This blog post is the third in a series especially for Recovery Month, highlighting our staff members and their journey to recovery. The Council knows the road to recovery is not an easy one – and that journey is made all the more difficult when shame, stigma, and judgment get in the way. At The Council, we’ve been there. That’s why our team is committed to providing compassionate care, free of judgment and full of support.
My recovery journey began when the woman who would later be my supervisor walked into Plane State Jail and gave me the hope and courage to face the fear of change. My recovery coach, Cynthia Branch worked with me for three months preparing me for re-entry into citizenship. Then upon my release, she connected me with stage appropriate resources to help me build my recovery capital so I could enjoy and sustain long term recovery.
After two years of recovery, Cynthia trained me to be a recovery coach and I worked side by side with her, going into the prison and the very dorm I had been incarcerated in. She role-modeled recovery first, then recovery coaching. Now I am uniquely qualified to help others initiate and sustain long term recovery.
This September is Recovery Month, and in recognition, we are sharing inspiring stories of recovery from our staff members. At The Council, we know there are many paths to recovery, and that each individual’s journey to recovery must be their own. Whether you follow a 12-step based approach, a spiritual or faith-based approach, SMART Recovery, or something else altogether – we seek to empower our clients to follow the path that works best for them. For the third entry in our series, we share the voice of one of our valued team members, who shares her personal path to recovery and how her faith has informed that journey.
My recovery began in January 1982, the moment I stepped onto a plane headed for Houston. My uncle met me at the airport, took me in, and helped me detox off opiates. I was referred by the Texas Research Institute for Mental Sciences (TRIMS) to attend a Narcotics Anonymous meeting at KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) group at noon on Saturdays. My sobriety date is January 31, 1982 and I have been clean ever since.
There is no one thing or person who has been most important in my recovery. I do know that God directed me to Narcotics Anonymous, the Steps and people who shared wisdom, friendship, and unconditional love. My recovery is evolving every day, all the time. I often say I grew up in Narcotics Anonymous and The Council. I am 38 years sober, 37 years at The Council, 26 years married, and a mother to a 25-year-old. I continue to evolve in my love of my faith, family, friends, knowledge and giving what I have back to others.
I love recovery! Recovery has given me the opportunity to love myself, display love to others, and practice human humility. It allows me to return to what I was always meant to be – someone who lives life fully without the use or dependence on drugs, and someone who learns and practices intimacy, partakes in community and loves God’s kingdom.
This post is contributed by CHOICES counselor Joanna Robertson, M.MFT, LMFT, LPC
Like most of us, adolescents had their world turned upside down back in March by the Coronavirus pandemic. As teens prepare to return to school, I want to share a few of the ways COVID-19 has affected teens’ mental health, how this impacts them long-term, and how you can help.
The adolescent brain is still growing and developing. The prefrontal cortex, the section of the brain responsible for critical thinking and impulse control, is not fully developed until about 25 years old. Thus, adolescents may need additional support when it comes to regulation, which includes sleeping patterns, use of time and technology usage. Because of the pandemic, students lost the structure of school time, and when coupled with a lack of parental support, this left students to navigate on their own. This led to odd sleeping patterns and overall dysregulation, which can impact coursework, family relationships, and mental health.
What are the challenges teens face in the pandemic?
Students lost consistent access to friends and adult supports. One study found that 80% of adolescent girls feel “more lonely and isolated than before” (The Rox Institute). While teachers, counselors, and mentors are doing their best to remain connected, it proves a challenging situation. Many teens are experiencing an increase in their sense of isolation, depression, and loneliness.
In addition to navigating schoolwork at home, many students have taken on new responsibilities, including childcare, housework, and part-time jobs. This puts additional pressure on teens to use their time and energy in a balanced way, which is already a challenge for the adolescent brain. It also makes it challenging for these students to keep up with schoolwork and can cause many to fall even further behind.
These are only a few of the factors impacting teens as a result of COVID-19. If teens were already using alcohol and/or drugs, they likely continue to do so throughout the pandemic. As their stress increases and their access to healthy coping support decreases, they are more at risk for developing substance use disorders. Further, previous crises show that teenagers may develop substance use problems after the crisis has passed. It is important that caring adults stay actively engaged in supporting the adolescents in their life.
How you can help teens.
Adolescents are creative, resilient, and resourceful, especially when they have supportive adults in their life. If you are wondering how you can help, start with the teens in your life. Talk to them about how they are experiencing things and ask what support they might need. Help them create structure. It’s something they may not want in the moment, but it’s something they need, and need help creating. Connect them with mental health resources either through their school or in the community. Finally, be aware of your own coping methods and responses. Set an example by finding healthy coping skills, such as meditation, peer support, counseling, and exercise.
If you need support, The Council is the place to start. Call us today at 713.914.0556 and ask about our virtual services.
