Sunday, October 14, 2012
Waiting to exhale...my journey as a mom
For all parents of children who are struggling with addiction . This blog is for you.
I have wanted to write on this blog for quite some time and reach out to parents who have a son or daughter struggling with addiction.
As the title indicates I am a mother of a young adult daughter who is in recovery now for 35 months. Life is so much better for her and for our family and trusting is a "decision" I make every day, but its hard to trust that the pain won't creep back in... so I am "waiting to exhale".
Over the years it seems when I have thought the worst was over, something would happen and bam..."chaos" would erupt all around me. I would feel every muscle in my body tighten, as if I was holding my breath. It has been very painful and I hope that my words today will possibly help other parents going through the same thing.
I had no idea of my daughter's addiction to alcohol and drugs. It started some time in high school. My chaotic world came crashing down the first week of March, 2009. I received a couple of phone calls and emails from some friends of my daughter who were very concerned about her. She had dropped out of spring semester and still living in the town where she had attended college and seeing a therapist a couple of times a week. The friends had told me they were worried because they thought she was using drugs and hanging out with some people who also used drugs. I spoke with her a couple of times and she assurred me that if she needed help she would ask for it. The one thing I always trusted was that she did ask for help, but the friends persisted. Her dad and I traveled to see her and I saw before me a person who was pale, gaunt, with wild colored hair. We argued, screamed and left. I remember thinking to myself "who was that person? and where was my little girl?"
After talking to her local therapist she assisted us in doing an intervention.
And so began our journey.
I naively thought that 42 days in treatment would be enough and she would be " ok" again. She went
to another facility for 90 more days and during this time I called a friend who had discovered a long term residential program in her hometown in GA. After that first summer we toured this place and other " sober living" options. I cried often and saw places that I knew would not support her sobriety. Hint: when you see people still sleeping at 12:00 pm, no structure in their lives and say " well, relapse just happens" it's not a good place to be. Relapse happens because you don't work your program: "meetings, sponsor, working the 12 steps."
Ultimately she chose another place and within a month, had relapsed. If I had forced her to go initially to my first choice I know she would have sabotaged herself, so now I had some leverage. I also had the guidance of two young women ( my angels ) who were addicts and in recovery. They both had gone through this long term residential program. One in particular gave me the courage to stand my ground and insist she go or she was on her own. She helped me find my voice. Thank you "S".
My daughter had to commit to a minimum stay of 12 months, miss the upcoming holidays, no phone, no computer, and only have minimum phone contact with us.
It was a 6 hour car journey to this place and thus began the slow, painful process to recovery.
She ultimately stayed for 25 months and I have my daughter back. She has learned a great deal about herself and her pain, secrets and poor coping skills have been replaced with a solid recovery program that includes daily 12 Step meetings, a sponsor and a supportive network of sober friends.
It was also here that my journey began as well. I started going to Al Anon meetings. I was very angry and resentful that I had to be there. I also sought help privately with a therapist. I learned about a "Collegiate Recovery Community" (CRC) on the campus of Georgia Southern University too. Though I knew it would be awhile before my daughter could finish her education, knowing there was a supportive program on campus was comforting to me since college is full of daily triggers for students in recovery.
I discovered that there was no such program in NC, and so with the help of Texas Tech that has a 25 year CRC program, and a friend who knew a Vice Chancellor at UNC Charlotte, I was able to set up a meeting about starting a CRC. As divine providence would have it, the National Conference on collegiate recovery was the following month in Texas, so one of the people I met with went and thus became committed to starting one here at UNC Charlotte. I am grateful for this opportunity to promote and grow the new Collegiate Recovery Community at this university. They are the first to offer support to students in recovery and happy that other schools in NC are joining the cause to form more CRC's in the state.
I was asked to start networking with treatment centers and specialists in addiction to get the word out about the CRC at UNC Charlotte and in this past 1 1/2 years, I have met many people and learned a great deal about addiction, treatment options and Collegiate Recovery. My best teacher is my daughter. I learn from her every day. I am grateful to so many people along the way. The friends who initially called me with concerns, her therapist and all those involved in her treatment and subsequent recovery. The team at Lee Street Recovery saved my daughter's life and helped her build a healthy relationship with me.
