Recovery Storytelling – A Powerful Tool for Advocacy: Meghann Perry

February 15, 2023 by

On Sunday, I uploaded a blog post about recovery advocate Meghann Perry. In 2009, Meghann ‘was in jail, facing a 5-year prison sentence for selling crack, after decades of profound chaotic substance use and everything that comes with it.’ In 2011, she changed her relationship with substances and started to rebuild her life.

Today, Meghann has her own successful business as a consultant, curriculum developer, and facilitator. She says on her website:

‘Through unique, creative, authentic training, workshops, and programs, I’m changing the culture through new approaches to support individuals and organizations in their process of transformation from survival, to thriving. This is recovery.’

One of Meghann’s approaches involves storytelling—her initiative really excites me. I’m also thrilled to see that Meghann has been working with CCAR (Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery), whose Executive Director is Phil Valentine. I’ll be returning to this relationship in a future blog post.

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‘This is What Recovery Looks Like’: Meghann Perry

February 12, 2023 by

It’s always wonderful to see new initiatives developed by people in recovery. Here is someone who has been doing lots since she began her recovery journey. I am in awe after reading this recent Facebook post from Meghan Perry about the initiatives that she has developed or been involved in over the years since she found recovery.

‘I am now officially a Consultant to provide Technical Assistance with the Opioid Response Network!

In 2009, I was in jail, facing a 5-year prison sentence for selling crack, after decades of profound chaotic substance use and everything that comes with it.

In 2011, I changed my relationship to substances and started to rebuild my life.

In 2015, I became a Recovery Coach.

In 2017, I co-created my first experiential learning workshop with Andrea Lovett, Recovery Storytelling.

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Three Things to Know About Mental Health and Trauma

February 9, 2023 by

I just love this film clip from the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health that involves Dr. Bruce Perry talking about mental health and trauma. Here are the three major things that Bruce points out:

  1. Trauma sharing is a way for storytellers, not experts, to lead the conversation. Storytellers change the narrative.
  2. Sharing about trauma seems trendy, but it speaks to a deeper truth.
  3. Those with a platform should use it.

‘Human beings are human beings. We don’t change our minds because a bunch of scientists publish a set of recommendations and issue them. Honestly, this is no offence to the Heart Foundation or any other Foundation but you’ve all been publishing white papers about topics for years. Those don’t change public opinion. What changes people are the storytellers in our society.

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‘What Happened to You?: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing’

May 7, 2021 by

Recently, I read one of the best books I have read relevant to my work. The book, What Happened to You?: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing, is written by Bruce D. Perry M.D., Ph.D. and Oprah Winfrey. The book is essential reading for anyone interested in trauma and the healing of trauma. Many people who become addicted to drugs have experienced childhood trauma.

The book was informative, inspirational and deeply-moving. Bruce has put together so well what he has learnt throughout his career (including a great deal from the young people he has worked alongside), and has described his theories of how we function as human beings, and how trauma can have such a devastating impact on us. He describes the many ways we can facilitate the healing of trauma. The use of storytelling—Bruce’s clinical experiences and Oprah’s personal experiences—is very powerful.

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20 Ways To Facilitate Indigenous Healing, Part 2

February 17, 2015 by

P4061087-220x1646. The Healing Ritual of Storytelling
Storytelling is a healing ritual amongst Indigenous people.

In a culturally safe environment (e.g. healing circle), Indigenous people can share experiences by telling their Story (which is often a trauma Story), help each other come to terms with the emotional pain caused by what has happened to them in their past, and make sense of their personal story in relationship to the collective, communal Story.

7. Pride in Surviving Colonisation
Learning history from an Indigenous perspective, illustrating how conditions for social and psychological discontent have developed, helps Indigenous people understand why they have problems.

It also shows them that they retain the necessary agency to change their lives for the better. It helps them deal with shame and blame, factors that impact negatively on social and emotional wellbeing.

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‘Without a life story, a child is adrift, disconnected and vulnerable’ – Dr Bruce Perry on the value and power of the Life Story approach

February 11, 2015 by

UnknownHere is a powerful piece of writing by Dr Bruce Perry, which is adapted from the Foreword to the new book, Life Story Therapy with Traumatized Children, by Richard Rose. It is fundamental to what I am doing with our new initiative Sharing Culture, which is focused on helping Indigenous people heal from intergenerational trauma and its consequences.

‘A fundamental and permeating strength of humankind is the capacity to form and maintain relationships – the capacity to belong. It is in the context of our clan, community and culture that we are born and raised.

The brain-mediated set of complex capacities that allow one human to connect to another form the very basis for survival and has led to the ‘success’ of our species on this planet. Without others or without belonging, no individual could survive or thrive.

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‘The Power of Storytelling’ by Lisbeth Riis Cooper

August 22, 2014 by

lrcooperLisbeth Riis Cooper is another person whose blogs on Mad in America I really appreciate and value. Here’s one on storytelling.

‘Over the years, I have heard many powerful recovery stories. I’ve also had many opportunities to share our family’s struggle with mental health challenges and our recovery journey.

Each time I share my story, it gets a little easier. I feel a little lighter, a little more hopeful. And I realize how far our family has come, how much we have learned and healed.

Stories are powerful. And so is the process of telling them. Here is what I have observed over my last 10 years of storytelling:

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‘Family Recovery, Al-Anon & Altruism: in helping we are helped’ by DJ Mac

April 18, 2014 by

w600_c83da257562805a91d9b09b368a04f2ePeer support is of immense value in helping people find recovery from addiction and mental health problems. However, what is it about peer support that is so important? How does it work? Here, DJ Mac looks at a recent science paper focusing on this issue. 

‘“Giving implies to make the other person a giver also.” So said Eric Fromm whose quote starts this research paper which travels to the heart of mutual aid. The clear message? In helping other, we help ourselves. The recovery saying “We only keep what we have by giving it away” hits the mark in this respect.

The researchers in this Finnish study looked at communication and support in Al-Anon groups, a 12-step mutual aid network for family and friends of alcoholics. In Finland, 97% of Al-Anon members are female and three quarters are partners of alcoholics. They conducted the research through questionnaires (169) and 20 interviews. In the survey they focused on two questions:

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