactive drugs (this included daily use of amphetamines, marijuana, and alcohol as well as frequent use of various psychedelics and sedatives) and I was suffering from symptoms of stomach ulcers.
I wanted desperately to do right, but I was so confused that it seemed impossible to tell what "right" even was. In a moment of extreme physical and emotional misery, I turned for solace to a coworker who radiated kindness and honesty. As it turned out, she was a Christian Scientist. This young woman was very compassionate and introduced me to a Christian Science practitioner who had often helped her.
During an appointment with the practitioner, I spilled out my story to her, after which she asked me what I wanted her to do. I said that all I wanted was to know how to pray so that I could tell the right thing to do. Then, as we talked, for the first time in my life I glimpsed my true identity as God's beloved child. Afterward the practitioner gave me a copy of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy and asked me to read the first chapter, "Prayer," which I eagerly did. She also agreed to pray for me. From that afternoon on, I didn't touch the drugs again. There were no withdrawal symptoms; my stomach was fine, too. My marriage had a deep involvement with drugs. Seeing the futility of continuing in the marriage, I had been trying to leave for a year and a half. However, I had lacked the strength to do it. After my talk with the practitioner, I was able to leave for good. My friend's family took me in that very afternoon.