If you are a parent trust your gut , stop the madness and reach out for help for both your child and for yourself. If I can be a source of help, reach out to me through this blog.
Tomorrow, October 15, 2012 marks 3 full years of sobriety for my daughter.
Waiting to exhale is getting better.
One day at a time.
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Fall Is In Our Sights!
Hello Fellow followers and community! The past two weeks on campus brought about a turning point for the Collegiate Recovery Community on UNC- Charlotte's campus. We have officially opened the room to the recovering population. Room 121 in the Student Health Center is open for meetings by the end of September the space will be available to students.
IKEA-Charlotte came to the university and helped us put together the furniture they have dedicated to the school. This partnership is such a gift and we feel as though IKEA has picked the perfect style for this particular small area. Guys this room was a old file room!!! Now it has turned into a place where the recovering population can come get a way from the rest of the world and get down to recovery or if they would like just chill and hang out.
We have gotten recognized by the media for the efforts we have been putting into this program. As a recovering student this is really a dream come true! To think just a year ago we were embarking on something that seemed quite distant and now it is a tangible reality.
The students are starting to come forward. This is what makes this program so awesome! When you start to hear students say, "they are glad that a program and place like this is being offered on campus"!!! It reinforces the evident need for a place for the recovering community.
The mission statement speaks volumes. We got the DIY Adhesive which many of us know as the decals that you can peel on and off walls without leaving marks. They worked perfectly for the statement we are creating with distinguished intellectualism.
The picture the design team from IKEA chose to put on this wall encompasses the essence of recovery. A tree with the rays of light coming through the tree. You step out of the dark into the light when you are in recovery, the awareness of what is around you becomes stronger. Everything gets a little brighter and life comes alive. It is a process and it takes time, so seeing the rays of light offers hope and serenity!!!!
This semester we are going to have game nights, camping trips, volunteer opportunities and much more.
Meetings this Fall: Student Health Center (Room-121)
Campus AA Group:
Monday- 6:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.
Meetings this Fall: Student Health Center (Room-121)
Campus AA Group:
Monday- 6:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.
Niner Noon Thirty:
Wednesday- 12:30 p.m.- 1:30 p.m.
PICTURES FROM ASSEMBLY DAY
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Beginning of the day (Before)
Finishing Touches (After)
This picture ties the room together.
Hillary excited about the new picture, this is right after the ladies from IKEA assembled the frame.
This is our Mission Statement, Leslie, Wellness Promotion Department (far left) and fellow assemblers helping to put everything together.
Media Coverage:
Partnership with IKEA
http://campusnews.uncc.edu/node/3158
ABC Grant Approval
http://campusnews.uncc.edu/wellness-promotion-awarded-abc-grant
WBTV News:
FOX News 14:
Charlotte Observer:
INSPIRATIONAL SITES:
E-sober Buddy:
Insights of a Sober Yogi:
http://insightsofasoberyogi.blogspot.com
COLLEGIATE RECOVERY COMMUNITIES:
http://aacccrc.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-writing-on-walls.html
Texas Tech:
http://www.depts.ttu.edu/hs/csa/collegiate_recovery.php
Kennesaw State:
http://www.kennesaw.edu/studentsuccessservices/crc/
University Of Michigan:
http://www.uhs.umich.edu/recovery
COLLEGIATE RECOVERY COMMUNITIES:
Anne Arundel Community College Blog:
http://aacccrc.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-writing-on-walls.html
Texas Tech:
http://www.depts.ttu.edu/hs/csa/collegiate_recovery.php
Kennesaw State:
http://www.kennesaw.edu/studentsuccessservices/crc/
University Of Michigan:
http://www.uhs.umich.edu/recovery
Please follow us if you are in recovery, know someone in recovery or would just like to join us to follow our efforts. We appreciate the support and all the love that is going into making this program what it is.
Hillary Belk
Undergraduate Assistant
Center for Wellness Promotion
UNC-Charlotte
Monday, July 23, 2012
Coming to Fruition
The Collegiate Recovery Community here at UNC-Charlotte is starting to take shape. We are getting our space in the Student Health Center furnished by IKEA-Charlotte. We just received a $45,000 grant approval from the ABC Board (Not to be confused with your local ABC Store). This money will go toward any efforts we are making on campus; events, signage and any other related expenses.
