The Recovery Workshop

Google ads

Becky Blanton discusses grief, depression, working homelessness & hope.

A few days ago, I told a friend of mine, "there's always hope". I never believe in giving up on anything as most of my family and friends have always held firm to their beliefs of helping others, supporting their families and doing the best they can. I know that sometimes, this is not always easy; especially when "life gets in the way" - when things happen that shake us to the core.

Becky Blanton's talk at TED is inspirational with regard to not giving up and holding fast to what makes you - you. This is cool stuff.

A&E's Recovery Project

I love the show Intervention not only because it shows that people can access help, but also because it stresses (and demonstrates) the importance of family support and communication when trying to help someone with an illness. Yes, that's right - an illness; not a major character flaw.

The information, nurturing and communication demonstrated by the families involved can be seen in hospitals throughout the United States with illnesses of all types - walk into any ICU or ED waiting room and you will see the same concern. - And - the Recovery Projects website found at http://www.therecoveryproject.com has access to additional sites offering insights, support and resources for those seeking help.

Very cool.

Life Acapella: A short poem about stress management

The other day I was looking at some poetry I had written and decided to set the poem "Life Acapella" to music. I love the fall and the Washington DC area has great bike trails to ride which are even better as the leaves begin to turn color.

My favorite trail is the Capital Crescent trail (where these pictures were taken) as you can connect from Bethesda MD and go all the way into DC - The JF Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and then up to the National Mall and all of the monuments which are connected by bike paths. It's a great way to spend a day relaxing and reducing stress.

What does this have to do with recovery?

Glad you asked.

I stopped drinking in December - over 20 years ago.
- While I appreciated the changes that came about in my life, one of my more memorable nights was about 5 months later when I was driving home to see my parents. It was one of those very clear, dark nights when the stars are out and everything is still - early Spring. I had the sunroof of the car open and I was listening to Ella Fitzgerald (cranked - loud) when all of a sudden, I picked up the strong scent of the pine trees that lined 495 just outside of Boston. It threw me because I couldn't remember when the last time was that I had taken the time to really pay attention to how beautiful it all was. - very different from the smokey loud bars and the smell of stale beer.

I turned the music down, lowered the windows and just took it all in. - It was a great night with all the stars out and the soothing relaxing music.

We all see people every day with their iPods (yes, I have some too), hands free head sets, cell phones, laptop computers, blackberries - everythings always on and helping us multitask; talk to people while we're standing in line buying coffee or walking down the street.

My wish for you on this day is that you take a few minutes and turn it all off -

Breathe in and breathe out, smell the air, pay attention to the leaves on the trees; go for a bike ride. - See what happens.

A Mentor, Friend, Support System

One of the most (if not the most) important things to have when trying to recovery from any addiction is someone who supports you. Someone who can provide you with empathy, compassion, objectivity, wisdom and love.

I think if you have at least one person in your life who is supportive of you, your life can become much better. Of course, having more people is also better, while having a team is the best.

A team can consist of any group of people including (but not limited to), friends, professionals (counselors, physicians), spiritual support (such as a pastor or church group), financial planners (to help get your finances back on track) and a coach or addiction navigator (a service offered through Critical Success Strategies, LLC)

The most important thing to remember is that in order for a support team to be effective, you have to trust that they can help you and be willing to accept the insights and wisdom they provide.  Keeping your mind open, and learning how to ask for and accept help is a key factor in helping you maintain great long-term sobriety.

No Man is An Island; Mankind is No Island.

This is a video shot on a cell phone (with video) by Jason van Genderen in NYC and Sydney Australia. It is both thought-provoking and inspiring.

The title is Mankind is No Island.

Enjoy

Josh Hamilton Reminds Us that Relapse is a Process

Josh Hamilton admitted to a relapse on alcohol in January and discusses how he quickly accessed his support system.

Key points to remember regarding this:

1. Relapse is a process. No one can reach in your head and withdraw everything you've ever learned about how to stay sober. It's taking the experience, learning from it and moving forward.

2. Support systems are crucial. If you don't have one you should have a team of professionals and sober friends you can rely upon to help you if you need them.

