Have you ever done something really bad — so bad that you didn’t think you deserved to be forgiven? Sally, an addiction treatment graduate, recently told me that’s what being in recovery feels like a lot of the time. Fortunately, she said, people are more understanding than you might expect: “When you’re an addict, you feel like a horrible person, that you’ve done terrible things and people aren’t going to be able to forgive you. But when you work really hard to make yourself healthy and make amends, you find out that people actually have a different view of it.” I had the opportunity to hear some really inspiring stories from Sally and other rehab graduates. Here are a couple of the things they shared about sobriety, forgiveness, and moving forward. Christy’s life was unraveling — but her loved ones stepped up After surviving an accidental overdose while her children and nephew were home, Christy was at risk of losing custody of her kids. Her house needed major repairs before they were allowed back, and with Christy headed to treatment, she wasn’t sure how everything could get done. But then something amazing happened: her friends and family took action. “All these people said, ‘We’re not just going to stay back while your kids get taken away from you.’ They came and helped fix the house. “I thought, ‘I’m such a horrible person. Why would they do this for me?’” Christy recalled. She said seeing her loved ones join forces and not only forgive her actions, but actively help put her life back together, gave her a reality check into how much love is in her life. “I didn’t know that these people cared about me at all. I didn’t know why they would do anything for me after everything that I had done. But they just did — they just cared,” she said. Treatment helped Jeff find forgiveness both outside and within Entering Addiction Campuses’ Treehouse rehabilitation center in Texas helped Jeff find the courage to come clean about his drug use. “It’s all about being honest — you’ve got to be honest with yourself and you’ve got to be honest with others, and that’s hard. It’s especially hard to be honest with yourself,” he explained. Jeff said the clarity of sobriety and insight from his counselors and peers in treatment helped him learn to have the right mentality about seeking forgiveness even from himself. “It was amazing taking a step back and looking at what I’d done and being able to forgive myself and ask for forgiveness without dwelling on it,” he said. “You’ve just got to let it go. My fellow addicts helped me to do that with their stories.” Lincoln mended fences, but was grateful for where his journey led him The compassion he found in rehab helped Lincoln learn how to talk about his experiences, but he said making amends was more complicated than simply just apologizing. “I was blown away being at the podium and speaking to groups and not being judged. I talked to my father for the first time in a year and told him I was remorseful for the things I had done, but it was hard to be sorry — if things hadn’t happened the way they did, I wouldn’t be where I am now,” he told me. Ultimately, Lincoln said, it’s about letting go of your past and committing to being better in the future: “Everybody has a past. Nobody cares about the past. To me, the past is a non-issue,” he said. “You can’t judge someone on their past. If we’re judging someone on their past mistakes, no one will get out alive. I like to think, ‘What are you doing now to make yourself better for tomorrow?’” Photo from Pixabay
Cecelia Johnson believes strongly in the power of good deeds and recognizing great work. That’s why she created RecognitionWorks.org. The site is dedicated to connecting those who’ve been awarded for exemplary work in their communities to companies and organizations that can help them continue their admirable efforts through donations, sponsorships, and gifts. By making these connections, she hopes to build stronger, more altruistic communities and citizens. 3 Travel Tips for the Anxious Mind: Overcoming Travel Challenges for People with Anxiety Disorders10/10/2016 Traveling is a wonderful, life-enriching experience. However, for those with anxiety disorders, travel can represent panic attacks, paranoia, and a continual sensation like you’ve just missed a stair. Traveling with debilitating anxiety is not easy, but a few tricks can make the journey easier. After all, traveling should not only be for neurotypical people. Here are a few ways that can help you effectively manage anxiety and minimize symptoms while traveling. 1. Travel with a Buddy Traveling with someone you trust can drastically reduce the anxious feelings that can come with entering unknown territory alone. With two people, you are less likely to make mistakes like failing to pack a necessity, missing a flight, or taking a wrong turn to the airport. A second person can also be very beneficial in reassuring you that everything is going well and travel plans are on track. In events such as delayed flights, rescheduling, and unexpected overnight layovers, it can be infinitely helpful to have a person with you to soothe the panic these turns of events often trigger. If you cannot bring a buddy, identify an airport buddy. Pick someone who might be on your flight, going the same direction as you, or performing a required task you are uncertain about such as security procedures. It is best to pick a person who is readily identifiable in a crowd. This person can act as an example and unintentional guide for you to follow when you are lost or confused. Be sure this person is someone you might feel comfortable approaching if you need to ask a question. 