The AA meeting has started back up on Monday's! We will have those from 6-7 p.m. in Room 293 at Student Health Center. We are thinking about changing the time from 7-8 p.m. in the Fall. Also, we will be planning a lot more activities here on campus. The "safe haven" we will be providing in Student Health Center will be open for students.
A lot going on around here and some enthusiastic energy is flowing free. Much like the first time I met Deb Insley, from the moment I met her we had the same desires. They were to find a way to address the addiction issues and recovery efforts more aggressively on campus. I was so happy to hear her say that was her goal, because being one of those struggling students hope and faith were restored. This September will mark a year I have been so grateful to be a part of this department.
To have the opportunity to be the first student to actively participate in this Community is such a gift. I think it is really kool and I am excited to join others. I have joked about it many times, if you would have known me before I quit drinking...many can tell you, to picture Hillary Belk working for any type of Wellness efforts is a joke! But anything is possible, I am a product of that, "Good Girl Gone Bad Gone Good". I own it, I appreciate it and I will use it to help plant the seed of thought about the detriment of this disease.
Here are links to our recent news:
Partnership with IKEA
http://campusnews.uncc.edu/node/3158
ABC Grant Approval
http://campusnews.uncc.edu/wellness-promotion-awarded-abc-grant
These are active Collegiate Recovery Communities:
Texas Tech
http://www.depts.ttu.edu/hs/csa/collegiate_recovery.php
Kennesaw State
http://www.kennesaw.edu/studentsuccessservices/crc/
University Of Michigan
http://www.uhs.umich.edu/recovery
Augsburg College
http://www.augsburg.edu/stepup/index.html
Hillary Belk
UNC-Charlotte
Undergraduate Assistant
More to come!!! If you are in recovery, know someone in recovery or just want to follow our efforts join us.
The AA meeting has started back up on Monday's! We will have those from 6-7 p.m. in Room 293 at Student Health Center. We are thinking about changing the time from 7-8 p.m. in the Fall. Also, we will be planning a lot more activities here on campus. The "safe haven" we will be providing in Student Health Center will be open for students.
A lot going on around here and some enthusiastic energy is flowing free. Much like the first time I met Deb Insley, from the moment I met her we had the same desires. They were to find a way to address the addiction issues and recovery efforts more aggressively on campus. I was so happy to hear her say that was her goal, because being one of those struggling students hope and faith were restored. This September will mark a year I have been so grateful to be a part of this department.
To have the opportunity to be the first student to actively participate in this Community is such a gift. I think it is really kool and I am excited to join others. I have joked about it many times, if you would have known me before I quit drinking...many can tell you, to picture Hillary Belk working for any type of Wellness efforts is a joke! But anything is possible, I am a product of that, "Good Girl Gone Bad Gone Good". I own it, I appreciate it and I will use it to help plant the seed of thought about the detriment of this disease.
Here are links to our recent news:
Partnership with IKEA
http://campusnews.uncc.edu/node/3158
ABC Grant Approval
http://campusnews.uncc.edu/wellness-promotion-awarded-abc-grant
These are active Collegiate Recovery Communities:
Texas Tech
http://www.depts.ttu.edu/hs/csa/collegiate_recovery.php
Kennesaw State
http://www.kennesaw.edu/studentsuccessservices/crc/
University Of Michigan
http://www.uhs.umich.edu/recovery
Augsburg College
http://www.augsburg.edu/stepup/index.html
Hillary Belk
UNC-Charlotte
Undergraduate Assistant
More to come!!! If you are in recovery, know someone in recovery or just want to follow our efforts join us.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
A Vision...
We have a vision, it is to see this CRC program we offer on campus grow into a strong, structured safe haven for the recovering population. Since we have started this blog a couple months ago I am the only one who has written entries. The student participation is low right now, but it is our hope to have other students come forward and share through this blog. In the mean time we have decided to go a different route.
