october 2016 - riinternational.com · can do something and because i cannot do everything, ... i...
TRANSCRIPT
VOLUME 8, ISSUE 10 HOPE - CHOICE - EMPOWERMENT - RECOVERY CULTURE - SPIRITUALITY OCTOBER 2016
October 2016
RI International extends heartfelt THANKS and APPRECIATION to the
organizations that provide class locations, presentations, services and referrals.
Our connections with others, provide opportunities and environments that empower people to recover, to succeed in accomplishing their goals, and to
reconnect with themselves, others and meaning and purpose in life.
Community Connections
Quotes of
Inspiration
“The best way to find yourself is
to lose yourself in the service of
others.” ~Gandhi
“How wonderful it is that nobody
needs to wait a single moment
before starting to improve the
world.” ~Anne Frank
“ I am only one but still I am one.
I cannot do everything but still I
can do something and because I
cannot do everything, I will not
refuse to do something that I can
do.” ~Hellen Keller
Make a Difference Day
On October 22nd, volunteers and
communities across the country
recognize “Make a Difference Day”.
This is a day designed to bring
awareness to the ways that we can
make a difference in our own
communities and each others’ lives.
A lot of times, people think that to
volunteer and truly make a difference
that it is necessary to be part of a
large event. For instance, it may be
that you think of a large walk-a-thon
or the entire community coming
together to drive huge trucks packed
with donations to the survivors from a
devastating hurricane. These efforts
do make a huge difference but any
act can make a difference!
Ways you can make a difference
include:
♡ Donating a handmade hat or
clothes to the homeless
♡ Donating a crochet or knitted lap
blanket to the cancer center
♡ Organize a coat drive. You can
start with just one coat and go
from there!
♡ Volunteer at a soup kitchen
♡ Offer your time at a local school
or community center
Giving back to our community by
volunteering or becoming involved
can have a major effect on our own
well-being. Not only does it help us
feel connected to our community in a
way that can be very important to us
but it also gives an opportunity to
help someone else. The action may
take little of our time but can be life
changing in someone else’s life.
After all, some of our hardest
challenges can be easier to
overcome with the knowledge that
someone else cares and is there to
support us. Volunteering can give
that support to others and “Make a
Difference”.
For details on Wellness classes, Peer
Support and possible Resource
Connections, call RI International at
1-866-481-5361
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Wellness City VoiceWellness City VoiceWellness City Voice OCTOBER 2016
My Journey of Recovery
Vera McLean, CPSS
I have searched my whole life to find my purpose and I can
honestly say I have found it. I am a Certified Peer Support
Specialist at Wellness City in Greenville, NC. I have tried
many different things to fill a void that I thought I needed to
fill. I started believing that the right person, place or thing
would fix me. It did work for only a short period and resulted
in many heartaches and let downs. My mistakes I made
along the way would be my excuses in the end. I realized
that I truly had to do something different. I found myself in a place of loneliness
and despair and no one to turn to for help. I had to humble myself and accept the
consequences of all my misjudgments and wrongs that I did to find the strength and
hope to move forward. I had to finally ask for help. I got involved with Alcoholic
Anonymous and realized that I was right where I needed to be. I was introduced to
a group of ladies that showed me the meaning of unconditional love. I started
working the steps and truly got to know the real Vera. I started to feel different and
see life in a whole new perspective.
I started helping other women and giving back what was so freely given to me. I
was happy, joyous and free and was content with myself. I knew without any doubt
that my purpose was to help others help themselves. I enrolled at Pitt Community
College in the Human Service Program. I had always struggled in school with a
learning disability but I was willing to work hard and succeed. I wasn’t going to
allow my disability to hold me back any longer. There is where I met a lady that
worked as a Peer Support Specialist. She took the time to explain to me what peer
support was all about. I thought to actually do what I enjoy and get paid is too
good to be true. I applied for the job and I got it. I am able to share my
experience, strength and hope and in return the rewards are endless. I work with a
group of individuals that doesn’t judge me from my past and accepts me for who I
am. I get up and look forward to coming to work. My life today still has its
struggles but I have a wellness tool box that can get me through anything. I am no
longer a victim to my addiction or my disability. I am a winner!!!
