15 yr. old - Clean & Sober But No Where To Go....

I'm helping a 15 year old in treatment for addiction and concurrent disorders in the US. This young one is committed to abstinence. When she returns to Toronto there are absolutely no sober/clean housing options for her. What about her rights - her right to choose not to use. It seems that it is everyone's inherent right to use drugs yet what about the ones who'd rather not, can't we support them too -- especially when they are under the age of 16? 
Am I the only one that thinks that this is topsy turvy? Why are we, as taxpayers paying for drug using housing for our young teens and tweens? Seems to me that we are failing them. 

Healing Cinema in the New Year

Here's a schedule for the films being played at the Healing Cinema in the New Year. This is also combined with a meeting of ACA (adult children of alcoholics or dysfunctional families) - optional - they are looking for more attendance.

The HC is held on Thursday nights 7-9pm at St Mich's hospital 6th floor Cardinal carter wing. It's for anyone looking to get healing.

The meetings will resume on January 10, 2013 by showing the series Bradshaw on the Family.

BRADSHAW ON THE FAMILY - A new way of Creating Solid Self Esteem

January 10th - Part One: The Family in Crisis - An Overview of What Constitutes a Family in Crisis.

January 17th - Part Two: The Healthy Family - How a Healthy Functional Family Operates

January 24th - Part Three: The Unhealthy Family - Characteristics of a Dysfunctional Family

January 31st - Part Four: The Compulsive Family - Compulsive Behaviour - the Core of All Addictions

February 7    - Part Five: The Persecuted - Incest and Violence Within the Family

February 14 -  Part Six:  The "Bad" Child - Shame and Moral and Emotional abuse.

February 21 - Part Seven:  The Most Common Family illness - Co-dependency/Mystification.  The Most Common untreated Addiction.

February 28 - Part Eight:  Help For the Family - Dealing with Resentments.  Getting to Forgiveness.

March   7th   - Part Nine: Health for the Family - Stopping the 'Denial of Problems, Making Interventions Within the Family

March   14th - Part Ten: Hope for the Family - Healing Ourselves, Healing the World

Ali and her story of hope and teen recovery.

Ali's Story

Young Ones Breaking Barriers - Testimonial

"I first heard of Young Ones in an online mental health forum. They were sending out a compiled list of other support groups and services. I had also been seeing a therapist for depression, anxiety, and trauma issues, but the school year had ended, along with my funding. I decided to give Young Ones a try for the summer due to the free 10 sessions. I've made significant progress since then. For the first time ever in my life, I learned techniques on how to handle emotions such as anger and anxiety. In addition to a supportive counsellor (Susan Raphael), I have also been blessed to have found a support group where my thoughts, opinions, and hopes for recovery are finally considered worthy of validation and respect. I don't think I would be able to cope with the ongoing pressures of university life if it wasn't for Young Ones. Even though life isn't perfect and I still have some dark moments from time to time, I feel more confident as I continue the road to recovery. Thank You for supporting Young Ones, I wouldn't be there if it wasn't for you."

A Young Ones Mentor. 

Announcing A Women's Recovery Group

I am thrilled to share that I have started a women's recovery group. 

Group happens every Tuesday from 6-7.30PM. It is a recovery focussed process group. 

Group takes place at Recovery Counselling Services, 4211 Yonge St. Please call me if you are interested in attending and would like more information.  

Susan 

Gone too soon....

Today I heard some really tough news. A beautiful young women named Liz passed away yesterday and things will never be the same. Friends of Liz are calling and people are shocked and dismayed as they hear the sad news. Liz was too young and is gone too soon. Liz was a charismatic and whimsical woman and she added to my world and experience. I hope at some point I can find comfort in that. We won't forget you Liz. Rest in peace. You are loved. 

Holiday Stress - how to handle it and not let it handle you...

L.O.V.E. - leave out violence

Tonight we attended the screening of a Health Canada project which profiles young peoples'  inspirational journeys to recovery. I'm so proud of my Recovery Counselling mentors Ali and Catherine for being a part of this production. Stay tuned for premiere dates. I can't wait. 

http://LeaveOutViolence.org

http://LoveWired.org

Today we presented to the Sick Kids Adolescent Health Unit ... here are some photos from the event! And a big Thank You! to Sick kids for inviting us :) — with Susan Raphael.

Dinner with Sarah Finney, Patrick Babcock and Brad Reedy at the Moment's of Change conference, 2012.

Yoga with Durga - BEACH @ The Breakers, Palm Beach

Here are some pics of yoga at the conference. Every morning at 7am we did yoga on the beach and watched the sun rise - what a beautiful start to the day. The Yoga of Recovery takes their practice all over the world with teacher training and classes for all. They have a special focus on yoga for people in recovery; addressing trauma, anxiety and all sorts of maladies through body and mind healing. 

"Hope is an orientation of the spirit, an orientation of the heart. It is not the conviction that something will turn out well, but the certainty that something makes sense regardless of how it turns out." -Vaclev Havel

I'm excited to announce that I will be attending the
Moments of Change, Innovations in Integrated Treatment, Conference Oct 7-11, in Florida.

