David Clark — Page 48 — Recovery Stories

No matter what, somebody is going to get better today

September 30, 2013 by David Clark

I love this film clip from ManyFaces1Voice! So enthusiastic, energetic and inspiring. I feel the recovery. Thank you, Neil. Film clips like this form the making of the film The Anonymous People by Greg Williams make a difference. There’s real Recovery Energy in the US!

“I had written down a couple of notes and I threw my main script away and I just said, ‘I know what you’re going to do. I know you got… I know these are hard budget times and this is a hard struggle for you. I know you’ve got some hard choices. You’re going to cut us, I can see that.

No matter what, somebody is going to get better today. Somebody is going to sit in a church basement or sit knee-to-knee with someone else in recovery and get it. Someone is getting recovery today, no matter what you do. I just need you to know that, that’s it out there, we’re out there.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: advocacy, funding, inspiration, recovery, The Anonymous People

‘The need to be honest, willing and open-minded’ by Rosie

September 29, 2013 by David Clark

Everyone needs a guide in life – for no one can be judge in their own case. We all need to have someone in our life we can totally trust – and none more so than the alcoholic seeking recovery.

I came to understand through being around others like myself, from listening to them and hearing their personal stories of recovery, that such a person was required – a sponsor – to guide me through the 12 Steps, the Programme that has brought thousands of people into recovery.

Through listening to these people, I began to get an idea of what the 12-Step Programme was about and of the important part it played in the daily life of the recovering alcoholic.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: 12 steps, honesty, open-minded, recovery, relationship, sponsor, support, trust

Happy One Year Birthday, Maddie!

September 29, 2013 by David Clark

Over a year ago, I met a special young lady from this side of the world, Well, let me clarify. We have never met physically, we started emailing each other. Maddie had blogged on Wired In To Recovery in the early stages of her own recovery, I had commented on the blog, and then we started emailing.

Maddie has talked about how she has been feeling on many days over the past year. It’s been very special (and an honour) to have followed her through this stage of her recovery. I have learnt so much. We’ve also been working on her Recovery Story, and boy-oh-boy, is that a Story! And Maddie has also helped me with a problem I had in my personal life.

Today is Maddie’s first year birthday. She’s been clean and sober one year! Isn’t that amazing, Maddie? One year today!

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: addiction, anxiety attacks, birthday, clean and sober, maddie, recovery, symptoms, withdrawal

‘Out of the dark into the light: The beginning of the recovery journey’ by Rosie

September 28, 2013 by David Clark

My good friend Wynford Ellis Owen of The Living Room Cardiff was a regular blogger on Wired In To Recovery. While he was on holiday, his ‘stand-in’ Rosie wrote some beautiful blogs. Here’s the first.

‘Leaving the dark place of my drinking and moving into the light of my new life has been a journey of self discovery – a journey of change – a painful journey at times – a wonderful journey – which has brought me what I was seeking most – peace.

I have come to understand that recovery is a healing process of mind, body and spirit, and time is an essential factor in this process. We cannot expect to recover from the illness of alcoholism or any other addiction overnight. We cannot undo the harm done in a short space of time. This is a fact which I believe is so often not recognised – people are not realising the importance of time in the recovery process.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: family, humility, love, reassurance, recovery, self-knowledge, shame, support

Expectations in Early Recovery

September 27, 2013 by David Clark

One of the problems in early recovery is the person not knowing what to expect. And then not being able to deal with the ‘unexpected’ when it happens. Here’s some reflections from Stephanie Brown in her book A Place Called Self: Women, Sobriety, and Radical Transformation.

‘Sharp feelings
New recovery is painful on several levels. Firstly, new recovering women must deal with the normal feelings that most women have but which they have buried under addiction.

Second, they have to face the ambivalence they feel as they bring their own recovery needs into balance with meeting the needs of others.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: emotional pain, expectations, feelings, memories, needs, recovery, shame, trauma

The Role of Historical Trauma in Indigenous Mental Health and Addictions

September 26, 2013 by David Clark

In the past couple of months, I have become increasingly interested in historical trauma and the impact it has had on the health and well-being of Aboriginal people here in Australia, and in other indigenous groups around the world. I’ll be talking more about it in the coming months.

