The Anonymous People

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) declared September 2014 to be Recovery Month. In honor of this, the club (of which I'm president ;) ), the Virginia Association of Addiction Professionals (VAAP) Student Chapter presented a screening of the documentary The Anonymous People followed by a panel discussion. 

The film is about the Catch 22 of recovery: to protect recovering people from the hurtful stigma attached to addiction, it is important to maintain anonymity; however, anonymity perpetuates the stigma!  

The movie presents the new, or rather, revived movement of people coming out openly and calling out addiction for the disease it is. It suggests we follow the example of HIV-AIDS patients who came out as a united front in the late 80s / early 90s and smashed the myths about their disease with honesty and openness. Just as they declared, "Silence = Death", it is important for addicts to educate the public openly and unite against the stigmas that prevent millions from getting help.

This is one of the reasons I blog about my addiction, as well as my mental illness: to shine light on the darkness, to help those suffering feel less alone, and to encourage others to speak their truth as well.

If you are an addict, someone suffering from mental illness, a family member or friend, or just someone interested in positive change, the film is a must see! It is available to rent or own on Amazon Instant Video. Check it out!

Wellness Part II: Social

{Waaaay back on April 26, I posted Wellness Part I: Physical. As promised, here (finally!) is Part II...}

One of the most critical factors to both my recovery from alcohol addiction and my depression/anxiety recovery has been social connections. Having supportive family, friends, and spouse, and connecting with others going through the same issues has helped me break out of the vicious cycle of isolation and has given me the strength to keep recovering. 

But what do you do if you don't have such a network already in place? Reach out and find one:

1.  The internet, as you know, is full of resources; and support groups abound. Here are just a very few of those out there:

• Addiction Support Groups

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA): www.aa.org

Narcotics Anonymous (NA): www.na.org

Gamblers Anonymous (GA): http://www.gamblersanonymous.org/ga/

•  Depression  & Anxiety Support Groups

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?section=Find_Support

PsychCentral:

Depression - http://psychcentral.com/resources/Depression/Support_Groups/

Anxiety - http://psychcentral.com/resources/Anxiety_and_Panic/Support_Groups/

Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA):

http://www.adaa.org/finding-help/getting-support/support-groups/online-phone

2.  Check out the resources in your community as well. Churches and hospitals have support groups for addiction and mental illness; primary care doctors have resources at their finger tips; and colleges and schools have support groups and resources available in their counseling centers. Just ask.

3.  Drop me a note on Facebook, (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pink-Hi-Top-Adventures/411429458973219), leave a comment here, or email me at pink.hi.tops@gmail.com. I'd love to connect with you!

Whatever you do, don't allow yourself to stay isolated. Connections strengthen us and provide the framework upon which solid recovery is built. 

"Let Go, Let God"

"How can you say to your brother, '...let me remove that splinter in your eye,' when you do not even notice 

the wooden beam in you own eye?" 

- Jesus of Nazareth, Luke 6:42

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The above verse is about hypocracy, and it is also about control. I know that investing all my energy on the splinter in my brother's eye is ineffective, but when you love someone it is so hard not to obsess on the loved one's problems. I struggle with this a lot lately. It is very hard to let go when you love someone - when you know the bridge ahead is out, and you see the train roaring down the track headed straight for it. 

But truth be told, letting go is where God / the universe operates. Alcoholics Anonymous has a saying for this, "Let Go, Let God." 

This is my focus for the week: to invest my time and energy on the things I can control, and to let go of the need to control outcomes and the desire to control others.

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Dear, God:

Please help me focus my efforts on my own "beam" today; and while I'm doing it, please help those I love with their problems. Use me if you need me, but help me let it go if you don't.

Love, Karen