Celebrating Hope & Recovery Since A Letter to the Clinical Director from a Santé Alumna

Transcription

1 Celebratin Hope & Recovery Since Winter Newsletter A Letter to the Clinical Director from a Santé Alumna With the onset of October I find myself takin pause for reflection. The month sinifies chane. A tree sheds its leaves in preparation for winter; it is this defense aainst the brutal cold that allows the tree to survive. By lettin o of what is no loner needed, the tree is able to conserve its core by directin its enery inward. In sprin the tree will breathe aain; it will bud, bloom and flourish. October represents my birth, the completion of another year of life! I, like the tree, have survived. It will soon be one year from the time I left Santé the place where I learned how to survive. Throuh the staff at Santé I saw that it was not only possible to survive in recovery but also to flourish. I cannot fully express the profound respect and ratitude I have for you and the work you do. You are an inspiration to me, in your recovery and in your passion. When I left Santé I went to another treatment center outside of Chicao. Althouh I related well to the other patients, I felt entirely disconnected from the treatment and almost alienated in a sense. The tech staff kept mum about their own experiences, as if they were encouraed not to share with the patients; the clinical staff didn t seem to have personal experience with addiction and they used an approach that read somethin is wron with you that needs to be fixed. As you can imaine, that did not bode well with my tenacity. From that experience, I knew that Santé had the riht approach. Relatin to other addicts is a fundamental part of my recovery; I derive strenth from those who are like me. It has not been the easiest year for me. I struled with drinkin on and off from January throuh July. I would stay sober for a few months, slip, then et back on the water waon. The last slip I had turned into a month-lon relapse. I felt like a nothin. I really had to di deep within myself in order to pick back up aain. Stayin sober was the first step, and from there I slowly bean addin thins back into my life. I am back in school and takin only two classes; I will take the final two courses of my underraduate deree next sprin. I m actually oin to raduate. Yay! My sister and I are lookin for an apartment downtown. I m livin at my dad s house now and in the past I never thouht I could survive on my own, but I finally feel confident that I can make it work. I have confidence aain. It s been a lon time since I last felt this okay. I m content, and satisfied with bein content too, rather than chasin the illusion of fulfillment inflated by alcohol. Sobriety has allowed me to shed my leaves and take back control of my life. I could have perished in the dark months but I have been iven another chance to see the seasons chane. And I think this year I will keep my eyes open and relish in the experience. Santé helped et me here. My thanks to you are lon overdue. Nonetheless, thank you Ron, for your interal role in chanin my life and uidin me towards a freedom I did not know existed. Wishin You Well, Santé Alumna Thanks so much. I have rown up in ways I never thouht possible since comin here; physically, spiritually, emotionally and mentally. I will never foret my time at Santé. ~ Santé Alumni 914 Country Club Road P.O. Box 448 Aryle, TX fax:

2 The Gift By: Linda Moran, Santé Reional Marketin Coordinator Intervention What is the success rate? By: Jerry L. Law, D. Min., MDAAC, BRI-II When I tell family members who are strulin with a loved one s addiction that my son s alcoholism and dru addiction has been a blessin in our lives, they look at me as if I ve just rown horns. But that s really how I feel... now. Of course, it hasn t always been that way. The disease of addiction is bafflin and insidious. I remember a time early in my son s strule with his addiction when I prayed for one thin that he would live. Please God, just let him live! Unlike other parents of a typical 16-year-old, my dreams weren t for his acceptance into collee, or marriae to a lovin partner, or to have a family. No, I had iven up those expectations and rieved that loss. At that point in time, his addiction was so severe, death was just waitin around the corner to snatch him up. All it would take was the wron combo of chemicals as he searched for his next hih. My one prayer was finally answered. My son was able to et treatment for his addiction at the ae of 16. There is no doubt in my mind that treatment saved his life. Yes, it was expensive. Yes, it was emotionally difficult for him and our family. Yes. It was a lon, tedious, scary, and difficult journey as all of us worked hard for our recovery from this family disease. Fast forward seven years - my son is alive AND sober. Gratefully, my prayers were answered. It doesn t always turn out that way. I know that. Many simply don t have the means for treatment. Some addicts will not stay the course, will not et better, and yet when I hear family members whose loved ones are in treatment expressin reservations about their situation, maybe that they somehow haven t done enouh that this may not work, that somehow, someway, they should be able to fix this, I remind them, they have done the best they can... I tell them, By intervenin, by bein there as emotional support, by listenin to the advice of the professionals who understand this disease, by providin financial support when possible - in all of these ways you have just iven your loved one the most valuable ift you could EVER ive the chance at life a life far beyond his or her expectations and tools to use for recovery for the rest of their life. So when I m asked if I would do it aain. I say, Absolutely I would! I accept that there are no uarantees with this disease. I know he could relapse. Yet today, I m rateful for my addict because this journey has brouht our family many other ifts not just the ift of his life. This journey