3. It's essential to learn from the experiences we have. Yes - sometimes this is a difficult process but a key factor in wisdom and growth is learning from all of the experiences we have had that have brought us to where we are. What did we learn from this lesson? What could we have done differently? What do we need to watch for should the situation arise again?

There's a lot of lessons here.

Drug Addiction Treatment

If you're thinking about entering drug addiction treatment, there are a few things you should know and a few things you should ask about. Here's my top 10 list of important things to consider.

10. You should see if the treatment facility you would like to go to is in network with your insurance company. If it isn't, you should see if they would consider out-of-network coverage.

9. If you don't have insurance, check with the treatment center you would like to go to - some of them can arrange payment options for you.

8. Keep in mind, there are levels of care (starting with the most intensive): 

• Inpatient detoxification  
• Inpatient rehab
• Partial hospitalization (which can be either inpatient or outpatient where you stay overnight vs. stay at home and then commute on a daily basis). 
• Intensive outpatient program (which is usually 3 hours)
• Individual psychiatrist and / or therapist
• Group therapy
• Support groups such as AA / NA or Smart Recovery

7. Some treatment centers may ask you to go to an Emergency Department to be "medically cleared" first. This means they would like you to obtain labs and a medical evaluation to make sure you are appropriate for admission. (You should note that some emergency departments are not fans of this process). You can help them by bringing all of the information they require with you as well as the name and phone and fax numbers of the contact person at the treatment center where you would like to be admitted. This can help expedite the process if the team in the ED knows who to contact. Make sure you also have the names and dosages of medications as well as the names and phone numbers of the physicians who are prescribing them to you. It also helps if you provide your own transportation and have someone with you who can support and assist you through this process.

6. Once you decide to enter treatment, stick with your decision. There may be parts of the process that are uncomfortable or intrusive for you (such as having an evaluation in the Emergency Department or having to wait for lab results or transfers); keep your eye on the goal which is getting the help you need.

5. When looking into treatment centers, don't be afraid to ask what there success rates are as well as what their groups are like and / or the credentials of their clinicians and physicians. You wouldn't buy a car without test driving it right? - this is the same thing. Concurrently, you will not be able to attend groups before being admitted into the program because the confidentiality of the patients who are already in the program needs to be protected. However, the treatment facility should be able to tell you the kinds of groups they offer and what is involved.

4. Some programs will recommend 12-step support groups such as AA (Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous) or Smart Recovery while others won't. Statistically, your chances of long term sobriety are greater with more support that you have; try everything at least once and then decide from there what is best for you.

5. Some programs may ask you to journal or keep handouts or information that you will be asked to fill out. Keep everything.  The reason for this is that it is sometimes difficult to see progress in yourself that others may see right away. The information you have (and keep) will help with this as you accumulate time clean. Journaling also helps you sort out your feelings and emotions that can often be difficult when you are starting to get clean.

4. Ask your family and friends to support you in your recovery. The more support you have, the easier it will be for you when you have to navigate challenging times, like being around friends who drink and use, or having to attend a wedding. Having supportive people to assist you will make these processes easier.

3. Navigating feelings and emotions are not always easy. There are several times in early recovery where you may feel like the "light at the end of the tunnel" is more like the "light of the oncoming train". Managing feelings early on is not easy but when you start feeling better, or recognizing good feelings that you had lost track of when you were using, this process will be easier because you have managed the often "mucky" feelings of early recovery.

2.  Keep focused on why you have decided to seek help; the more you are able to keep track of what is most important to you, the easier it is to stay focused when getting the help that you need.

1. Most importantly: A counselor, psychiatrist and / or treatment provider is only as good as what you feel comfortable telling them. You have to trust them and accept that they can help you. If you don't or there is something about the process that is difficult for you, have that conversation with them. Tell them what you need and see if they can meet those needs for you. If they can't, ask if there is someone they can refer you to. Don't settle for providers who are not a good "fit" for you.

Slide Share for RN-Coach.com

Rn-Coach.com

View more presentations from capitalserf.

Joel Graham's Video: "In The Eyes of The Beholder"

 I think one of the (if not the) most important thing to have in a recovery program is a hobby.