Wellness City Greenville
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Wellness City VoiceWellness City VoiceWellness City Voice OCTOBER 2016
Community Building Team
Carolyn’s Journey
Hi. My name is Carolyn and I am in Recovery for Mental Health
Challenges. I was diagnosed early in my childhood with Mild MR.
When my mom died in 2002, I went into depression. I lived with
my dad until he got sick in 2008. I had a brother that lived in an
assisted living facility due to his disability. I ended up leaving the
assisted living facility to be with my boyfriend who was homeless.
We lived out in the woods and abandoned buildings for about
three months. There was a lady I met who helped me get into
another assisted living facility. After two years of living there,
they closed that facility. I moved to New Bern to Riverstone
Assisted Living and that is when I met Magda from Trillium Health
Resources who was there to put services into place and that is
when I met Kristye, my Peer Recovery Coach from RI
International.
That is when my life began to change. Magda and Kristye helped me through the DOJ program to
find a place to live of my own choice. My boyfriend was in the program as well. We found an
apartment and have been living on our own now for about four months with the help of Peer Support,
Transition Management and a mentor that I just recently got services for. I have learned so many
things from all of my supports and I am doing well and really grateful to have a home that I can call
my own. I am also thankful that all of my supports are still in my life and helping me to grow and
stay strong in my recovery.
Hi, My name is Kristye and I am Carolyn’s Peer Recovery Coach who is also in recovery for
substance use and mental health challenges. I have been working with Carolyn now for
about eight months. Carolyn has really come a long ways since the day I met her. Car-
olyn and I have been working on her WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Plan) as well as
learning how to live independently. Carolyn has been doing really well. She has such a willingness
to learn and wants to better her life as well as her own recovery. It has been an honor and a pleas-
ure to work with her and I look forward to continuing to support and assist her in all of her goals in
her life.
~Kristye Holt, Peer Recovery Coach
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We just finished an amazing series of classes at Durham Wellness City titled The Rope of Hope. In this class
we talked about our hopes and dreams and how important it is for us to hold the hope for ourselves and for
each other. The facilitator brought a length of rope to class and everyone held onto the rope and we talked
about how we are all connected here at Wellness City and the importance of us holding the hope for each
other. We shared how sometimes it can be hard to hold the hope for ourselves and that that is when it is
especially important to have a community of supporters who can hold the hope for me until I am able to
hope again for myself.
Then we hung the rope all around the classroom and everyone wrote their name on a clothespin and hung
them on the rope to represent our ongoing connection with each other. The next week we brainstormed our
hopes and dreams and wrote them on colorful cards and hung them on the Rope of Hope. That way, every
time we sat in that classroom we were reminded to focus on our own hopes and dreams and also to support
each other’s hopes. Everyone was so excited about this class and laughter could be heard coming out of the
classroom each week during this class.
This is what the participants had to say about The Rope of Hope:
“There’s the feeling of optimism that if I just ‘hold’ on, change will come.” -AP
“The Rope of Hope helped me re-identify my strengths and future goals.” -TM
“It saved me drowning in a sea of depression…It helped me to focus and appreciate myself. “ -LW
“It gave me a lot of hope to have the love that the staff has for
me.” -KB
“It gave me a chance to have more faith in my hopes and
dreams.” -R
“It gave me hope to face my mother’s death.” -RM
“It gave me determination to love myself and others.” -PC
“It gave me hope and determination, for myself and others.” -AK
“It gave me perseverance to live independently in my own home.”
-RW
“Helped me form positive metaphors to think about or focus on
when life seems overwhelming.” -MK
“It gave me a reason not to give up…you can have hope, not only for yourself but for someone else.” -AM
“It opened up my spirit and my mind to see things in a different way.” -RF
“It helped block out negative voices that lead you the wrong way.” -AF
“I learned how to work together and pray for one another and try not to be negative and stay positive and love myself
because its powerful.” -SW
“It has put a smile on my face.” -GH
“It helped me connect with my peers, cheering each other on and truly affirming each other. When I first attended this
class, my hope was a bit shattered, as the weeks progressed I not only have hope for me, I hold hope for others as well.”