has iven us the ift of acceptance and the wisdom to understand that this is a family disease, the ift of havin many carin people standin ready to ive us a helpin hand, a shoulder of support, and the wisdom of their experience. Today I enjoy the most incredibly rich, carin relationship with my son one I never dreamed possible. That would never have happened had we not taken this journey. Our family is sure to reap the benefits for enerations to come as this journey has the potential to chane our family tree by breakin the repetitive cycle of addiction. As the holidays approach, all I can think is what a ift recovery has been to our family. When meetin with clients about a potential Intervention, a few questions are universally asked. One of these questions is, What is the success rate for Intervention? It is an honest question indeed. In this article, this important question will be answered. When asked about the success rate, I always advise clients that I will answer in two ways. These answers frame success alon two complimentary tracks. The first is obvious success bein defined as the addicted loved one oin to treatment. Those who watch television prorams about Intervention frequently question the success rate larely due to the fact that the individual nearly always oes to treatment on these television prorams. What about the real world? If you knew my addicted family member, you would know that he or she would never o to treatment based on a roomful of people askin. We have been tryin that for years! Intervention is not another attempt usin the same old methods. In the Recovery Community, one will frequently hear that insanity is doin the same thin over and aain while expectin different results. Intervention is not doin that same thin, but rather somethin completely different! In reality, most Interventionists will state that their success rate, as defined above, is in the percent rane. Our records bear this out. Well over eiht in ten individuals choose treatment when family and friends present this life savin ift. Of the fifteen to twenty percent who choose not to enae in treatment the day of the Intervention, about half do choose to o within a week or two. These individuals feel the need to test the resolve of the Intervention team members and need a little more time to prove to themselves that ettin help is the only real option. Unfortunately, there does remain a small percentae of men and women who will need to experience illness, automobile accident, the loss of a job or family, incarceration or even death to break the destructive cycle of addiction. Clearly the odds are in favor of Intervention. This success rate demonstrates the incredible power of the process. As mentioned, another definition for success deserves our attention as well. Addiction breeds chaos, families are divided and destroyed by this equal opportunity killer. Families often live in fear and dysfunction for years while the disease attacks not only the addict but also nearly everyone around him or her. Intervention must address this chaos as well. Assistin the addict in makin the choice to accept treatment is only one component of the Intervention process. While preparin for the Intervention, it is not unusual to meet with many hurtin friends and family members. The Interventionist is handed the opportunity to help those who are rievin. Education comes first. When meetin with the Team, we always spend considerable time answerin questions about addiction and compulsive behaviors. We debunk the myths and stereotypes that have helped prevent families from addressin the problem. The elephant in the room looses its invisibility as each Team member is iven the opportunity to share what they know about how the diseases is attackin the addict as well as those around him or her. Learnin the essentials about addiction and treatment options is a crucial component of the Intervention process. It is common for us to spend eiht to ten hours with Team members in preparation for the Intervention. Durin this preparation time, Team members are provided instructions on healthy ways to address the addiction. Old methods of judment, condemnation and criticism are abandoned, as they have had no impact aainst addiction. In the place of unsuccessful techniques, Team members are iven powerful new tools for dealin with the issue oin forward. The days of division and manipulation are over. A united front in combatin the disease is developed and a solid plan of action is developed. Team members unite in support of one another and new bonds of love and loyalty are established. Reardless of the choice of the addict to embrace or reject treatment, the Team members are iven a new lease on life. Nothin will ever be the same aain! By this definition, every Intervention is successful. Thouh families are often fearful that if they do intervene, their loved one may never talk to them aain, the truth is if they do not take action, their loved one may not have the opportunity to speak to them aain due to the inevitable outcome of this proressive disease. Intervention is truly the ift of life, and when done properly the success of the process is not defined exclusively by the choice of the addict. Jerry L. Law, D. Min., MDAAC, BRI-II ISA Intervention and Recovery Specialists 2164 E. Broadway Road, Suite 260 Tempe, AZ jerry@interventionaz.com