The only practical solution was to reach out to the community! As a person living in this society I knew it was possible because we like doing things together (Maslow's Hierarchy of needs). In reaching out to other bloggers in the community for different perspectives we have come across a new benchmark. Everything I have read so far has been inspiring, there is a lot of great information out there and I think making those connections is paramount. The idea of guest writers is another avenue we want to explore. I am not a boring person and this is a really great cause, the people that are helping behind the scenes are courageous and amazing people. So it is only appropriate the blog mirrors the people supporting it.
We are looking to find innovative and creative ways to help people going through tough times. Imposing views on people is not the answer, saying it is easy is not the answer but letting people know it is not the end of the world if they need to stop is instrumental.
We have a vision deep in our hearts,
The days light up and we give it all of our smarts.
We work to bring people together,
closing gaps and starting the next endeavor.
It takes time and ambition to stick it out,
But everyone I work with has no doubt.
The things we do come naturally,
Making it easy to give advocacy.
We have decided to continue the AA meeting starting July 10th, this will be the following Monday after second session begins. The meeting will be the same 6:00pm-7:00pm in Student Health Center, Rm. 293.
Thank you for following, or please join us if you are in recovery, know someone in recovery or just would like to follow us!
Hillary Belk
Undergraduate Assistant
Wellness Promotion, UNC-Charlotte
Check out this helpful link. Great insight and a fresh perspective to the same old situations-:-D!
http://www.esoberbuddy.com/home
The only practical solution was to reach out to the community! As a person living in this society I knew it was possible because we like doing things together (Maslow's Hierarchy of needs). In reaching out to other bloggers in the community for different perspectives we have come across a new benchmark. Everything I have read so far has been inspiring, there is a lot of great information out there and I think making those connections is paramount. The idea of guest writers is another avenue we want to explore. I am not a boring person and this is a really great cause, the people that are helping behind the scenes are courageous and amazing people. So it is only appropriate the blog mirrors the people supporting it.
We are looking to find innovative and creative ways to help people going through tough times. Imposing views on people is not the answer, saying it is easy is not the answer but letting people know it is not the end of the world if they need to stop is instrumental.
We have a vision deep in our hearts,
The days light up and we give it all of our smarts.
We work to bring people together,
closing gaps and starting the next endeavor.
It takes time and ambition to stick it out,
But everyone I work with has no doubt.
The things we do come naturally,
Making it easy to give advocacy.
We have decided to continue the AA meeting starting July 10th, this will be the following Monday after second session begins. The meeting will be the same 6:00pm-7:00pm in Student Health Center, Rm. 293.
Thank you for following, or please join us if you are in recovery, know someone in recovery or just would like to follow us!
Hillary Belk
Undergraduate Assistant
Wellness Promotion, UNC-Charlotte
Check out this helpful link. Great insight and a fresh perspective to the same old situations-:-D!
http://www.esoberbuddy.com/home
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
An Ah-ha moment
If you would have told me six months before I got sober, "six months from now you will be sober", I would have argued no way and it is against all odds I would even try. Six months before I would have given you some arrogant smart ass comment due to delusions of grandeur. There was no way that could be the case, my whole life revolved around
alcohol. The plans always included it, no matter where I was headed. I would even go as far as to say I would have found a way to "glorify alcoholism" (I was the worst active alcoholic), even though it was ruining my life. Before I was in recovery, I remember running into someone who was a couple years sober. I was drinking a Bloody Mary on Sunday (hung over), and I remember just feeling so sorry for him. Thinking he was the "quitter" unbeknownst to me the joke was definitely on me.
So in that very short window of time a switch turned on that I did not think I had. Logical thinking in a drunken stupor helped me to understand something was terribly wrong. Why could I not get my life and health insurance license? Why am I constantly calling people to see what I did last night? Why am I double checking that I did not do anything wrong and if I did call whoever I offended? Why do I have a routine to look out the window to make sure my car is outside the house/my check card and id are in my purse? Why did I lose many jobs? why were people telling me I wreak of alcohol? Why did the people I love constantly address my "problem"? Why am I depressed? why don't I have any ambition? Why was my car totaled? why am I getting cuffed? (I will never forget this internal monologue). Doing an inventory in this moment of truth, it became clear drinking was causing my demise. The time for change became that moment. My whole entire world lit up like the most beautiful blossoming flower. I was forever changed when I quit drinking alcohol.
