Great Strides November 2019

November 2019 Volume 5, Issue 11

inside this issue We hope that you will join us for our Thanksgiving Feast held on Wednesday, November 27 at noon.

We will be having turkey and all the fixings. This meal is FREE! Come celebrate Thanksgiving with the IC family as we give thanks and enjoy an amazing meal!

-Artwork by IC Member Koreen S.

IC walk ............................ 2/3 faces in recovery ............ 4 acts of kindness.............. 4 grateful for recovery ...... 4 artist of the month ......... 5 Mending Art exhibit ....... 5

Great American Smokeout ...................... 6 Is vaping a better choice ............................. 6 benefits of quitting......... 6/7 advocacy news ............... 8

IC walk thank you!

Thank you to everyone who supported our annual walk: 

Mar-Vic Cleaners & Tailors



City Pizza and Expresso



The Raw Deal Juice Bar



Minute Man Press



The Art of Yum



John Bale’s



Subway



Grand News



Tony’s Men’s Shop



Family Dollar



Starbucks



Louie’s Pizza



Wellmore



UCONN Waterbury



Street Stylz Barbers



Waterbury Police Department



Person’s with lived experience



Community Providers



Members of the IC



Senator Joan Hartley



Representative Geraldo Reyes



All of you who support mental health every day!

2

We would like to say thank you to everyone who joined us in celebrating Mental Health Awareness Week and World Mental Health Day on October 10, 2019 by joining us for our annual walk to raise awareness for mental health. Whether you actually walked with us, or were there in spirit, we greatly appreciate your support and commitment to support mental health for all. We would especially like to thank the local downtown businesses, Senator Hartley, Representative Reyes and the Waterbury Police Department who took time out of their busy work day to show their support!

support groups For people who hear voices: www.facebook.com/ctheari ngvoicesnetwork 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/ 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 or call: 1-800-842-1510

3

faces in recovery - Brandon J. “If you stay positive and work on your problems, you can overcome anything”.

-Brandon J.

food bank hours 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

gratitude “Gratitude opens the door to...the power, the wisdom, the creativity of the universe.

You open the door through gratitude” -Deepak Chopra “The miracle of gratitude is that it shifts your perception to such an extent that it changes the world you see”.

-Dr. Robert Holden

4

Brandon has been with us for almost 6 months and is really a great addition to the Independence Center!

Brandon did not attend that much at first, but as he came down more, he really enjoyed the workshops and activities that were offered. He also liked the meals and one day was asked to help in the culinary unit and now looks forward to working with Nicole to learn skills in safe food handling, food preparation and overall food service.

Brandon says that he has goals for his recovery and one of them is making the right decisions on a daily basis. That helps him to be a easier person to get along with and so he wants “goodness” for himself and others.

Brandon is taking a class to be a security guard and would like to get a job in the future. Brandon would like to let folks know that “if you stay positive and work on your problems, you can overcome anything”. Look for Brandon the next time you come down, he would be happy to help you or talk with you!

acts of kindness - Veteran’s Day This month we celebrate Veteran’s Day, a way to remember and honor all of those individuals who have and currently serve our country and protect our freedom. In November’s acts of kindness workshop, we will be making cards to distribute to veterans thanking them for their service. We would love to have you join us on Tuesday, November 5 at 10:00 a.m. If you can’t make it but would still like to express your gratitude, a great website to visit is Operation We Are Here at operationwearehere.com.

grateful for recovery Thanksgiving is right around the corner! Let’s take a moment to remember what Thanksgiving is really all about. Giving thanks! On Monday mornings at 10 a.m. in November, the IC will be continuing the “Substance Abuse” workshops and we will be focusing on GRATITUDE. Finding the positive in our daily struggles with mental health conditions and addiction issues is sometimes a challenge. The everyday stressors can leave us feeling anxious and frustrated. How can we be grateful all the time when we might feel like a victim or feel like the world is against us?

Recovery is not always an easy road. There are always bumps along the way but when we focus on staying positive and thankful, our perceptions change.

The workshops this month will include some helpful tips and information on how people in recovery can learn how to focus their attention on the positive rather than the negative. The workshops will include, 12 Step Daily Meditation Readings with Positive Affirmations, Attitude of Gratitude-Journaling and Keeping a Positive Mind with a video. Hope to see all your smiling faces there! Please see Jess for more info.

artist of the month - Darryl H.

happy birthday!

My name is Darryl and I’m 56 years old. My father was a minister and mom was a teacher.

I have been a member of the club for 24 years.

My first and real start in art was in high school where I learned to enjoy sculpture and pottery. As time went on I did many different things but clay was a passion of mine. The drawing becomes too crude and I get discouraged easily! I found that no matter what you work with and how you would like it to be better just one thing matters, that it came from you.

You’re asking what is so cool about the lanterns that I repainted? It goes to a thing I heard about, most things can get a second life! When you understand that the thing you paint on its easy to make changes Having the time and desire to express ourselves is a lot for us. We work hard at things and no matter what anybody thinks its fun. We are not doing this to say hey, look what I drew. It is having the hope that someone understands that we are expressing our self. The mending art is so good because it’s a way to build our self-esteem.