-AS
Durham Wellness City
OCTOBER 2016
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OCTOBER 2016
Autumn, the time of the year between the September equinox and the winter solstice, has in many ways been
a time of either joy or sorrow. To many that look forward to the season, they are excited to see the changing
of the leaves from a season of green to one that brings hues of reds, oranges, yellows, and browns. They love
the thought that everything they ingest is flavored like caramel apples and pumpkin spice. Anticipation for
many appears in the donning of sweaters and coats as they discuss the upcoming holidays and all the meals
that they look forward to sharing with their loved ones.
Sadly, about the same amount of people that love the season, there is its inverse- those that despise the
season. To them, it is a sad reminder that the possibilities of summer are over and done with, summer trips
and lazy days are at an end as the harsh breath of winter peaks over the horizon. Not to mention a lack in
daylight to get some activities done as the sky betrays them in shades of grey. To these folks, this is a time
that they withdraw both physically and mentally in the hopes that this season and the next will end sooner
rather than later.
But for these individuals that refuse to let go of their summer memories, there is a
shred of hope and its name is APPLES. Yep, apples, those things you wish you ate
more of as you’re walking in for your annual dentist appointment. Apple blossoms
develop in the spring and all the while the fruit absorbs all the summer heat and
sunlight until around October when they’re ripe for picking.
One of the best ways to truly enjoy these cancer warding fruits is to coat the whole thing in candy- because
nothing says “I love you” like changing every aspect of something. The following is an easy to follow recipe to
enjoy this autumn season even if this isn’t your favorite season of the year!
Apples
1/2 cup (120mL) light corn syrup
2 cup (480 mL) sugar
3/4cup (180 mL) water
Combine all of these in a pot on medium heat and wait till they all blend. Then dip in the apples-
which you’ve already attached to a stick of some kind.
Toppings- Anything can honestly work for this. Many people add chocolate chips, their old Halloween
candy, or sprinkles. If you’re not about that life leave it plain with just the candy coat. For a healthy
and summery taste try it with cocoanut shreds and macadamia nuts.
Apples: Autumn Treasure
Come and join Wellness City of New Bern as we
have our second annual costume party! Event
starts at Noon on October 31st. Food and fun will
be provided! So bring your A game and help us
scare up some fun!
Wellness City VoiceWellness City VoiceWellness City Voice
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Wellness City VoiceWellness City VoiceWellness City Voice OCTOBER 2016
Mental Health Challenges:
Overcoming Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is an Anxiety Disorder that affects 2-3% of
the world’s population with varying forms and scales from mild to severe.
As so often is the case with mental health challenges OCD is subject to
stereotyping and misinformation. My wife wishes my OCD tendencies would come
in the form of obsessive cleaning, but unlike Monica from Friends, I’m not the
best dishwasher or housekeeper.
My particular form of OCD manifests itself in pure obsessions and mental ruminations, also
known in the OCD community as ‘Pure O’. During stressful periods these obsessions turn to
disturbing and unwanted thoughts of harm and catastrophe.
Through education, self-advocacy, cognitive behavioral techniques (CBT) diet and exercise, I
have reached a stage in life where I control the disorder and the disorder doesn’t control me.
Considering stress is a trigger for my onset of symptoms, I’ve not allowed this to hold me
back in achieving my goals and dreams. Instead of hiding from the world and taking it easy I
decided leave my native land in the British Isles in search of adventure and experience.
Since my diagnosis at the age of sixteen I have gone on to travel the world, attend university
to gain my degree, discussed healthcare with presidential candidates, and I have recently
moved to the beautiful coast of North Carolina with my wife and pirate seeking young son
(Argh ye, land lover!)
I believe all of us have the capability to overcome barriers and challenges in our lives,
whether that comes from a mental health perspective, substance abuse, trauma or all of the
above. Once we find that courage, determination and drive the possibilities are limitless.