2. Utilize a Packing List One of the worst worries many people have about traveling tends to be the fear of forgetting something crucial. To mitigate this fear, put together a packing list or, even better, use a prewritten one from a reliable source. A handwritten packing guide still leaves you open to forgetting to add something to the list. After you have packed, you may even want to consider using a second copy to go back through the items and double check your luggage. Be sure to look up your airline’s luggage policies to avoid getting hit with an unexpected fee. Packing the right luggage can be the difference between free bags and a $100 fee. 3. Keep to Your Usual Habits Particularly on a long flight, it is important that you ensure that you are eating, drinking water, and avoiding things like caffeine which can exacerbate anxiety. The idea of needing to get up and go to the bathroom on a plane can be terrifying, but if your body is struggling with dehydration and hunger, your anxiety will be amplified. For some people, a stressful situation will eliminate the usual hunger responses, leading you to feel as though you don’t need to eat. Or, you may simply be too stressed to eat. In these situations, even if all you can manage is a smoothie, keeping your body supplied with fuel is important, as it provides you with the energy you need to tackle the challenges of travel. Other habits you may have such as drawing, meditating, reading, or any other of your usual activities can also help to stave off the panic response of doing something that triggers anxiety. Pack items for the wait and the flight that will keep your anxiety levels low. Anxiety can become the reason you miss out on life experiences. Avoiding stress and potential panic attacks is enough to keep anyone from getting on a plane and seeing the world. However, even if you struggle with anxiety, it is wholly possible for you to persevere and give yourself the freedom to enjoy your next vacation. For each person and each type of anxiety, the coping mechanisms will be different. Learning how to work around your travel anxiety is a matter of trial and error. Start small, learn what works, and eventually, the world will be your oyster. Jennifer McGregor is a pre-med student, who loves providing reliable health and medical resources for PublicHealthLibrary.org users. She knows how difficult it can be to sift through the mountains of health-related information on the web. She co-created the site with a friend as a way to push reputable information on health topics to the forefront, making them easier and quicker to find.
Image via Pixabay by Ryan McGuire
When a person you love is diagnosed with a mental illness, a number of things can be running through your mind. Addiction is likely not one of them. Unfortunately, addiction is often the result of abusing a substance as a coping mechanism. The next step from mental illness to addiction is then a heightened risk of suicide. Addiction, when combined with a mental illness, leads to a much higher risk of suicidal thoughts and actions, meaning not only is it critical that you prevent addiction, but you must also be aware of the associated risks. Here are a few ways you can work to prevent both addiction and suicide in mentally ill individuals. Be Open
A person who feels they should be ashamed of their illness is more likely to turn to an unhealthy crutch such as an addictive substance. Being open and aware of their condition and how to work around it is important in avoiding dependence on something else for comfort. Let the person know you understand and that you are willing to listen when they need to talk. This works against the risk of both suicide and addiction by preventing feelings of being ostracized and shame. Social acceptance can play a huge role in addiction and suicide. Listen to the Person A person with a mental illness who feels secure confiding in you will tell you what they need. For example, someone with severe social anxiety might tell you they can’t handle going to coffee with you on the day you had planned. You need to listen and be supportive. Do not force them into situations that make things worse. They need to feel understood and accepted for who they are. With a great support system of good listeners, a person struggling with mental illness may never even feel the urge to abuse a substance or experience suicidal thoughts. Of course, with certain ailments, even the best support network cannot prevent these detrimental habits and thoughts. For example, bipolar disorder may cause suicidal thoughts on down days regardless of how helpful their friends and family are. This may be where a professional counselor comes in. Find a Professional No matter how much you love and support your loved one, you cannot replace the expertise of a professional. Professionals are able to recommend medications and beneficial practices to help control the effects of the illness. They can offer positive outlets in order to help your loved one avoid feeling they need to turn to alcohol or drug abuse to cope. They are a necessary resource when your loved one needs care you cannot provide. Even if a counselor is out of your reach, financially, there are hotlines available for both suicide and addiction. Though these hotlines are not a permanent solution, they can be an invaluable resource for moments of crisis. A mental illness diagnosis is never the end of the road. Millions of people live with these conditions and are perfectly capable of having full, well-rounded lives. You, as a loved one, only need to be supportive and loving. No one expects you to be a counselor; however, you may be needed to help locate one qualified to help your loved one with their unique circumstances. Having a professional on board is crucial to maintaining a healthy way of coping with mental illness. Listen, be open, and help them in the direction of a knowledgeable counselor. Preventing addiction and suicide in mentally ill people does not need to be an uphill battle provided you have a good support network and healthy outlets. Steve Johnson co-created PublicHealthLibrary.org with a fellow pre-med student. The availability of accurate health facts, advice, and general answers is something Steve wants for all people, not just those in the health and medical field. He continues to spread trustworthy information and resources through the website, but also enjoys tennis and adding to his record collection in his spare time. Image via Pixabay by Foundry Picture from lawenforcementtoday.com It is a hot topic, suicide in law enforcement and one that seems to generate a lot of talk. Different studies have been conducted with different findings but all show that suicide is part of law enforcement. Rather you are on the side of it being higher in the profession or on the side that it is the same rate as the general public, the same conclusion is present; one law enforcement professional taking their life is one too many.