Lately for me, this has consisted of photography - grabbing my camera early in the morning and finding something inspiring for my visual field. Part of this inspiration also came from my friend, Joel Graham, whose video "In The Eye of The Beholder" is posted above.

There are times when I have felt pretty homesick and Joel (residing in my hometown of Newport, Rhode Island) has provided an art of solace to those of us who are located in other areas of the country and the world. His talent and creativity are nothing short of phenomenal. Here he has gone the extra step of adding rhythmic music, texture and depth to his photography to create this dynamic video.

Enjoy!

Message from the Coroner: Prescription Pain Medication Addiction and Teens

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

There are many lessons to be learned from this video - perhaps the most important is in recognizing that addiction does not discriminate.

If you need help, contact 1.800.alcohol (even for medications) to find a referral closest to you, or contact us by clicking here.

Michael Jackson, Propofol and Traumatogenic Creativity

Recently, there's been some research done on the connection between sleep problems with suicidal ideation (behavior) in adults. Below is a blog from the Sleep 2009 meeting in Seattle, a report from the World Psychiatric Association and a Podcast from the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine where this issue is documented further. 

The blog from the Sleep 2009 Meeting is located here.

WPA (World Psychiatric Association): Sleep Behavior Linked to Suicidal Behavior in Adults

Podcast of the The Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine Harvard Medical School - Boston

Recent reports about Michael Jackson's lack of sleep and his request for Propofol have been reported on networks such as ABC, CNN and Fox. 

This is what I know for sure:

Michael Jackson was one of the most talented, creative musicians ever - he is and will remain, the king of pop. Part of his talent is attributed to the fact that he has been practicing his craft since he was very young - perhaps too young. With the pressure to excel (whether self-directed or mandated by his father), he had to struggle with coping with the day to day demands on his career - personally, developmentally and psychosocially. Was he traumatized by this? - maybe. How can anyone (especially someone at the age of 6) cope with that kind of pressure?

When someone has trouble coping with an abundance of pressure, they may shut down -= maybe not talk about feelings or emotions they are struggling with. So how does all of the energy of the stress get out? - Easy - it comes out in other ways - writing, art, journaling, musically - some sort of creativity that gets the message across while protecting the internal ego and inner strength of the young person involved.

Think about everyone you know who is this talented who started performing at a young age:

Britney Spears

Prince

Michael Jackson

his sister, Janet Jackson

How do they cope with that amount of pressure and come out okay?

Add to this the demands of a career to always be greater then the previous CD, to do something better, bigger, more challenging. 

Add to this 3 - 5 hours of sleep each night

Add to this an inability to have any (or very little) privacy...

What will be Michael Jackson's legacy - and how can we all honor this while even trying to understand the demands on a career and a life?

"If at first you don't succeed": Negating the 'chronic relapse' issue with addictions

This is the quote that gets me:

“After the first couple of times I went through, they basically told me that there was nothing they could do,” said Angella, a 17-year-old from the central Oregon city of Bend, who by freshman year in high school was drinking hard liquor every day, smoking pot and sampling a variety of harder drugs. “They were like, ‘Uh, I don’t think so.’ ”

The quote is from an article in the New York Times written by Benedict Carey in December of 2008 entitled "Drug Rehabilitation or Revolving Door" which explores evidenced based addiction treatment in different states throughout the country. It's a great article that explores how addiction treatment has evolved in the wake of the recent passage of the mental health parity laws which cover addiction treatment.

Oregon is one of the states that has ramped up practices to make treatment programs more accountable; others include Delaware and North Carolina.

Having worked in addictions, I can tell you that I cringe when hear quotes like the one above and also when I hear the term "chronic relapser". Sometimes patients will refer to themselves as chronic relapsers, other times it will come from the mouths of the professionals responsible for caring for them. 

I struggle with this issue because there seems to be (or better yet - I interpret there to be) a finality to it. Like 'we've done everything we can' from the treatment providers perspective and a 'I've tried everything' from the patient's perspective. I always wonder about this - whether we've tried everything or whether we're missing something as well as how to reinforce the hope for the patient. Overcoming an addiction is not easy, overcoming a failed addiction treatment program just makes all of the emotions and symptoms underneath the addiction worse. 

