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

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