Great Strides, January 2018

The IC would like to wish you all a very Happy New Year!

Lets welcome 2018 with health, happiness and success!

“I love coming down here, it feels like home.”

-Janet G.

Monday 10:30AM-11:00AM and 1:30PM-3:30PM Wednesday 10:30AM-11:00AM and 1:30PM-3:30PM Friday 10:30AM-11:00AM and 1:30PM-3:30PM (Food Bank is not available during parties and meetings.

This month’s faces in recovery is Janet G. Janet is one of our newer members; she joined in October of 2017. When staff approached her to interview for this article, Janet wanted to share a story with the readers. “I love coming down here, it feels like home. While I was cooking this morning here (at the IC) I just felt this great calm. I have not felt that in a while, since my dad passed away about 2 months ago. I learned about his death while attending the IC. Staff and my peers listened to me cry and they encouraged me that everything will be ok; and that was exactly what I needed to hear.

At the same time WRAP had a sign up on and staff asked if it was something I would like to do. WRAP helped me mourn my dad in a healthy way and I’m ok with him being gone. I know my father is not physically here but he is in my heart. I will cherish the memories I have of him and I. For those of you who are going through a dealing with a loved one gone, just remember that person is in a better place and is looking down on you. That person will always be with you, not physically but with you spiritually. Members I highly recommend you sign up for WRAP it really helped me with the loss of my dad. Thank you.”

Let’s begin 2018 being grateful for all of our artistic accomplishments in 2017! IC members are welcome to join us on Wednesday January 31st at 10 AM for our Mending Art Certificate Ceremony.

Congratulations to all of our IC Artists!

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Photograph of Jackie Joy and her owner Lyne, enjoying their visit at the IC with members. Jackie Joy is a therapeutic dog that visits the IC monthly, look for her next visit in the IC calendar so you can meet her too!

“I have been drawing for about 50 years, and I still don’t stop.”

Enrique really enjoys drawing cartoon and animated characters, his preferred medium is color pencils. “Art really helps me reduce my anxiety and depression, I believe that art helps people with mental health problems.” He describes that when he is in the studio or at home drawing and creating these characters it makes him feel relaxed. “My inspiration comes from within and when I see my art work on the paper come to life, it motivates me to do more! I want my peers to experience that, to see their work and think wow I did that!”

For people who hear voices: www.facebook.com/cthearin gvoicesnetwork or http://www.hearingvoicesus a.org/ Alternatives to Suicide Support Group 399 Franklin Avenue Hartford Wednesdays 4-5pm http://toivocenter.org/ OCD support group http://psychiatry.yale.edu/o cd/patients/support.aspx Alcoholics Anonymous http://www.aa.org/ Narcotics Anonymous http://www.na.org/

Alisa is looking for men and women to knit scarves for next year’s holiday gifts. Pick your own color yarn and Alisa can get you started. It will take some time to make.

This is an especially good task for smokers because it keeps your hands busy and you may smoke less. Join Alisa in the knitting workshop. If one person can make one scarf that would be helpful. Once you get beyond the initial learning curve, knitting and crocheting can lower heart rate and blood pressure and reduce harmful blood levels of the stress hormone cortisol. But unlike meditation, craft activities result in tangible and often useful products that can enhance selfesteem.

Overeaters Anonymous https://oa.org/ Gamblers Anonymous http://www.gamblersanony mous.org/ga/ For additional information on Support Groups in Connecticut, visit http://www.mhconn.org/ed ucation/information%20and %20referral/ or call: 1-800-842-1510, ext. 10

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Have you set your seasonal goals? Start now!

Infoline CT 211 Logisticare 1-888-248-9895 Guiding Path Warmline: 1-860-482-1783 or 1-800-314-2680 5pm-10pm 7 days per week National Suicide Hotline 1-800-273-8255 Sexual Assault Crisis Hotline 1-888-999-5545 En Español 1-888-999-8332 Crisis 1-866-794-0021

Dentists in Waterbury Who take Husky Health Staywell Health Center 203-597-9044 South Main Street 203-756-8021 Phoenix Avenue

Join WHAM! Whole Health Action Management (WHAM) is an 8-10 week workshop that can help you reach a new health goal. Successfully completing one goal leads to many changes in our lives. In a community of encouragement and fun, you will achieve a personal health goal, such as:      

Decreasing stress Finding healthy and delicious eating choices Introducing regular, fun physical activity Improving restful sleep patterns Creating a greater sense of meaning and purpose Developing a strong support network

