Awareness Starts with Knowledge (ASK)

Tonja   Tonja is one of the Recovery Coaches at Save The Michael’s Buffalo Office. Tonja has her own recovery story and works a 12-step program and has seen the devasting effects that alcoholism and substance use disorder has on loved ones. Because of this unique perspective, Tonja can help individuals as well as families. Tonja explained that recovery coaching is different from counseling in the aspect that she can relate to clients on a personal level, but more than that, Tonja says that the best way she can help a person is to ask them “How can I support you”? Tonja goes on to say that relapse prevention is a part of her coaching methods. She reminds people that relapse/reoccurrence can be but doesn’t have to be a part of their story. But if it, the most important piece of advice she can give is to allow yourself some grace, it’s not about how many times we fall, but how many times we get back up. Tonja’s favorite way to support her clients, is to challenge them to find out what...

Moses Moses is one of our Recovery Coaches at the Save The Michaels Buffalo office, and he also spends time in our Lockport Drop-in Center supporting our homeless community. Community outreach workers need to be able to build relationships with members of the community they work with. This is because trust is essential to developing meaningful connections and understand the needs of the people they are working with. One way that Moses can accomplish this, is simply by listening to the clients. For example, Moses explained that one client he was working with was in desperate need of sneakers. Moses went home on his lunch grabbed a pair of sneakers and brought it back for this client. Moses goes on to explain just small acts like this show the clients that he cares. Another way that Moses is able to connect with the community is by not treating the clients like they are any different from him, and never forgetting where he came from. When asked what the biggest challenge is, Moses desc...

 Mecca  Mecca is one of our Rehab Facilitators at Save The Michael's Of The World. On a typical day in the office, she can take an upwards of 10 calls a day. She deals with a wide range of people who are calling to get placed in an inpatient facility. One of the biggest hurdles Mecca faces when placing people, is when someone calls in saying they are ready for treatment, but once the bed opens, they change their mind. Mecca tries her best to meet people where they are and help them work past their barriers. One technique that Mecca uses is Harm Reduction. Mecca will offer resources such as the Addict 2 Addict Hotline, Never Use Alone, Narcan, and local meetings. Mecca states this is especially helpful with clients who cannot stop using before their bed is ready. Mecca explains that there is a small assessment she completes with each person that calls our intake line. This assessment helps her place clients in the best care possible that really fits their needs. During this ass...

    How to become comfortable asking for help - YouTube Reinforcements: How to Get People to Help You: Grant, Heidi: 9781633692350: Amazon.com: Books

  "As someone who has conducted this research, I still hesitate to reach out for help". Xuan Zhao, PhD, the study's lead author, tells SELF. How to Ask for Help When You Need It, According to Experts | SELF

  "Don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it. Asking for help isn't a sign of weakness, it's a sign of strength. It shows you have the courage to admit when you don't know something and to learn something new". - Barack Obama Asking for Help is a Sign of Strength, Not a Sign of Weakness - Laurie A. Watkins (laurieawatkins.com)

  "Some people are not good at asking for help because they're so used to being 'the helper'. Throughout their life they've experienced an unbalanced give and take, so their instinct is usually, "I'll figure it out on my own". The self-reliance is all they've ever known".  - www.thedepressionproject.com 3 Reasons Why It's So Hard to Ask for Help | Psychology Today

  "Once you ask for help and get it, you're like, 'it really wasn't that bad'. Or when you find the right therapist because it is kind of like dating - sometimes you have to find the right therapist who gets you and works with you". - Rob Aronofsky Normalizing Asking For Help: “We’ve Only Got One Chance at This Life, and it’s Definitely Worth Living” - Morning Chalk Up

  Grounding or Earthing refers to contact with the earth, either barefoot or laying down. Small studies have reported benefits for inflammation, pain, mood, and so much more. How can you include grounding as part of your self-care especially in early recovery? Grounding Techniques for Addiction and How They Can Help | Gratitude Lodge   If grounding is not your thing, check out the website below for a list of 29 outdoor activities anyone can try right now. 29 Outdoor Self Care Activities Anyone Can Try Right Now - Unfinished Success

