"The Doctor's Opinion"
Dr. Ashley Peak, MD, ABPN, ABAM
Medical Director
Feeling Pleasure in Recovery
Calls and admissions to substance use treatment centers and mental health facilities are rapidly increasing around the world. Humans are currently suffering amidst a pandemic, economic strain, political unrest, and isolation. More now than ever, it is important to spread a message that negative emotions and moods are OKAY. In fact, they are necessary and common during times of stress and trauma. Individuals suffering from clinical depression often feel dark emotions with no trigger, when their life is seemingly going well.
Anhedonia is a clinical term describing a symptom of depression. The word means inability to feel pleasure. Although this newsletter carries themes on the importance of laughter/fun/leisure, I will remind my patients at each visit to be honest about how they are feeling. When I ask my patients, "How are you?", I am ready to hear the good, bad, and the ugly. The key to resilience and contentment is aligning thoughts and feelings with words and behavior. Once genuine feelings are shared, empathy exchange can partially metabolize those negative emotions. This creates the emotional space and stability to then allow some fun and laughter into your life using some of the suggestions of our wonderful staff contributing to this newsletter. Those suffering from severe depression, if unable to experience pleasure should seek out consultation with a psychiatrist for potential medication. Anti-depressants can often improve function and stabilize brain chemistry allowing increased engagement in behavioral modifications, social connection, and pleasure.
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The Research
A Bridge to Recovery on Campus
by Abigail Sullivan Moore
Published by
The New York Times
, January 20, 2012
“If you’re not having fun in recovery, then you aren’t going to stay sober,” Lisa Laitman, Rutgers University Director of Alcohol and Drug Assistance Program.
In their undergrad uniforms of fleece and sweats, a clutch of Rutgers students gathered on the worn red couches of their dorm’s common room and told their stories. A good-looking, fun-loving 23-year-old named Greg described arriving at college freshman year with a daily pot-smoking habit and a close relationship with alcohol. He soon followed the lead of his alcoholic father and was binge drinking (five drinks or more in a row). “It was pretty scary,” he said.
For his self-diagnosed anxiety and depression, he secretly began taking Klonopin, which he bought from another student. By sophomore year, he was taking six a day. And when it ran out, he wound up in a hospital to manage withdrawal, followed by nine months of rehab.
Unlike the other students on the couch, Devin Fox, 26, gave permission to use his surname because of his career choice. He is pursuing a graduate degree in social work, hoping to work at a policy level in the mental illness field. Mr. Fox had been so despondent over his addiction to methamphetamine that he tried to overdose. Like Greg, he is now three years clean...
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The Clinician's Point of View
Fun, Leisure and Enjoyment in Recovery
by Kristin Wells, M.ED, TCADC
For those in recovery from addiction, the concept of “fun” can be a loaded one. After all, it can be difficult to even imagine having fun without drugs or alcohol for those early in sobriety. For others, it is difficult to even remember things they used to enjoy before their addiction took over. Why is it important to find fun, leisure, and enjoyment in recovery? The short answer is that most people do not attempt recovery to make their lives worse; we all want to be happy and to feel good!
Finding ways to have fun can be extremely beneficial to those in recovery because boredom can lead to relapse. If you used substances to feel “a rush”, get active in recovery! Go for a run, join a yoga class, or take a swim. If you used substances to “chill out”, find activities that reduce stress in a natural way. Try meditation, create some art, take a walk in nature, try gardening, or simply pet a beloved four legged friend. No matter what you decide to do, avoid spending too much time alone. Addiction thrives in isolation, so sobriety is made easier with support and connection (video chats and phone calls count)! Building healthy coping skills with someone else can make leisure activities even more fun and meaningful.
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Staff Spotlight
Debbie Redden, CPC, PMCC, RMA, CLT
Financial Services Manager
Debbie was born and raised in Louisville, KY. She moved to Boca Raton, FL after high school and graduated from Biscayne, now Barry University in Miami. She is licensed in lab, radiology, coding among other medical concentrations and has taught Medical Coding and Billing, as well as Medical Assisting at ATA College.
Debbie has had a career in the medical field for over 30 years, and has been the Financial Services Manager at The Morton Center for more than a year. Of The Morton Center, Debbie said, "I have been inspired by so many stories and I enjoy working with the amazing staff!"
Debbie has 2 daughters and a grandson and enjoys spending time with family and friends. Debbie also enjoys writing, sewing and anything crafty.
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Reading List
365 Ways to Have Fun Sober
by Lisa M. Hann
For every time you’re sitting around bored, unsure of what to do with yourself, 365 Ways to Have Fun Sober has a solution for you. Idle time can be dangerous, especially in early addiction recovery when you’re no longer spending your time drinking or using. This book offers one unique, fun suggestion for every day of the year so that you can conquer your boredom, do something exciting, and enjoy all the things life has to offer - without drugs or alcohol.
Even if you've never touched a drink or drug in your life, this book provides a wealth of ideas that can lead you toward new adventures, amazing learning opportunities, and exciting avenues of enriching your life and the lives of those around you!
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Video Spotlight:
The Importance of Having Fun in Addiction Recovery
by Tony Taveira
Posted on YouTube.com
One of the biggest fears of attempting addiction recovery is? Will I ever have any Fun in Sobriety? My life will most likely be full of boredom and isolation. This fear will be true if a person does not accept that at first everything in early recovery will be hard due to having to make significant life style changes that are necessary to maintain their recovery.
Most people have had fun early on in their using day's but let's be honest how much fun is it now that their addiction has stripped that away completely for most.
It is widely accepted that when someone is in early recovery fun will be harder to come by, but as they progress in their recovery it does become easier. If they don't work at this their chances of long term recovery becomes very limited. It is a known fact that when people have more fun in recovery they tend to stay in recovery.
People’s health and well-being are improved if they are able to engage in activities that are meaningful and pleasurable and that health is a balance of work, play and leisure. Recent research identified the essential components of playfulness in adults as creativity, curiosity, humour, spontaneity and pleasure.Playfulness is an internal predisposition that enables adults to incorporate play in both work and leisure activities. All work and no play can make Jack not only a dull boy but one whose health is in jeopardy. Making time for a balance of work, recovery and leisure is not easy. Relationships with others, both at work and in your personal life, are an integral part of whether life will seem manageable and enjoyable.
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Summer Programming News:
Telehealth
Telehealth is defined as the delivery and facilitation of health and health-related services including medical care, provider and patient education, health information services, and self-care via telecommunications and digital communication technologies. The Morton Center provides telehealth services for current and new clients unable to attend in-office individual counseling sessions. Telehealth allows for live distance counseling services anywhere in the state.
Email
tmcinfo@themortoncenter.org
for more information, or
click here to learn more.
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Support The Morton Center
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Did you know you shopping at Kroger and Amazon helps support our Mission?
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Please don’t forget to enroll to make sure The Morton Center receives the benefits of your shopping at Kroger.
It’s really easy and only takes two minutes, please also find the information on Facebook and share with friends and family. Every dollar raised helps provide treatment to our scholarship program. Click below for instructions.
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You can also shop on Amazon and help provide support to the scholarship program by clicking and following the steps below.
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About The Morton Center
The Morton Center is a full-service addiction recovery facility offering professional counseling and therapy, as well as prevention and educational services, for individuals and families struggling with substance abuse issues. Since 1984, our customized, holistic approach has helped to reengage individuals and their families with lives of meaning and purpose often lost in addiction.
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Contact us:
The Morton Center - 1028 Barret Avenue, Louisville, KY 40204
ph. 502-451-1221
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