3 Manain Pain Before it Manaes You By: Molly H. Guzzino, ATR-BC, LPC, LMFT We all know that no pain lasts forever. Dabney Ewin, MD If a client, loved one or you suffer from chronic pain, Dr. Ewin s statement miht seem provocative or insensitive. However, pain manaement in recovery, whether or not dru abuse is the primary addiction, is a sinificant challene. Individuals often feel conflicted over medication use, concern about bein shamed by others in the proram, experience uilt for bein weak about their lack of pain tolerance and often fear that prescribed medications for pain miht be a ateway to relapse. We are all oin to be in pain at some time, perhaps from injury, illness or dental / medical procedures and surery. All pain is real and must be addressed quickly and responsibly. Clinical studies on chronic pain conducted by the University of Washinton Medical Center found that 97% of the participants experienced pain relief. In a recent follow up one year later, 80% reported continued use of this intervention as an effective method for manain their chronic pain. Participants also stated that the side effects were actually overwhelminly positive, includin an increased sense of personal control, improved sleep quality, combined with reater physical and emotional well bein. Individuals also expressed increased involvement in hobbies, were better able to inore their pain and simply felt that their lives were more satisfyin and worthwhile. Major pharmaceutical companies everywhere dream of producin a pain medication with these results. However, it is not a dru. It is hypnosis. As humans, we naturally o in and out of trance throuhout the day. Daydreamin, relaxin, zonin out, bein very focused on a book or s are all examples of naturally occurrin trance. Clinical hypnosis capitalizes on this normal ability and teaches individuals how to use suestions for potential chanes in their thouhts, emotions, perceptions, behaviors and sensations. Hypnosis is so effective at chanin sensations in the body, that learnin self-hypnosis ives an individual a major intervention tool for pain manaement. Knowin how to diminish one s pain experience sinificantly increases a reater sense of self-competency and promotes personal control. Hypnosis impacts and diminishes pain in a variety of ways. The sensation of pain is enerated from many specialized areas in the body, travelin up into the spinal cord and brain. The brain is the primary interpreter of pain in the body. Several reions in the brain experience pain in different ways. Recent developments in brain imain studies have revealed that throuh the use of carefully crafted suestions, hypnosis can cause the brain to relax, calm and feel less pain in specifically tareted areas. Hypnosis can decrease the amount of sensory information travelin up the spinal cord to the brain, thereby diminishin the intensity of pain that is experienced. It can also enender feelins of hope, which lessens the neative beliefs and sufferin associated with pain. Furthermore, as much pain is due to inflammation, hypnosis can assist in reducin inflammatory processes. As the brain reisters less discomfort, the mind quiets, allowin for even less pain sensations. Hypnosis for pain control is best learned from a clinical hypnotherapist who specializes in pain manaement. Patients will be asked for a thorouh medical history includin their pain experiences and medication issues. Addiction and recovery work should also be noted. The clinical hypnotherapist will provide clear information about the process of hypnosis and address any of the clients questions or concerns before proceedin with an actual hypnotic experience. The clinician will often make recordins of the hypnosis sessions for the client to listen and practice with between appointments. Individuals are tauht a variety of self-hypnosis techniques they can employ to control their pain. Many of these techniques can be discretely used in public without the knowlede of others. Clients are expected to practice these hypnosis techniques on a daily basis. For the treatment of chronic pain, 4 to 10 sessions with a clinical hypnotherapist is common, with many individuals beinnin to experience relief in the first session hypnosis is used. Learnin to manae pain with the least amount of pharmaceutical intervention possible can be of reat assistance for relapse prevention. Individuals do not build up tolerance to hypnosis. The more self-hypnosis is used, the reater the overall positive effects. Hypnosis, whether achieved throuh listenin to audio recordin or throuh selfhypnosis, can lead to more effective copin overall. The thouhts one holds about pain influences the intensity of pain experienced in the body. As hypnotic pain manaement skills increase, so do helpful thouhts that reinforce the experience. Positive self-statements may include: I have the ability to control my pain...i have reater influence over the effects pain has in my body...i can move forward in my life no matter what happens...i can handle the present moment. Each of these statements has the potential to calm the mind, thereby assistin the brain in bein less reactive to pain. As individuals practice ood pain manaement skills, they actively cultivate a more positive neuroloical network to reduce their discomfort. Everyone will face physical pain at some point in their lives. Self-hypnosis is a priceless resource empowerin individuals to manae their pain experience for a lifetime. Molly Guzzino, ATR-BC, LPC, LMFT, has worked for over 30 years in the fields of medical and mental health. She is a board certified art therapist, a licensed professional counselor, clinical hypnotherapist and a licensed marriae and family therapist. In addition to her private psychotherapy practice, Molly is a frequent speaker at professional conferences and has tauht internationally at medical schools in China and South Africa. Her current teachin schedule includes trainins for individuals in recovery on: 1) Pain Manaement Throuh Imaery, Mindfulness and Self-Hypnosis 2) Copin with Anxiety and Emotion Floodin with Self-Hypnosis 3) Creativity and Fear. Currently, she walks two professional paths. In her private practice, she works with adults facin sinificant challenes related to psycholoical trauma, recovery and life limitin health issues. She is also the Executive Director of Flamin Heart Media and producer of the DVD, Pathways to Comfort: A Guided Journey Reclaimin Deep Relaxation and Restorative Sleep, available now at: Her new video on transformin pain is scheduled for release in early Molly can be contacted at: Don t foret to check out our blo, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter! You can access our blo throuh our website:

4 Manain Holiday Stress by Kay Colbert, LCSW We hosted our 15th Annual Alumni Retreat on October 19-21, 2012 on the Santé campus in Aryle, TX. It was a reat success with record attendance! At Santé, we realize the importance of our alumni and foster onoin relationships in every way we can. We re lookin forward to our 3rd Annual Alumni Raner Game Outin in May! It s always a treat to welcome our alumni back home with open arms! Stress is a normal physioloical and emotional response that we have when the demands on us seem reater than what we can handle. When our stress becomes chronic or acute, our body responds in ways that can cause health problems and emotional distress. Stress is one of the most commonly reported causes of dru and alcohol use and is often cited as the number one cause of addiction relapse. Learnin ood stress manaement skills can be useful any time of the year, but is especially needed around the holidays. The time period startin from Thanksivin and runnin throuh New Year s can make people feel unbalanced, especially for those in recovery. Many of us feel we have too much to do and too little time, we invite too many relatives to our house and spend too much money. We feel pressured and exhausted. The holiday season can trier emotional hihs and lows, which in turn can be a trier for relapse for those in recovery from addictions. We or our families may have impractical expectations about the holidays. We may be separated or estraned from loved ones. We may ruminate on resentments or personal losses. There may be memories of past overindulences. Perhaps we have relationship problems or family tensions. Reconizin the possibility for holiday blues in advance and developin an advance plan, will help you confront any unpleasant experiences and handle them in a healthy way. This year, take a deep breath, step back and plan ahead for ood self-care. Here are some suestions: Be realistic about your emotional, physical and time limitations and don t push yourself beyond them. This is not the time to start complicated projects. This may not be the time to travel. Be willin to share responsibilities you do not have to do everythin yourself. Make a schedule of how relatives and friends comin over can help out and let everyone know what it is. Plan ahead. Try not to have unrealistic expectations of perfect holidays. Your normal everyday routines can provide consistency. Say no. Sometimes families do not celebrate in a healthy or positive way. This miht mean you don t et toether with your parents or with Aunt Sue. Do not put yourself in situations that will have temptations present. Practice sayin no, but if I chane my mind I ll let you know. Don t play ames with your sobriety! Clients too often tell me they can be around people who use alcohol or cocaine or marijuana because that wasn t my dru of choice. This is a risky stratey. Be proactive. Learn to say no to alcohol and other drus in a way that is comfortable for you. If your friends or family members cannot celebrate the holidays without drinkin or druin, tell them you re sorry, but you ve made other plans. Set boundaries. Yes, you have the riht to ask people not to drink around you. Practice ood self care. Set aside some quiet time every day. Eat balanced meals at reular times. Be aware of how much nicotine, caffeine (that includes enery drinks) and suar you are consumin. Exercise at least a little every day. Sleep, 8 hours at niht, and et up in the mornin. Lack of sleep or odd sleep patterns can contribute to fatiue, stress and mood swins. If you are on medication, take it as prescribed. Strenthen your support system. Make plans now to touch base with your sponsor, therapist, support roup or church roup. Don t skip meetins. Keep the phone numbers of your sponsor and at least 3 other recovery people in your wallet to call if you start to feel overwhelmed. Create new sober ways to celebrate. Do somethin for others and participate in some sober activities such as volunteerin. Join the service work or holiday activities your local AA roup has planned. Do self-check ins often. Be aware of your body, your emotions, your thouhts. Know your red flas or warnin sins. Take a time out. If you bein to feel stressed, step outside or o somewhere quiet and spend a few mintues doin a de-stress activity. Startin with simple breath reulation can be helpful. It will immediately et oxyen to your brain and will slow down your heart rate and enae your body s natural relaxation response. 1) Take several slow, deep breaths from your belly. Place your hand on your stomach and feel it rise and fall with each breath. Count your breath in , hold for 2 counts and breath out slowly for counts. Repeat 10 times. 2) Count down slowly from 20 to 0. Take a slow, deep breath IN on 20, then breath OUT slowly on 19, IN on 18, OUT on 17, and so on. 3) Rub your palms toether for a few seconds, until they are warm. Then place your hands ently over your eyes. Feel the wamth and take deep, slow breaths in and out, sayin I AM on the in breath, and CALM on the out breath. Do this 10 times. Wishin you serenity, courae and wisdom for the holidays! Kay Colbert, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker in private practice in Dallas, Texas. Kay specializes in substance abuse and addictive behaviors, mental health issues, trauma, pain manaement, anxiety and women s issues. Kay is trained in Mindfulness, Mindfulness Based Relapse Prevention, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessin) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy. Kay lectures on mental health, addiction and mindfulness topics at local and national workshops and conferences. She has a book comin out in January 2013, Enae the Group, Enae the Brain: 100 Experiential Activities for Addiction Treatment. She also has an upcomin CD for relaxation and stress manaement. Kay may be reached at

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