I walked into it willingly as my present turned into my future. I learned how to deal with it, accept it and embrace the world around me without a drink in my hand.
Anyone can have an "Ah-ha" moment, students around campus may be opposed to the idea of coming to a meeting or hanging out in our designated Collegiate Recovery room. Six months from now the ones who knock it might just need it. Done with substances holding them back. Tired, want change. Ready to see the full potentials that are obtainable.
AA meetings will stop during summer, but we plan on having two in the Fall. Middle of the week Niner Noon Meeting and the usual Campus AA meeting.
Thank you for following, please join us if you are in recovery, know someone in recovery or just would like to follow us!
Hillary Belk
Undergraduate Assistant
Wellness Promotion-UNCC
So in that very short window of time a switch turned on that I did not think I had. Logical thinking in a drunken stupor helped me to understand something was terribly wrong. Why could I not get my life and health insurance license? Why am I constantly calling people to see what I did last night? Why am I double checking that I did not do anything wrong and if I did call whoever I offended? Why do I have a routine to look out the window to make sure my car is outside the house/my check card and id are in my purse? Why did I lose many jobs? why were people telling me I wreak of alcohol? Why did the people I love constantly address my "problem"? Why am I depressed? why don't I have any ambition? Why was my car totaled? why am I getting cuffed? (I will never forget this internal monologue). Doing an inventory in this moment of truth, it became clear drinking was causing my demise. The time for change became that moment. My whole entire world lit up like the most beautiful blossoming flower. I was forever changed when I quit drinking alcohol.
I walked into it willingly as my present turned into my future. I learned how to deal with it, accept it and embrace the world around me without a drink in my hand.
Anyone can have an "Ah-ha" moment, students around campus may be opposed to the idea of coming to a meeting or hanging out in our designated Collegiate Recovery room. Six months from now the ones who knock it might just need it. Done with substances holding them back. Tired, want change. Ready to see the full potentials that are obtainable.
AA meetings will stop during summer, but we plan on having two in the Fall. Middle of the week Niner Noon Meeting and the usual Campus AA meeting.
Thank you for following, please join us if you are in recovery, know someone in recovery or just would like to follow us!
Hillary Belk
Undergraduate Assistant
Wellness Promotion-UNCC
Monday, April 23, 2012
Support
Someone recently told me "if I am constantly looking in the rearview mirrior it is hard to move forward." When I got sober, I knew I had to remember all the negative things, therefore fear became my motivation. Fear was how I got through the days without a drink for a long time. I than put my interest into helping other people and it was the SUPPORT I could offer the community that fueled my sobriety. Once I went through the 12 steps I started living by them everyday as if it were just programmed into my routine as a part of my life. My friends gave me praise and the people around me gave me SUPPORT for what I was accomplishing. I was actually finishing things I started and doing well at my job, school and was able to move out on my own.
Last summer, it came to my attention I had lost my way. This is what we call in recovery a bottom in sobriety. I wanted to blame it on my ADD medication and other things but it really came down to me wanting something unrealistic. I tried to be self righteous and exert control, which I have said I lack control. Since last summer, I have been reminded again that it is in my higher power's hands. For me that is God, others it may be different. The SUPPORT from my family and the drive I had to help people suffering from problems facing addiction redirected me into Debbie's office. I wanted people to have a place to come and talk about these issues because at that point I needed to talk to someone that understood. I realized that it is not about my personal gain but about the people I can help!!!
The SUPPORT is what drives my sobriety today, along with the joy in my heart to be open to the idea of infinite possibilities.
Now we are waiting for our furniture from IKEA for our Collegiate Recovery Center! They have approved our grant!!! We are so excited and are grateful there is somewhere for us to go and spend time together.
The campus AA meeting is going to be on campus for a couple more weeks, than we will be resuming in the Fall. That is at the Student Health Center Rm. 293 on Mondays from 6-7 pm.
If you are in recovery, know someone in recovery or just want to follow our efforts please join us!!!