For now, I want to introduce you to the promotional trailer of the film ‘Sharing Tebwewin’.

“Sharing Tebwewin” (Sharing the Truth) is a 30-minute educational documentary designed to help health workers become more “culturally competent” in their work with First Nations people.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: aboriginal, canada, culturally competent, education, historical trauma, historically-informed, indigenous people, residential schools

Brene Brown on joy and gratitude

September 25, 2013 by David Clark

Vulnerability expert Brene Brown talks about the relationship between joy and gratitude and offers a few tips on how to cultivate more joy in your own life.

Check out Brene in our section of books to help your recovery.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: brene brown, family, gratitude, joy, research

‘Figuring out self-acceptance’ by Matt Kay

September 24, 2013 by David Clark

By popular request, another Wired In To Recovery blog by Matt Kay.

‘Self-acceptance means accepting our whole self; the talents and strengths along with the bad habits and pain. When we deny, repress or hide any aspect of ourselves it is likened to rejecting ourselves.

The very things we want most in life include being accepted, loved and acknowledged, yet we often don’t give these gifts to ourselves. We are all here to grow, learn and enjoy life, and no one is perfect. Making mistakes, experiencing pain and embarrassing ourselves are all a part of the package.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: authentic, awareness, denial, fears, love, mistakes, self-acceptance, shame

‘Losing a Self: Lying to Yourself’ by Stephanie Brown

September 24, 2013 by David Clark

I’ve made reference to Stephanie Brown’s brilliant book A Place Called Self: Women, Sobriety, and Radical Transformation in past blogs. I’ve recommended this book to several women in early recovery and they have really like it.

Here, Stephanie describes how one’s self (or identity) changes in a negative manner during the process of addiction. She focuses on lying to oneself.

‘… addiction develops over time, and it involves changes in the way you behave but also changes in the way you think: the way you think about drinking, the way you think about yourself, and the way you think about life.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: addiction, belief, denial, identity, lying, recovery, self, woman

Knowing what to do to support recovery

September 23, 2013 by David Clark

Here’s an excellent description of ‘tasks’ for treatment workers, recovery coaches or peer supporters. This quote is taken from Stephanie Brown’s excellent book The Alcoholic Family in Recovery: A Developmental Model.

‘Being in recovery is a normal process, with clearly defined, predictable tasks and stages. It is absolutely vital for therapists to know what is normal over time in the process of recovery or they may inadvertently try to treat, stop, or fix what is normal and necessary to growth.

It is the therapists job to stay out of the way of the natural healing process, to monitor progress, and to recognize past or current roadblocks that might interfere with people’s ability to remain abstinent and engaged in recovery.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: coping, education, growth, intervention, natural healing, recovery, tasks, therapist

The Detroit Recovery Project

September 23, 2013 by David Clark

Having lived in Detroit between 1984-1986, it’s nice to see good happening in my old home. Check out this short film involving Recovery Carrier Andre L. Johnson, CEO of The Detroit Recovery Project.

“Here in Detroit, our two biggest challenges for people in recovery is adequate living arrangements and employment. And so if we can address those two aspects we have begun to solve the problems in our community as well as the problems of the world.

You have the humblest set of people I have ever met on this earth but their spirit are strong. You don’t see their spirits, but you can feel the spirit of that person yearning for recovery.”

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: community, detroit recovery project, employment, housing, recovery carrier, spirit

‘The Past, Present and Future’ by Maddy

September 22, 2013 by David Clark

Unexpected memories can throw me off track in a second! Like today, I’ve been wondering around the Westfield shopping centre killing time before an appointment. I walked into a store that I used to work in when using and the memories came rushing back, followed by a real dip in my mood.

Suddenly, I’m sad, scared about my future, worried I’ll never be ok. Missing the buzz I had when using. The freedom from feelings. The confidence.

It’s still so overwhelming that I’m in recovery. Sometimes, I feel so lost and empty, but other times full of hope and faith.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: conditioned cues, future, hope, memories, moods, past, present, travel

Kathy’s Recovery Minute

September 21, 2013 by David Clark

“I’d like to stress that one day does not go by that I don’t think about the life I took. I don’t forget that a child grew up without her father and that a mother’s heart was broken because of my choices, including again my own mother.”

