We inspire families, individuals, and communities to overcome the disease of addiction by creating real, long-term solutions!
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Please, Stay
A Poem By: Allie Marie Smith
What if I told you not to leave?
What if I told you that you would get through this?
That you are stronger than you think you are.
What if I told you this world is not better off without you in it?
But that it is more beautiful because you are here.
What if I told you there are good gifts waiting for you on the
other side of this darkness.
That you will smile again.
What if I told you that this is not your fault?
That there is help and hope is alive.
What if I told you we need you to stay?
That you are loved more than you can comprehend and there is
a good plan unfolding for your life.
What if I told you one day your pain can be transformed into purpose?
If I told you these things, would you please stay?
What if I told you I was that girl who almost left too soon?
What if I told you I discovered good gifts on the other side of the darkness?
Would you believe there is hope for you too?
I know you feel alone and hopeless, but hope is alive and available to you.
You are not alone in your thoughts or in your pain.
Many others, like me, have been where you are and have endured hard days to find joy and purpose again.
If you are struggling with thoughts of ending your life,
please tell someone immediately.
This world needs you to stay.
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From the Desk of Ana Gopoian
The Holiday Roller Coaster
For many people, this time of year is all about the love of family and friends, festivities, joyful gatherings and the spirit of giving.
For others, especially individuals and families affected by the disease of addiction, the holiday season holds feelings of depression, darkness and despair. In 2015, in the midst of my 27 years of sobriety, I needed to be hospitalized because of depression and suicidal ideations. Practicing extra measures of self care and safety, especially around the holidays, can be the difference between life and death. The information below was taken from a September 2023 article written in Everyday Health by columnist Michelle Pugle.
How to Manage Depression During the Holidays
Depression around the holidays can happen for many reasons, says Akua Boateng, PhD, a Philadelphia-based psychotherapist who specializes in individual and couples therapy.
“The holidays bring an increase in thoughts about family, relationships, and social engagement. If there are issues within these dynamics in our lives, depression can surface,” Dr. Boateng says.
And this time of year may also raise expectations of spending more time with family than usual, which can be stressful for some, says Sarah Gundle, PsyD, a New York City–based clinical psychologist in private practice who specializes in trauma. Boateng adds that events with family may bring up old conflicts and emotions, which can be challenging to navigate.
No matter the cause of your low mood or negative feelings, having an arsenal of healthy coping strategies can help you prepare for and get through the festive months ahead when you’re managing such mixed emotions. While practicing good self-care is always important, it is even more important during the often stressful holidays!
Here are five expert-recommended strategies:
1. Stay Active and Get Outdoors
Moving your body is one of the best science-backed ways to cope with depression during any season, and the holidays are no exception. A meta-analysis of 23 studies showed that exercise is an effective way to manage depression and could also be useful when combined with antidepressant medication.
Getting outside and exercising can help you avoid isolation and loneliness during the holiday season. Spending time in nature is another way to reduce your risk of depressive symptoms. One study showed that being surrounded by green space can reduce one’s risk of mental health conditions in the long term.
2. Share How You’re Feeling With Trusted Loved Ones
Surround yourself with people you can rely on during the holidays — whether it be family or friends — to help manage holiday depression. Ashley Bernardi, author of Authentic Power: Give Yourself Permission to Feel, says she reached out to trusted friends and shared how she was feeling during her darkest days with depression.
While she wasn’t sure how her friends would react, they gave her hope that healing was possible, helping her feel like she had something to live for.
If you confide in your loved ones about how you’re feeling, they may offer empathy, share their own experiences with you to help you feel less alone, or even suggest additional options for support that you may not know about.
“Never underestimate the power and love of your own community. People want to help. All you need to do is ask for it,” she says.
3. Assess Your Relationships and Set Boundaries
It is important to monitor your emotions around different people in your life and set boundaries accordingly. This could mean limiting the time you spend during the holidays with people who cause you to feel negative emotions or exacerbate your depressive symptoms, as well as establishing boundaries for your interactions with and availability to those people.
“It’s very important to be mindful of your own boundaries — and when something feels overwhelming, try to pay attention and act on it,” adds Gundle.
A mental health professional can help you learn how to set boundaries, says Boateng.