Hillary Belk
Wellness Promotion-UNC Charlotte
Last summer, it came to my attention I had lost my way. This is what we call in recovery a bottom in sobriety. I wanted to blame it on my ADD medication and other things but it really came down to me wanting something unrealistic. I tried to be self righteous and exert control, which I have said I lack control. Since last summer, I have been reminded again that it is in my higher power's hands. For me that is God, others it may be different. The SUPPORT from my family and the drive I had to help people suffering from problems facing addiction redirected me into Debbie's office. I wanted people to have a place to come and talk about these issues because at that point I needed to talk to someone that understood. I realized that it is not about my personal gain but about the people I can help!!!
The SUPPORT is what drives my sobriety today, along with the joy in my heart to be open to the idea of infinite possibilities.
Now we are waiting for our furniture from IKEA for our Collegiate Recovery Center! They have approved our grant!!! We are so excited and are grateful there is somewhere for us to go and spend time together.
The campus AA meeting is going to be on campus for a couple more weeks, than we will be resuming in the Fall. That is at the Student Health Center Rm. 293 on Mondays from 6-7 pm.
If you are in recovery, know someone in recovery or just want to follow our efforts please join us!!!
Hillary Belk
Wellness Promotion-UNC Charlotte
Monday, April 2, 2012
The Stigma
We are a free country! This is indeed true, we have a right to do as we wish, no matter what that may be. Whether we grow up in families that drink and party, or not; all of us will face the decision to try alcohol and drugs at some point. For most people, it is a socially acceptable rite of passage.
When does it move from the socially acceptable to a problem? That depends on each person. It is a self diagnosis and is not for anyone else to decide. For me, although I often felt I was down for the count, I figured things would just work out. My cycle of denial, illusions and justification became commonplace; it was a never-ending cycle of insanity. It was when things kept falling short of my expectations that change started to happen for me.
Talking about alcoholism is difficult. It is a sensitive issue that many people want to avoid. However, ignoring the issue isn’t helping anyone. I understand that drinking is popular and accepted, especially among college students. But what if the popular, accepted thing is making life harder and causing unnecessary problems for many students? Is ignoring the issue the right thing to do when it is hurting people?
The Wellness Promotion Department at UNC Charlotte offers a program for students who are in recovery from substance abuse of all kinds. Since I have been working there, I have gotten to see firsthand how being a part of such a cool program can change lives. The weekly AA meetings have been great support for my own recovery but the really important thing has been the changes I have seen in others. One student walked away with higher hopes of seeing that the obsession/craving can go away. Some, who may have otherwise failed, now have a chance to make it through their college career.
This program pushes against the grain because talking about our addictions in public is difficult. However, it is worth sharing our stories over and over again if it can help someone else not have to go through what we’ve been through. The cycle of addiction is full of pain, sadness, false pride, lack of emotional growth, and the feeling of being alone.
You are not ALONE, nor will you ever be! There are people pulling for you that have no clue who you are, but they pray for you every single day!!! Support that was not available before is now here on campus to help and benefit our students. The AA meetings are on Monday evenings from 6:00-7:00 pm at the Student Health Center.
The AA meeting went from 3 people two weeks ago to 8 people last week! The next meeting is this evening and I have gotten a bunch of business cards made that have a map to the Student Health Center on the back.
Also, we are excited to have a dedicated room for the Collegiate Recovery Community in the Student Health Center. Right now, it is just an empty room but we have written a grant request for IKEA Charlotte to furnish the room for us. We hope to hear about that soon. Getting this program going has been a slow process but we are making progress. We are also looking into starting a Learning Community which would allow recovering students to go through classes together, study together and support each other in their recovery and in their success at UNC Charlotte.
Whether you are in recovery, know someone in recovery, or just want to be supportive of our recovery efforts, come and join us!
Written by Hillary B and revised by Angela Allen
UNC-Charlotte
Wellness Promotion Department
Thursday, March 22, 2012
It is all relative
The Wellness Promotion Department has been a guiding light for the students on UNC-Charlotte's campus. We hold classes on sex, drugs and other informative information college students should have pertaining to their health. Especially the susceptibility to STD's and STI's. We have also been trying to tie in a program dedicated to helping with addiction. In doing so we had some positive feedback and than after time the numbers decreased. Just like anything else, it will not happen over night, it is not the instant gratification of the process but long term results.