Study: Depression rates triple between ages of 12 and 15 among adolescent girls

http://www.hazelden.org/web/public/1208recoverymatters.page

What's Susan up to....

In June, Susan was elected to the CACCF Board of Directors. " I like contributing to the professional communitiy of addictions counselling. I believe in the spirit of continuing the work of the many board members who have come before me. I feel indebted to the legacy of Judy Bannerman and Bill Gilliland, former CACCF Board members who both taught me so much". 

In May, Susan was appointed as Clinical Director of Young Ones, Breaking Barriers,  ww.youngones.ca . Young Ones is a remakable charity that creates oppotunities for youth to access mental health help right away, through free counselling and peer group support. 

Susan continues her work with the team at Recovery Counselling Services and in her growing private practice, Sustainable Recvovery. Recently, Susan has developped new treatment placement and referral services to help families navigate the challenging realm of services for addiction and mental health. 

Brain Scans & Addiction

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6QmZ5O0kQM&sns=em

Today.....

Arrived at the 53rd Institute of Addiction Studies Conference in Kempenfelt.
Presenting tomorrow on Intervening on the Adolescent Substance Abuser...

Marijuana Withdrawal Symptoms

Marijuana Withdrawal Symptoms Withdrawals Are Mild; 

But Can Cause Relapse:

Quitting can bring on withdrawal symptoms... In other words, the marijuana withdrawal symptoms are not life-threatening -- their main danger is causing someone who really wants or needs to quit smoking weed to fail.

Significance of Marijuana Withdrawal:

Marijuana withdrawal is not listed as a condition in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM IV) mainly due to doubts in 1994 about its clinical significance. But research conducted since the DSM IV was published has shown that cannabis withdrawal should be a target of clinical treatment because it can drive people to relapse.

Just as alcoholics who are trying to quit drinking may pick up a drink to relieve the sometimes life-threatening symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, marijuana smokers may light up a joint to relieve the discomfort they experience when they try to stop smoking. This can be a serious problem for smokers who need to quit to keep their job or who have been court-ordered into treatment.

One study found that 70.4% of users trying to quit smoking marijuana relapsed to relieve the withdrawal symptoms.

Marijuana Withdrawal Is Common

A Duke University study of 496 adult marijuana smokers who tried to quit found that 95.5% of them experienced at least one withdrawal symptom while 43.1% experienced more than one symptom. The number of symptoms the participants experienced was significantly linked to how often and how much the subjects smoked prior to trying to quit.

Those who were daily smokers experienced the most symptoms, but even those who reported using marijuana less than weekly experienced some withdrawal symptoms of moderate intensity.

Most common symptoms associated with marijuana withdrawal:

Craving for Marijuana

One of the symptoms most reported by people trying to quit smoking marijuana is a craving for marijuana, or an intense desire for more. In one study, 75.7% of participants trying to quit reported intense craving for marijuana.

Although many regular smokers of marijuana do not believe they are addicted to the drug, one hallmark of addiction is craving when you try to stop, whether it's heroin, alcohol, gambling or sex addiction. Craving is the most common symptom reported by former marijuana users in the early days of abstinence.

Mood Swings

The second most common symptom reported by those who have tried to quit smoking marijuana is mood swings. Former users report emotional swings from depression, anger and euphoria and back again. Irritability and anger are common symptoms for anyone who is giving up a drug of choice, especially if they are forced by circumstances to quit.

More than half (50.1%) of those who try to quit marijuana report mood swings, irritability or anxiety. Others report aggression, nervousness, restlessness and a loss of concentration. Typically, these symptoms begin to diminish after two to three weeks, but can linger in some up to three months.

Sleep Disruption

Insomnia is one of the most common symptoms of drug withdrawal, whether the drug is marijuana, alcohol or prescription pain killers. Just as someone who is alcohol-dependent or someone who has been addicted to opiates experiences difficulty trying to sleep after they quit, marijuana smokers also find falling to sleep difficult.

Insomnia symptoms after you stop smoking weed can last a few days or a couple of weeks. Some smokers find that they can experience occasional sleeplessness for a few months after quitting.

But insomnia is not the only sleep disruption problem associated with marijuana withdrawal. Some people who have stopped smoking pot report having nightmares and very vivid dreams that also disrupt their sleep. These frequent, vivid dreams typically begin about a week after quitting and can last for about a month before tapering off. An estimated 46.9% of former smokers report sleep disruption problems.

Others who have quit smoking report having "using dreams" in which they dream they smoke marijuana. Some former smokers have reported having these types of dreams years after they stopped using marijuana.

Headaches

One of the most common physical symptoms reported by those who stop smoking are headaches. Not everyone who stops smoking marijuana experiences headaches, but for those who do, the headaches can be very intense, especially during the first few days after quitting.

Headaches associated with marijuana withdrawal can last for a few weeks up to a couple of months. Headaches, like most other symptoms of withdrawing from marijuana use, will usually begin 1-3 days after quitting and will peak 2 to 6 days after stopping. Symptoms usually fade after two weeks, but some former smokers report continued symptoms for several weeks or even months later.