If the general consensuses are that suicide in law enforcement is an epidemic and many feel it is due to undiagnosed PTSD or bad coping skills from the trauma that is seen on the job. If it is part of the job should we treat the death as a duty related issue? This question of do you give full honors to someone who took there life strikes the match for a heated argument in many circles in law enforcement. If you believe suicide is a result from the job then shouldn’t it be treated like a death from the job? One thing for sure is treating it like a crime or act of weakness helps no one on the force. If we ignore it in our departments or talk about that officer as being weak you are going to create stigma for other personnel to want to reach out when they are in need. Law enforcement already has a reputation as being a macho career. You must put on a mask like you are a warrior or robot and that nothing gets to you. Let’s face it we are human and it gets to us. Our culture at work extends off duty into our personal lives as people around us look up to us as being the tough one of the group. Instead of showing the truth we act like superman or batman hiding our human and emotional sides. So here are some questions to ask yourself and your department:
Do you want to save your brother and sister’s life? Then change the culture in our profession. It won’t be easy but you can be a leader and take a stand on the words and choice of activities you do around the death of a co-worker. Change doesn’t happen overnight it takes time and change that defines a culture can be even harder. You can make a difference and you do have the ability to create positive change in your world. Tips on happiness here. The National Alliance on Mental Illness, or NAMI for short, is the United States largest and oldest grassroots non-profit on mental health advocacy. They also are one of the only services that provide training and help to family members of people living with mental illness.
When the first Crisis Intervention Team was being created in Memphis, NAMI played a huge role in making it a community-based program. When looking at starting or enhancing a CIT program making sure you have NAMI or your local mental health advocacy group involved is a must. NAMI’s website also host amazing information on behavioral health disorders and ways to help someone in need. There information is easy to read and easy to access making it great material to use in training or to hand out to families in need. So what are some of their programs? Well here are a few:
Check out more on NAMI here. Nils recently accepted the position as Medical Director for the Albuquerque Police Department. In this position he felt he would not be able to fully serve the non-profit with his time and has resigned.
Thank you Nils for your dedication to the CIT movement and creating positive change throughout our community and country. You have helped set standards for others to follow. I feel like his new position will give him opportunity to continue his efforts in improving CIT policing and creating standards for other organizations to follow. Well long story short our equipment was stolen. Nils had been in the process of moving and overnight his vehicle was broken into and the equipment was stolen from it. We are still putting out podcast of the didactics from the CIT Knowledge Network and will continue to do so. Unfortunately we do not have the funding to replace the equipment that was stolen so our weekly show is on a hiatus. This should be looked at as a learning moment. You should never leave things of value in open view of your vehicle. This leads to crime of opportunity that may not have been present previously. Even if you have an empty backpack or purse put it in the trunk only you know that it is empty. To check out our podcast page click here. ***Update 9/9/16*** Apparently out equipment was not taken. Nils found in during his move! The program coordinator for the CIT Knowledge Network has opened up at the UNM.
You can find out more here :https://unmjobs.unm.edu/applicants/jsp/shared/frameset/Frameset.jsp?time=1463673594378 It is under staff positions and the job title is Project Coordinator. If you or anyone you know is interested send them that way! This is a unique opportunity to be on the forefront of a brand new style of training to increase the knowledge around CIT Policing and public service.
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