Debbie, Carol and I attended the 3rd annual Collegiate Recovery Conference down at Kennesaw State in Georgia. It was a great opportunity to talk to the people that have helped make this program so successful and learn some of the specific routes they have taken to implement a productive and demanding environment. The stigma is no joke, but breaking those barriers has been possible given the proof in the pudding! More people can't help but notice this is a huge problem.
Doctors and many smart dedicated individuals spend a lot of their precious time with kids, adults and families working through addiction. The alcohol and drugs have profound effects on your life when you enter the later stages of the progressive illnesses facing addiction. It is imperative to help the 18-25 year old crowd to understand the severity it can reach if not addressed. These are some of the things covered during the conference. There was also a lot of hope, experience and happiness shared by other students making it one day at a time. The students who have asked for help with this disease are now able to turn back around "full circle" and share it with other individuals who would like the guidance. This my friends is what makes this advocacy so beautiful!!!
The campus AA meeting is about the same, we have been doing some new things to attract more people. Such as, attending meetings around campus and making business cards with our meeting information on it so it can be easily put in a wallet. I have been told recently to take my time and given the advice that a solid foundation has to be established before something can flourish, but "if we build it they will come" I love that movie!!!
Just for today, no time to stand still or take steps backward...makes it very hard to be moving forward in a positive direction!
Have any questions please contact Debbie at 704-687-7414 or e-mail me at hillbelk@gmail.com
More to come...other recovering students...
Debbie, Carol and I attended the 3rd annual Collegiate Recovery Conference down at Kennesaw State in Georgia. It was a great opportunity to talk to the people that have helped make this program so successful and learn some of the specific routes they have taken to implement a productive and demanding environment. The stigma is no joke, but breaking those barriers has been possible given the proof in the pudding! More people can't help but notice this is a huge problem.
Doctors and many smart dedicated individuals spend a lot of their precious time with kids, adults and families working through addiction. The alcohol and drugs have profound effects on your life when you enter the later stages of the progressive illnesses facing addiction. It is imperative to help the 18-25 year old crowd to understand the severity it can reach if not addressed. These are some of the things covered during the conference. There was also a lot of hope, experience and happiness shared by other students making it one day at a time. The students who have asked for help with this disease are now able to turn back around "full circle" and share it with other individuals who would like the guidance. This my friends is what makes this advocacy so beautiful!!!
The campus AA meeting is about the same, we have been doing some new things to attract more people. Such as, attending meetings around campus and making business cards with our meeting information on it so it can be easily put in a wallet. I have been told recently to take my time and given the advice that a solid foundation has to be established before something can flourish, but "if we build it they will come" I love that movie!!!
Just for today, no time to stand still or take steps backward...makes it very hard to be moving forward in a positive direction!
Have any questions please contact Debbie at 704-687-7414 or e-mail me at hillbelk@gmail.com
More to come...other recovering students...
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Taking it slow and easy...
Game night brought out very few people last week. It felt discouraging given the outcome but also ready to find ways to continue to keep the students engaged. Anything worth a damn is going to take hard work and dedication to see positive results. It is about perseverance and having the passion to help others for the greater good. It is amazing to have all the support and know this cause is being addressed by a whole lot of people. I learned when I got sober it is okay to ask for help, and it is quite a fallacy to think doing so makes you weak. Which I personally felt was the case for a long time. Now that I have asked for help because I can't do it alone, it proves to be best course of action. When I try to do things on my own, my alcoholic thinking gets in the way and everything goes wrong...remembering I lack control...is key to successful recovery.
We were supposed to have a game night tonight but have decided to postpone until after Spring Break. We have to advertise more and find better ways to get people interested...
Some of us will be traveling down to Kennesaw State for a conference next week: 7-9th of March. We will be interacting with students and employees from all over the nation that have successfully implemented CRCs on their college campuses. I personally look forward to networking and speaking to those who have made it possible. Picking up tips, solutions and better ways to bring those students who need this into the program.
Next on the agenda: There is a large group of people out there that really never took interest in drinking! We would like to speak to some of those students and get some perspective from their point of view and see if they want to help. More to come...