Other Symptoms

Other symptoms reported by researchers include appetite change, weight loss, weight gain, digestion problems, cramps or nausea after eating. Others have reported night sweats, loss of the sense of humor, decreased sex drive, or increased sex drive. Some former users have reported shaking and dizziness.

Physical symptoms of marijuana withdrawal tend to be less intense, peak sooner and fade more quickly than the psychological symptoms associated with quitting. The frequency and amount of marijuana the smoker used prior to stopping affects the severity and length of the withdrawals.

Get Help for Symptoms

If you have decided to quit smoking weed, or you have been forced by circumstances to quit, chances are you will experience some kind of withdrawal symptoms. Depending on how much and how often you have been smoking, these symptoms could become intense enough to drive you to relapse to find relief.

You don't have to do it on your own. Seek help from your healthcare provider to deal with the physical symptoms of withdrawal or seek help from a support group like Marijuana Anonymous to handle the psychological symptoms.

Sources: Updated June 15, 2012 from Buddy T Internet: About.com

Levin, KH, et al. "Cannabis withdrawal symptoms in non-treatment-seeking adult cannabis smokers." Drug and Alcohol Dependence April 2010.

Marijuana Anonymous World Services. "Detoxing from Marijuana." Accessed June 2012.

Vandrey, R., et al. "Cannabis withdrawal in adolescent treatment seekers." Drug and Alcohol Dependence, January 2008

Sustainable Recovery sponsor's the Parent Navigation Project

I am organizing this event to support Sunnybrook as they invent the future of health care.

I met Amy Sky last night...

..at an intimate engagement in support of the Parent Navigation Project. Amy's newest song's are inspired by her own personal triumph with mental illness. Amy's new CD is called awake & alive...view and listen below.

Family Navigation Project - Sunnybrook Hospital

Cartoon of how drugs affect the human brain...very cool!!

http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/addiction/drugs/mouse.html

One amazing teen's story of recovery from addiction...

Research Stats on Continuing Care - Value of....

www.hazelden.org/web/public/document/bcrup_1208.pdf

% of young people in treatment with co-occurring disorders...

In 2010, 93 percent of young people between the ages of 14 and 25 in residential treatment at Hazelden in Plymouth, MN, had been diagnosed with co-occurring mental health and addiction issues. In order to provide effective addiction treatment, it is important to understand the interplay between the mental health diagnosis and addiction and treat the issues simultaneously.

Mother Teresa: "Do It Anyway"

This version was found on the wall in Mother Teresa's children's home in Calcutta:

              People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.  Forgive them anyway.

            If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.  Be kind anyway.

            If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies.  Succeed anyway.

           If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you.  Be honest and sincere anyway.

            What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.  Create anyway.

            If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.  Be happy anyway.

            The good you do today, will often be forgotten.  Do good anyway.

         Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.  Give your best anyway.

         In the final analysis, it is between you and God.  It was never between you and them anyway.

-this version is credited to Mother Teresa

'NEW' Working Definition of Recovery Developed

   SAMHSA announces a working definition of “recovery” from mental disorders and substance use disorders.The definition is the product of a year-long effort by SAMHSA and a wide range of partners in the behavioral health care community and other fields to develop a working definition of recovery that captures the essential, common experiences of those recovering from mental disorders and substance use disorders, along with major guiding principles that support the recovery definition. 

   The new working definition of Recovery from Mental Disorders and Substance Use Disorders is as follows: A process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live a self-directed life, and strive to reach their full potential. For more see the following link... http://www.samhsa.gov/newsroom/advisories/1112223420.aspx

News about Young Ones (Y.O)

Young Ones (Y.O)

Young Ones took part in a documentary called Bridging Minds as well as an art installation that works to show others what stigma against mental illness is like... take a look and see!

http://bridgingminds.ca/

The event is going down this Monday, February 6 from 5-10pm at the Thomas Lounge, Oakham Estate, 63 Gould St.
...See More

MPath Productions

bridgingminds.ca

Bridging Minds

Let's Talk About Mental Health...

On February 8, 2012, Bell Launches Let’s Talk Day – a national campaign which will raise awareness about mental health across Canada each year. Why? Because....one in five Canadians experiences a mental illness at some point in their lives. That means that every Canadian has a family member, friend or colleague coping with mental illness. [Insurance Journal 2003 as cited by the Government of Canada in The Human Face of Mental Illness, 2006]. Join the conversation. It's time to break down the stigma associated with mental illness. Be part of the conversation about mental health.

About Susan

Susan is active on various boards and works with numerous committees. She has been involved in social causes for several years and is extremely devoted to giving back to the community. In 2011, Susan began working with the charitable organization "Young Ones", assisting youth struggling with mental health issues to achieve better care and services. Susan resides in Toronto with her husband, along with her therapy dog and cat, Buster and Harley. She enjoys practicing Yoga and Spins regularly.