And is it a "treatment failure"? - I don't think so because even when patients leave programs and relapse, you can't take away information that they've learned. What you can do is look at where things went wrong and build on that knowledge. - Which is what you should also do when the dark cloud of "chronic relapser" hovers around your treatment center.

Ask your team 'what haven't we tried' or 'is there something underlying this addiction that maybe we're missing?' which is often the case with a traumatogenic addiction.

If you are a patient / addict struggling with an addiction, ask yourself 'what haven't I tried'? Don't give up, keep going. And if the issue is with a provider, see if you can explore that issue further. I frequently remind people that a counselor is only as good as what you feel comfortable telling them. If you feel like you do not have a good rapport with them, see if you can talk to them about that or ask them for a referral to another counselor. 

I know that seeking treatment for an addiction requires a lot of inner strength as does trying to work through a relationship with a counselor so that you can get the support you need; in the end however, the life lessons you can gain from all of these experiences will support not only your recovery but also your relationships with those closest to you.

Keep going and remember the quote from Thomas H. Palmer:

"'Tis a lesson you should heed, 
Try, try again. 
If at first you don't succeed, 
Try, try again." 

Stay strong.

Ellen DeGeneres Commencement Speech at Tulane University

I love this time of year because of the numerous commencement speeches that are (or have) taken place at colleges and universities throughout the country. Having experienced a few in my lifetime, I think commencement speeches offer a great opportunity to fall back and examine the lessons we have learned from the experiences we have had and the education we have received. 

Ellen's speech is funny, insightful and loaded with wisdom.

Enjoy!

Recovery Reading

These books are some of the best books (and DVD's) available to support you (or a family member) struggling with an addiction.

Don't ever think there isn't help available for you if you need it.
Additionally, should you need assistance with a referral to a treatment center in your area, contact 1.800.Alcohol and they can assist you with finding referrals close to you.

Need additional support or don't know where to turn, fill our the contact form on our company site by clicking here and let us know how we may be able to assist you.

Speed Writing on the Whiteboard

If I have a complaint about all of the addiction clinics where I have ever worked, it is this: why is it so difficult to have a large whiteboard? (like 3' by 4' if not bigger)

Normally I would think this is me - just being a little too neurotic. But yesterday I had the opportunity to talk with someone (who is presently at one of the best rehab places in the country) who spoke of how hard it was to listen to a lecture because the counselor was going so fast. "I was trying to write everything down" my friend said "and the next thing I knew, the board was erased and there was something completely different up there."

I could relate because I do this too.
Talk really fast - write - connect - make diagram after diagram about the progression of addiction, triggers, relapse, psych symptoms, reasons to stay clean, negative effects of feelings, emotions, symptoms, and then swoosh - in a second it's all gone because I need more space.

"Okay, everyone have this memorized?" I usually say (right before I erase).
(This is where everyone laughs as they realize this challenge as well).
If I hear "wait" then I stop. and we review. If I don't then I leave whatever is related to my next subject in the hopes that this small transition will help.

I've had my colleagues walk into my group room after a group and say: "wow, what just happened here" after looking at all of the writing and diagrams.
It is one of the reasons this blog exists - because I wanted to make sure there was additional information - or more information if needed.

The bottom line is that a 26 day intensive outpatient program (like a 28 day inpatient rehab program) always seems like a long time when in fact, it really isn't. Not when compared to years and years of drinking and drug use.

And the hard part is there's also a 'race against time' factor happening - as each new addict / alcoholic struggles with recovery and the challenges of being newly sober, here come the triggers, the challenges, the relationship struggles, the feelings that are frequently too difficult to manage alone when you're not sure how yet to ask for help, support, ideas, coping strategies or where the best meeting is.

"Which number is bigger?" I ask
(on a whiteboard, it looks like this)

24 days                      10 years

"10 years" is the response. It's not a difficult question. But more importantly are the ideas of time that are underneath the question - "when you are angry, sad, hurt, frustrated.... where does your head go?" - to the coping skill which has helped manage these feelings for the last 10 years because this is more familiar then the information presented rapidly over a 24 day period that has not yet sunk in.

There's so little time - and so much to do / discuss / feel / develop insight.
My goal would be to have more clinicians blog.