Classes are facilitated by people who have lived experience in recovery and who have been trained by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Each participant will achieve their personal whole health goal through proven tools, including:  Certified curriculum that has helped thousands of “WHAMMERS” across the U.S. achieve their whole health goal  Weekly action planning and personal log  Ongoing support from fellow participants and trained facilitator

Who: Any members ready to add a new health goal into their life When: February 2018 Where: Independence Center (IC) 21 Church Street Waterbury, CT 06702 Contact: Alisa Rizzuti, LPN, RSS @ 203-756-5772

Community Health Center 203-574-4000 Columbia Dental 1-866-645-0111 Statewide # for Opioid (Opiate) Dependence 1-800-563-4086 You will be linked with walk-in assessment centers

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The concept of mental health advocacy has been developed to promote the human rights of persons with mental disorders and to reduce stigma and discrimination. It consists of various actions aimed at changing the major structural and attitudinal barriers to achieving positive mental health outcomes in populations. The IC can help you maintain or reach a goal on how to better advocated for yourself or a loved one. See Deb for details at the IC for upcoming legislative concerns and or outings to better advocate and break stigma.

IC Artists brought “A Winter Wonderland� to the children at the Boys and Girls Club! We bundled up in our winter wear (coats, hats, boots, mittens and scarves), then we built snowmen and threw snowballs in the art studio using our imaginations! Everyone shared stories of the things they like to do in the winter.

Some of us like to make snow angels, some like to drink hot chocolate, some enjoy ice skating, and others like playing hockey! These winter stories inspired the images the children created with the IC Artists! They were BRRRRRRRRRRilliant drawings! A big thank you to the Boys and Girls Club for sharing their studio time with us!

Mending Art will be on display at Thomaston Public Library during the month of February.

If you are an IC Artist who would like to share your art please contact Mending Art Coordinator, Amy Smith.

Join us for a birthday bash on the 31st at 3:00 p.m.!

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During current events peers discussed the stress that holiday shopping brings on to them. Members decided to go research different coping techniques that they can utilize. Many have said these coping styles helped them stay calm and stay in budget which is difficult during this season.

Here are the some of techniques members are using this year, they can help you too! These tips came from an online www.mayoclnic.org : Tips to prevent holiday stress and depression: When stress is at its peak, it's hard to stop and regroup. Try to prevent stress and depression in the first place, especially if the holidays have taken an emotional toll on you in the past.

Acknowledge your feelings. If someone close to you has recently died or you can't be with loved ones, realize that it's normal to feel sadness and grief. It's OK to take time to cry or express your feelings. You can't force yourself to be happy just because it's the holiday season.

Reach out. If you feel lonely or isolated, seek out community, religious or other social events. They can offer support and companionship. Volunteering your time to help others also is a good way to lift your spirits and broaden your friendships.

Be realistic. The holidays don't have to be perfect or just like last year. As families change and grow, traditions and rituals often change as well. Choose a few to hold on to, and be open to creating new ones. For example, if your adult children can't come to your house, find new ways to celebrate together, such as sharing pictures, emails or videos.

Set aside differences. Try to accept family members and friends as they are, even if they don't live up to all of your expectations. Set aside grievances until a more appropriate time for discussion. And be understanding if others get upset or distressed when something goes awry. Chances are they're feeling the effects of holiday stress and depression, too.

Stick to a budget. Before you go gift and food shopping, decide how much money you can afford to spend. Then stick to your budget. Don't try to buy happiness with an avalanche of gifts.

Try these alternatives:  Donate to a charity in someone's name.  Give homemade gifts.  Start a family gift exchange.

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The IC held its annual Holiday Party at the First Congregational Church on Dec 14th.

Members got together, ate delicious food, played games and danced off those scrumptious cookies!

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Disclaimer: Articles which show “submitted by” are not written by an IC member.

They are articles that our members came across, were inspired by, and brought in to the Center to inspire and encourage other members.

Often the authors of these articles are unknown. The opinions expressed in the newsletter are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of the Independence Center’s members, the staff, or the Editor.

IC members got together and made a up a list they will use to keep their New Year’s Eve resolutions this year: 1. Stick to one thing! This way you will focus on that one lifestyle change and you are not overwhelmed 2. Plan it! Make sure that you made plans for this change; for example if you want to eat healthy, buy healthy groceries and look up recipes that are good for you.

3. Make a commitment card! These cards will remind you that you have a goal and you can do it! Write inspirational words near your goal to keep you going!