4. Consider Volunteering Throughout the Holiday Season
Gundle suggests volunteering as a possible way to cope with depression during the holidays. A 2021 review showed that volunteering for 2 or 3 hours a week or even just 1 to 10 hours a month may offer myriad mental health benefits, such as:
- Meaning and purpose
- Developing empathy toward others
- Feeling like you matter
- Contributing to society
- Social connectedness
- Being part of something larger than yourself
Finding a volunteer opportunity that’s right for you will depend on several factors, including what activities you feel comfortable with, how much time you’re able to commit, and which causes you’re passionate about. (ASIDE: TRICIRCLE NEEDS YOU!) “It’s a great way to connect with something other than yourself, which I find helps greatly when those feelings of depression creep up,” Bernardi says. If you’re wondering how to get started with volunteering, organizations like VolunteerMatch can help you find the right fit in your area.
5. Create a Coping Sheet or Depression Toolkit
A coping sheet is a list of favorite activities you can turn to when you’re feeling depressed. You can create one on your own, with your family members, or with your therapist. Bernardi says she made a coping sheet filled with actions she can take to help her manage depressive symptoms.
“I decorated it with beautiful colors and taped it to my refrigerator, so I had a constant reminder that there is always something to do to help lift my mood,” Bernardi says. In her case, those favorite mood-boosting activities include lighting candles, watching ballet, listening to classical music, painting pictures, singing, and meditating.
- Journaling
- Acupuncture
- Listening to music
- Spirituality
- Calm breathing
- Positive self-talk
When and Where to Seek Help for Depression
While self-help strategies may ease life with depression, they rarely work on their own. Psychotherapy administered by a mental health professional, sometimes in conjunction with medication, is needed for long-term improvement.
It’s especially important to seek help if you have any signs of severe depression, says Gundle, including:
- Extreme social isolation, which Gundle defines as staying home for extended periods of time (often intentionally) with no communication with family or friends
- Thoughts of self-harm
- Suicidal thoughts or behaviors
You can find professional help through a variety of avenues:
- Employee Assistance Programs These programs are offered in many workplaces, and they usually consist of several free sessions with a licensed professional.
- Your Health Insurance Some insurance companies offer 24/7 telephone services, such as nurse lines, to people needing to connect with a health professional, including a mental health professional.
- Telemedicine Mental Health Services A virtual mental health appointment allows you to seek care from your home, often with shorter wait times than an in-person appointment.
Together WE are Stronger!
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Our December
Spotlight
Maryvette Morales
Women and Families Center
Open DOHR
Outreach and Engagement Specialist
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Maryvette Morales has risen from some of life's most challenging adversity to become a champion for others who want to have a better life. She has overcome obstacles that might have stopped any mere mortal in their tracks. She has experienced homelessness and faced many financial challenges along the way. She moved from CT to Michigan in 1996 as a single Mom raising 3 children. Diagnosed with lupus, Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, arthritis, seizures, and fibromyalgia. Prone to strokes, she was left wheelchair bound in 2012, unable to walk, talk or groom herself. She was in Detroit, Michigan, by herself with no family to help. Her faith in God and her children got her through. Her children: Arlina, Talia and Emmanuel cared for her. They would manage to carry her down the stairs, and her high school aged children would bathe her. They were her hope and her saving grace. Maryvette would not be kept down and, after intense PT, OT, speech therapy and pool therapy, she was back at it in 2013.
When her mom became ill in 2017, Mayvette moved back to Meriden, CT, and was unable to find work because she was overqualified for most positions. She was forced to take the first job that would give her an employment opportunity. She took a pay cut with her experience just to obtain a job that she was underpaid for, all the while helping to care for her mom.
Her qualifications are varied with experience in the medical field, mental health arena, administration and social services. She dreams of establishing her own organization one day to serve homeless, pregnant women. There are not enough shelters in Meriden and currently, with cold weather upon us, there are no warming centers that are going to be available in Meriden. She states this is sad because there are many people that are homeless and out in the cold.
In July 2021, she landed a position with Women and Families Center in Meriden. Her accomplishments with this organization, along with her life experience, speak volumes about her desire, tenacity and capabilities, and, as a result, a position was created for her as Outreach Engagement Specialist. Maryvette provides outreach, promotion, recruitment, enrollment, testing and anything else needed to get the job done. She has also become involved with HOLA (Hispanic Outreach Leaders in Action) and has recently received the Shining Star Award from the Midstate Chamber of Commerce. She has introduced the faith base community to the many resources that are available in the community and organizes resource events with church leaders who want to give back to the community.
She is also an integral part of The WFC Open DOHR Program that provides ESL clases, Employment Training in CNA, EMT, ParaEducator, Culinary and Manufacturing. The program offers occupational skills training, employability skills workshops, holistic case management and follow-up services to enhance participant opportunities for successful job placement, job retention and career advancement. Open DOHR provides youth services through Workforce Alliance to both high school students and out of school youth (ages 18 to 24 years old) in South Central District. It also provides ESL and Employment Training to Adults who are Meriden & Wallingford residents.