~Callum Wilkinson, Outreach Coordinator
Serving Brunswick, New Hanover & Pender Counties
Outreach
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Wellness City VoiceWellness City VoiceWellness City Voice OCTOBER 2016
Wellness City Wilmington
Wellness City Wilmington
Class of 2016
PET Valuable to the Individual , your PEERS and the Community !
We recognize the value of employing those with lived experience, and how having the presence of those
individuals on our team supports those in recovery. We have come to understand, that as we continue
to learn about our own recovery the better we are able to serve others in their journey to recovery. We
like to say, We’re actually living our lives, while being in recovery as living proof that recovery is
possible. This inspires others and helps them see their own potential to recover and have their own
hopes and dreams come true. Given this information we Provide the PET (Peer Employment Training)
classes. This is an intense two week program which focuses on recovery language, principles and
engages in role-play scenarios. This better prepares our peers for their next steps.
We added the word “employment” because this identifies a key ingredient to achieve a most desired
outcome. “Employment” Without this goal, students would still just be in a recovery phase. We want
individuals to know that there is a way to use their own recovery in a positive way, and that through
employment or even volunteering , they will gain a valued social role.
“Do not think too hard. You will create a problem
that didn’t exit in the first place.” ~ Unknown as
quoted by Josh Torbich
“It’s never the problem that's the problem, it’s
how one sees the problem”
~ Unknown as quoted by Callum Wilkinson
“It’s never to late to be who you want to be.”
~ Elizabeth Crandall
Our Mission
Empowering people to recover, succeed in accomplishing
their goals, find meaning and purpose in life, and reconnect
with themselves and others.
Our Vision
Activating the next generation of frame-breaking healthcare
innovation to support people beyond their behavioral health
needs and succeed in the community where they live, work,
and play.
RI International
Is a nonprofit organization offering recovery-based services in Arizona, California, Delaware, North Carolina, Texas, Washington state and New
Zealand.
www.riinternational.com
RI International has earned the
Joint Commission’s
Gold Seal of Approval™
Find our Wellness City Voice Newsletters, as well as our monthly class Calendars online at
https://riinternational.com/our-services/north-carolina/north-carolina-news-events/
OCTOBER 2016
Wellness City VoiceWellness City VoiceWellness City Voice
North Carolina Programs
Recovery Response Center Henderson Durham
300 Parkview Dr., Henderson 309 Crutchfield St., Durham
Phone: 252-438-4145 Phone: 919-560-7305
Janeen Gordon, RSA II Joy Brunson-Nsubuga, RSA II
Wellness Cities
RI Outreach Ashley Viverette, RSA Phone: 252-214-8555
Greenville Office: 252-321-0179 Wilmington Office: 910-399-3149
Outreach Coordinators
Community Building Team Kimberly Talbot, Recovery Services Administrator
Phone: 252-723-6616
Callum Wilkinson
Phone: 252-702-7428
Brunswick, New Hanover & Pender
Eric Myers
Phone# 252-340-5768
Carteret, Onslow & Pender
Susan Hall
Phone: 252-876-3645
Beaufort, Bertie, Gates, Hertford,
Northampton & Washington
Dave Edmonds
Phone: 252-886-1104
Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Hyde,
Pasquotank, Perquimans & Tyrrell
Devarus Smith
Phone: 252-375-0316
Craven, Jones, Martin, Pamlico & Pitt
Durham Wellness City
401 E. Lakewood Ave, Ste E1-A, Durham
Phone: 919-687-4041
Kim Chansen, RSA 919-702-3314
Greenville Wellness City
2407 S. Memorial Dr., Greenville
Phone# 252-321-0179
Ashley Viverette, RSA 252-214-8555
New Bern Wellness City
1311 Health Dr., New Bern
Phone: 252-672-8781
Joe Villarreal, RSA 252-670-3614
Wilmington Wellness City
20 N. 4th St. Suite 420, Wilmington
Phone: 910-399-3149
Kris Ludacer, RSA 252-702-7402