  Nicole at minimalism.com writes, “Self-care through nutrition is about nurturing your body by providing it with the raw materials it needs to stay healthy every day, both mentally and physically.” https://minimalism.co/articles/nutrition-and-self-care#Why_Nutrition_is_a_Part_of_Mental_and_Physical_Self-Care   Substance Use Disorder affects more than just our mood and behavior, it can also have damaging affects on our physical well-being. How does nutrition help aide in the recovery process? Nutrition Guide For Addiction Recovery - Gateway Foundation

  Stillness oriented practices such as meditation, mindfulness, and guided visualization is proven to decrease anxiety, lower blood pressure, reduce the stress hormone cortisol, and improve cognitive functioning. How to Find Stillness Within: The Yoga Therapy Plan to Help You Find Inner Peace in a Chaotic World: Dunsmuir, Colin: 9780241484548: Amazon.com: Books

“Self-care strategies can help you prevent relapse and have a successful recovery. Strategies include everything from getting enough sleep to connecting with others and enforcing your boundaries.” (GoodRx, March 2022) What Is Self-Care, and Why Is It So Important in Recovery? - GoodRx   WHAT IS SELF-CARE IN RECOVERY? | How self-care can prevent relapse during addiction recovery - YouTube Find People who show up and support you, who are excited for your recovery and make you excited about recovery.   Individual Support - Save The Michaels of the World  

  Self-care is not selfish, nor is it a sign of weakness. Self-care is not self-indulgence but rather self-preservation. When completing self-care tasks, we should not be left tired and depleted but instead feeling calm and refreshed. www.ted.com/talks/susannah_winters_self_care_what_it_really_is

  According to The National Institute of Mental Health, self-care means taking the time to do things that help you live well and improve both your physical and mental health. Self-care can help you manage stress, lower your risk of illness, and increase your energy. NIMH suggests that even small acts of self-care in your daily life can have a big impact.  Real Self-Care: A Transformative Program for Redefining Wellness (Crystals, Cleanses, and Bubble Baths Not Included): Lakshmin MD, Pooja: 9780593489727: Amazon.com: Books

Dual diagnosis outpatient and inpatient treatment.   Outpatient Best self   Locations | Best Self | Your BestSelf begins here (bestselfwny.org)   Spectrum   Spectrum Health & Human Services • WNY Mental Health and Addiction Counseling (shswny.org)   Horizon Health Addiction Rehab & Mental Health Services | Horizon Health | WNY (horizon-health.org)   Endeavor Health Services Endeavor Health Services - Your Wellness, Our Mission (ehsny.org)   Evergreen Health Elmwood Location | Evergreen Health | Medical, Supportive And Behavioral Health Services In Buffalo (evergreenhs.org)   ECMC clinical services Behavioral Health – Health Services | ECMC Hospital | Buffalo, NY   Inpatient   Brylin Mental Health Care - BryLin Hospital   Bradford Olean General Hospital/Bradford Regional Medical Center (brmc-ogh.org)   McPike McPike Addiction Treatment Center | Office of Addiction Services and Supports (ny.gov)   Norris John L. Norr...

Awareness Starts with Knowledge. Listening openly from every angle can offer a sense of acceptance and understanding. Addiction, Recovery and Mental Health: A Podcast by WAISMANN METHOD® Opioid Treatment Specialists on Apple Podcasts

What comes first?  Substance use?  Or Mental Health issues? Learn more about the connection between the two. The Substance Use And Mental Health Connection | Co--Occurring Disorders & Dual Diagnosis - Bing video

Awareness Starts with Knowledge Mental health disorders and addiction are connected in several ways 1 2 3 4 : ·            A mental health disorder can be considered a risk factor for drug use, which may lead to addiction. ·            Drug use can trigger the development of a mental health disorder. ·            Once both issues are co-occurring, they are likely to perpetuate one another. ·            Mental health disorders may make someone more prone to addictive behaviors. ·            Substance abuse disorders and mental health conditions frequently co-exist, as people turn to addictive substances to self-medicate, and those substances cause and aggravate existing mental health symptoms. ·            Some mental heal...