Any Questions ???? Call Debbie Insley at 704-687-7414 or e-mail me at hillbelk@gmail.com
Hillary B
UNC-Charlotte
Wellness Promtion Department
Happy Spring Break, be safe!!!
We were supposed to have a game night tonight but have decided to postpone until after Spring Break. We have to advertise more and find better ways to get people interested...
Some of us will be traveling down to Kennesaw State for a conference next week: 7-9th of March. We will be interacting with students and employees from all over the nation that have successfully implemented CRCs on their college campuses. I personally look forward to networking and speaking to those who have made it possible. Picking up tips, solutions and better ways to bring those students who need this into the program.
Next on the agenda: There is a large group of people out there that really never took interest in drinking! We would like to speak to some of those students and get some perspective from their point of view and see if they want to help. More to come...
Any Questions ???? Call Debbie Insley at 704-687-7414 or e-mail me at hillbelk@gmail.com
Hillary B
UNC-Charlotte
Wellness Promtion Department
Happy Spring Break, be safe!!!
Monday, February 20, 2012
Hello!!! Welcome to the first post on the Collegiate Recovery Community (CRC) blog for UNC-Charlotte. My name is Hillary Belk, and I am a senior at UNC-Charlotte. I got sober on July 10, 2008 and I have not looked back.
Last semester I was very fortunate to get a internship working in the Wellness Promotion Department- http://studenthealth.uncc.edu/content/wellness. Debbie Insley has worked in the department for 18 years and is passionate about getting students interested in our community.Together we are making efforts to bring students together to get serious about issues regarding addiction.
This has been one hell of an experience for me and great for my recovery! The twists and turns along this road have helped me to recognize how much helping others means to me. I guess the first thing I would like to do is ask for help. I know that there are students on campus already in recovery and we could really use some experience, strength and hope...not to mention great ideas I know are out there. Also, anyone thinking about recovery or would like to talk to someone, please do not hesitate to get a hold of us via info at end of post.
This is a process, there is not perfection when it comes to this deal. Lets come together to share ways to lesson the burdens and help each other move forward to happier days!
We have to start somewhere, so here we are!!!
As of right now we are offering an AA meeting- 6-7 p.m. on Monday at the student health center, Rm. 293 (Open Discussion, Young Adults) we will be doing some step work out of the big book during the month of March.
"Sober game night" will be in the Student Union at Norms- 6-9 pm on Wednesday the 22nd of Feb. and Wednesday 29th of Feb. Please come out and join us refreshments and snacks provided.
Any ???? Please call Deb Insley, 704-687-7414 or you can e-mail me at hillbelk@gmail.com
Thank you, and we shall keep you posted...more posts from other recovering students to come!!!
Last semester I was very fortunate to get a internship working in the Wellness Promotion Department- http://studenthealth.uncc.edu/content/wellness. Debbie Insley has worked in the department for 18 years and is passionate about getting students interested in our community.Together we are making efforts to bring students together to get serious about issues regarding addiction.
This has been one hell of an experience for me and great for my recovery! The twists and turns along this road have helped me to recognize how much helping others means to me. I guess the first thing I would like to do is ask for help. I know that there are students on campus already in recovery and we could really use some experience, strength and hope...not to mention great ideas I know are out there. Also, anyone thinking about recovery or would like to talk to someone, please do not hesitate to get a hold of us via info at end of post.
This is a process, there is not perfection when it comes to this deal. Lets come together to share ways to lesson the burdens and help each other move forward to happier days!
We have to start somewhere, so here we are!!!
As of right now we are offering an AA meeting- 6-7 p.m. on Monday at the student health center, Rm. 293 (Open Discussion, Young Adults) we will be doing some step work out of the big book during the month of March.
"Sober game night" will be in the Student Union at Norms- 6-9 pm on Wednesday the 22nd of Feb. and Wednesday 29th of Feb. Please come out and join us refreshments and snacks provided.
Any ???? Please call Deb Insley, 704-687-7414 or you can e-mail me at hillbelk@gmail.com
Thank you, and we shall keep you posted...more posts from other recovering students to come!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)