A quiet movement (12)

            I’m a busy girl. With work, my personal life or just the constant whirl of thoughts bouncing around in my head, there never seems to be enough time, enough space, or enough energy. But there are some things I just can’t neglect or skimp on.  Some things will not accept excuses or fatigue. They do not care that I’ve endured three meetings back to back without lunch, or that laundry piles are approaching the ceiling and the cupboards are missing peanut butter. Some things in my life must come first if I am to function at all, and those things are my sobriety and obligation to helping others in recovery. If those are not maintained, the rest unravels, thread by thread.

            But you do not have to be in recovery to lend a hand to those who are. The alcoholic/addict community is a large one with limited resources. As someone in recovery, I realize the importance of spreading the message and providing services to those in need. Something as simple as driving someone to a meeting who needs a lift can make all the difference in their day and contribute to their goal of being happy and healthy. Influential as that may be to one person however, small measures are not what significantly change the landscape. That only happens when people come together in an effort to exact real change.

Change what? you may ask. For starters, the stigma attached to addiction. Change in the belief that those afflicted are weak in character, out of control or inadequate and selfish human beings.  The black sheep of society.

            The shame of having this disease and the misunderstanding of it by others often prevents those in recovery from seeking the help they need and living an openly sober lifestyle for fear of being judged. I appreciate the need for anonymity and agree in areas of life it is warranted (the work place for example) but my hope is that one day, every addict and alcoholic can proudly proclaim their triumphs in any environment without reservation. Equally as revolutionary would be a complete shift in the mindset's of young people. A metamorphose where choosing healthy activity over drugs and alcohol becomes the norm.   My decision to share my lifestyle with others is a result of my conviction in its paramountcy to bring about these adjustments in cultural perception.

                 A change in the accessibility of effective and necessary treatment options is deficient as well. Lack of funds and roadblocks put up by insurance companies prohibits many from taking the next step of crucial rehabilitation.

            I’ve had the pleasure now of seeing former NBA player and recovering heroin addict/alcoholic Chris Herren share his story with the masses. He selflessly tours the country recounting his struggle and experiences with drugs and alcohol in the hopes of reaching people about the dangers of substance abuse. For him, reaching even just one person makes his sacrifice worth it. Whether it be another addict identifying with and benefiting from the lessons he’s learned; or a group of young people now thinking twice about using at a party; or an entire community feeling more educated about the subject, his mission is to further the solvency of this problem. His foundations The Herren Project and Project Purple strive to spread awareness and raise money for the cause.

 “For such a big problem, we’re a quiet movement” he stated at a speech in Milford, CT before a modest crowd.

 My question is why? Why are we so quiet about our plight? Why are we in recovery so reclusive and afraid to share the experiences and knowledge we have for positive impression? Getting sober is never easy. It’s an emotionally draining and guilt ridden 360 degree turnaround that takes time. In the recovery community, we help each other to reach a place of peace and stability, but can find it difficult to gain support outside the program. Not everyone is comfortable publicly speaking about their past, but a collective effort to gather the wealth of knowledge we've acquired could, in my opinion, make a difference.

                                    

          You don’t need to be a serviceman or woman to support Veterans. You do not have to go through the pain and suffering of cancer to run a breast cancer awareness 5K. And you do not have to understand the torment of addiction to accept and advocate for the well-being of those who suffer from the disease.  

Help start the movement. Change the outcome.

*For more information on how to get involved, please click on the links above*

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