“I live a life now full of blessings and I tell my Story as often as I can, so if I can at least save one life, make one change to somebody when they hear my words, it will make at least some part of this tragedy and pain have some type of meaning for the positive. Thank you.” Kathy of CCAR (Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery)

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: 12-step, CCAR, choices, denial, prescription drugs, prison, recovery, road accident death

‘Madness!’ By Maddie

September 20, 2013 by David Clark

‘So close to one year sobriety now and I’ve been reflecting a lot. The biggest thing for me at the moment is being so aware of the insanity and madness in which I used to live. I totally understand what insanity and madness mean now.

How insane to think it was a good idea to steal drugs from a dealer who was a biker and his girlfriend often had a black eye? How insane was it to think it was a good idea to have sex with strangers for money…

Towards the end of my using heavily, I would pick up my drugs from my dealer, go to work for the day (in the bathhouse), only to have to pay for more drugs on the way home. Insane! I was effectively making no money, as I was drugging away every single cent I earned!

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: addiction, dealer, drugging, insanity, madness, recovery, reflections, stress

‘The problem with instant graftification’ by Matt Kay

September 20, 2013 by David Clark

Here’s another excellent blog that Matt Kay submitted to Wired In To Recovery.

‘Our world today is based upon instant gratification. Taking into consideration all of the technology that allows us to get what we want right when we want it, it’s really no wonder that we are trying to apply that standard to our emotional state.

Think of all the ways that people use drugs or alcohol pertaining to instant gratification. If you are having a stressful day – pop a pill and feel de-stressed. If you are feeling a little social anxiety or lack of confidence in a situation – have a few drinks and get some liquid courage.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: change, children, coping skills, emotions, instant gratification, life skills, recovery, substances

Independent film producer shines light on addiction and recovery

September 20, 2013 by David Clark

Leslie Glass and her daughter Lindsey Glass have just made their second documentary about recovery. Here is a film clip and report from YourObserver.

At a 2011 luncheon for the premiere of her first documentary film, “The Secret World of Recovery,” Leslie Glass remembers hearing a collective gasp as she told the crowd of nearly 400 people that she was the mother of a recovering addict. It was the first time she’d ever told anyone.

“When you come out with it for the first time, you have a sense of shame about it,” she says. “What did I do wrong as a parent that I have a child who’s had these difficulties? I think that’s so common; people don’t want other people to know.”

Filed Under: Blog, Family Tagged With: addiction, daughter, documentary, family, mother, prevention, recovery, stigma

Lifetime Achievement Award for Pat Deegan

September 18, 2013 by David Clark

You can find Pat Deegan and her wonderful mental health recovery work on this website in a number of places – just check out by searching. Pat has just won a well-deserved Lifetime Achievement Award from the New York Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services. Here is what she said on her PDA website:

‘Last week I was presented with a lifetime achievement award by the New York Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services.

My friends Sally Zinman, Jacki McKinney and Gayle Bluebird also received awards. I really enjoyed the way the award ceremony was handled. Harvey Rosenthal had 5 big armchairs arranged on the keynote stage with mics in front of each. We were presented with our awards and then had the opportunity to address three questions:

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Lifetime Achievement Award, medical disease, mental health, pat deegan, peer support, recovery, symptom management, wellness

I refuse to feel ashamed

September 18, 2013 by David Clark

Here is an interesting blog on Life Unbuzzed. Everyone’s recovery is just as valuable as anyone else’s. And everyone has a choice of what they do with their recovery, e.g. go public or not, become a recovery advocate or not. Here, husband and wife take different ways forward.

‘Last week, my husband and I went to see a screening of the film The Anonymous People (which I recommend), sponsored by a local recovery support organization. The theater was packed and I felt bathed in a warm and welcoming vibe.

This was the first gathering of sober people that I’ve been a part of and I loved the sense of belonging. (Yeah, we’re all sober, dammit, and we’re proud!)

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: advocacy, belonging, going public, reaching out, recovery, stigma, support, The Anonymous People

Marion’s Story: Introduction

September 17, 2013 by David Clark

Dr. Marion Kickett tells her Story, to help the reader understand her background and why she undertook her PhD research on resilience.

Filed Under: Sharing Culture Tagged With: aboriginal, community, connections, culture, marion kickett, research, resilience, story