With 25 years of nonprofit/advocacy experience, Maryvette is the first point of contact for most individuals who come through the Open DOHR program. She continues to go above and beyond for her clients and has even helped create a survey along with co-workers of the department to determine what else the participants need in order to connect them with the right resources and help them overcome the obstacles that are standing in the way of achieving their hopes and dreams. Her approach is holistic, and she believes deeply that connection and follow through are valuable keys to success. She is very passionate about the work that she does and will continue to do what she can for the community.
TriCircle is proud of the many ways Maryvette and the WFC support the work we are doing. Our populations very often intersect, and there will never be a shortage of people to serve!
Together WE are Stronger!
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Maryvette with Midstate Chamber of Commerce President, Rosanne Ford |
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With State Representative
Hilda Santiago
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Click the image above to see how you can help TriCircle and the students of CT Coastal Academy brighten the holidays for our local children and families in need! |
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Check Out Our Website!
Please click on the link above or the image below,
and let us know what you think!
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COME RELAX YOUR BODY,
CENTER YOUR SOUL,
AND FOCUS YOUR MIND.
IT'S FREE OF CHARGE!
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TRICIRCLE PRESENTS
WEEKLY SMART RECOVERY
PROGRAM MEETINGS
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What is SMART Recovery? SMART Recovery is a fresh approach to addiction recovery. SMART stands for Self-Management and Recovery Training. This is more than an acronym: it is a transformative method of moving from addictive substances and negative behaviors to a life of positive self-regard and willingness to change. Join us!
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TriCircle's Hope & Support and Hope After Loss Support Group Meetings - For Complete Schedules and Locations Click the Links Featured Below
Tues, Dec 5, 12, 19, 26 - 7:00-8:00pm (Every Tuesday Going Forward) SMART Recovery Meetings, 248 South Cherry Street, Wallingford (Master's Manna)
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DROP IN SETBACK
1741 Pub & Grill
Middlefield
Join us for some great food, fabulous friends and lots of fun!
10% of proceeds from all of our Setback games benefit The TriCircle Memorial Scholarship Fund!
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Our Setback is so popular,
we have added another one!
Join us at Dad's in Wallingford!
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Looking for a purpose driven, fun and fulfilling opportunity to showcase your amazing gifts and talents and give back?
TriCircle is searching for people who are action oriented and passionate about our cause to work with the Memorial Scholarship Committee. We need your enthusiasm and creativity, and we welcome you to join us. If you are interested in honoring your loved one through our TriCircle Memorial Scholarship, please inquire about making a donation or joining the committee by contacting Trish Williams at: trish@tricircle.org
If your superpower is planning, organizing, and/or helping to implement events, then here is your chance to shine - the Fundraising & Events Advisory Board needs you now! Meetings are held on
the last Tuesday of every month from 6:00 - 7:30 pm at
TriCircle, 169 Colony Street, 2nd Floor, Meriden
Community Service Hours Are Available for All of the Above!
Together WE are Stronger!
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Searching for a Compassionate Group That Truly Understands? |
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TriCircle's Hope & Support Groups provide a safe and confidential space for parents, guardians and others who are concerned about a loved one's substance use or addiction. All are welcomed and encouraged to utilize these services at no cost.
Click below to head to our website for Hope And Support Group meeting details, including location and meeting schedule.
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TriCircle's Hope After Loss Groups offer a place where everyone understands. There is no judgment or blame, but rather support and understanding. Join us as we work together on this journey moving forward in life. All are welcomed and encouraged to utilize these services at no cost. Click below to head to our website for Hope After Loss
Group meeting details, including location
and meeting schedule.
Zoom options will continue to be available
for both support groups.
Please email Ana for more details!
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TriCircle is located at
169 Colony Street
Second Floor, Room 28
Meriden, CT 06451
We are pleased to be located inside the Women and Families Center.
This allows for wonderful opportunities to expand
the reach of our support services and resources
as we cultivate this collaborative partnership.
This location also provides increased accessibility
on the bus line and nearby train station.
Together WE are Stronger!
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Your input is greatly appreciated!
If any of our readers know of an organization, group or idea that will add strength, availability and reach
to our collaborations and services, please
Do you enjoy reading our newsletter?
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TriCircle and consider a donation today!
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Click the images below or scan the QR code to find out how!
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