Richard Latrisha Koreen Michael Michael Belinda Brenda Vanessa Michael Beverly Shawn Thaddeus Erica Theresa Brandy Anibal John Anthony Germarr

B C S G P D M Z J B Mc G F C W V N K E

02 02 02 03 04 04 04 05 07 08 09 09 13 19 19 20 27 28 29

Join us for Birthday Bash on Wednesday, November 20 at 2:30 p.m. to celebrate!

MHC Mending Art exhibit 160 Artists from across Connecticut participated in the MHC Mending Art exhibit at Hartford ArtSpace Gallery during the month of October. This exhibit spotlighted the art of IC Artists and Guest Artists. Over 100 artists from MHC shared their work. The common thread all these artists share is that art is an important part of their wellbeing. Hundreds of people visited the gallery during the reception to meet the artists and take a look at the exhibit.

During the reception, there was an Open Mic, led by MHC Write On Program Alum and The End Ensemble performed a dance they choreographed from inspiration from the visual art pieces they selected by Guest Artist, Adis Halilovic, titled “Gamophobia and Loss”. The gallery was filled with music, singing, dancing, and stories. “The most amazing and powerful art show I have been to in a long time.” says Steph Burr, Manager of Outreach at Northwest CT Arts Council.

Mending Art exhibit

Fox 61 News, Keith McGilvery, visited the exhibit to interview the artists and share their art and stories with the community. “Art and mental health for the win!” says Torrington Collective. The exhibit was a wonderful success and an opportunity for the community to connect, learn from one another, and help break stigma around mental health.

Stay tuned for our gallery of photographs from the event by photographer Mark Tegtmeier. Keep creating!

- Amy Smith

Photo credit- Mark Tegtmeier

5

is vaping a better choice?

Vaping has been marketed to be a safer alternative to smoking cigarettes, however recent events have indicated that there is still much to learn about both the shortterm and long-term affects of using e-cigarettes. With products not being regulated and there not being enough pre-market studies done, the risks of vaping are still coming to light. If you are thinking of switching to e-cigarettes to help quit smoking, here are some risks documented by Harvard Health to consider:

Great American Smokeout The Great American Smokeout is an annual event sponsored by the American Cancer Society (ACS). It is held on the third Thursday of November. This social engineering event focuses on encouraging Americans to quit tobacco smoking. People are challenged to stop smoking for at least 24 hours assuming that their decision not to smoke will last longer, hopefully forever. Today, more than 43 million people in the United States smoke cigarettes, that is about 1 in 5 adults. The Great American Smokeout evolved from a number of smaller-scale events that took place in the 1970s. The first Great American Smokeout occurred in California on November 18, 1976. According to the California division of the ACS, nearly 1 million people stopped smoking cigarettes that day. In 1977, the event was taken nationwide. Different people quit smoking in different ways. There are those who quit abruptly and completely and those who cut back gradually. Some people need substitutions and distractions to suppress cravings and others need special medicines. No matter which approach you choose, the Great American Smokeout is the perfect occasion to make the first step. Of course, if you have already decided to quite smoking, you don’t have to wait until November 21!

 Nicotine is highly addictive









and can affect the developing brain, potentially harming teens and young adults. Even some “nicotine-free” ecigarettes have been found to contain nicotine.

Some substances found in e -cigarette vapor have been linked to an increased risk of cancer.

Teens who vape are more likely to begin smoking cigarettes.

Explosions and burns have been reported with ecigarettes while recharging the devices, due to defective batteries.

Accidental exposure to liquid from e-cigarettes has caused acute nicotine poisoning in children and adults.

--Awarenessdays.com

benefits of quitting smoking After 1 hour—In as little as 20 minutes after the last cigarette is smoked, the heart rate drops and returns to normal. Blood pressure begins to drop, and circulation may start to improve.

After 12 hours—After just 12 hours without a cigarette, the body cleanses itself of the excess carbon monoxide from the cigarettes. The carbon monoxide level returns to normal, increasing the body's oxygen levels.

After 1 day—In as little as 1 day after quitting smoking, a person's blood pressure begins to drop, decreasing the risk of heart disease from smoking-induced high blood pressure. In this short time, a person's oxygen levels will have risen, making physical activity and exercise easier to do, promoting heart-healthy habits.

After 2 days—Smoking damages the nerve endings responsible for the senses of smell and taste. In as little as 2 days after quitting, a person may notice a heightened sense of smell and more vivid tastes as these nerves heal.

After 3 days—3 days after quitting smoking, the nicotine levels in a person's body are depleted. While it is healthier to have no nicotine in the body, this initial depletion can cause nicotine withdrawal. Around 3 days after quitting, most people will experience moodiness and irritability, severe headaches, and cravings as the body readjusts.

After 1 month—In as little as 1 month, a person's lung function begins to improve.

6

(Continued on page 7)

(Continued from page 6) important phone numbers

As the lungs heal and lung capacity improves, former smokers may notice less coughing and shortness of breath. Athletic endurance increases and former smokers may notice a renewed ability for cardiovascular activities, such as running and jumping.

After 1-3 months—For the next several months after quitting, circulation continues to improve.

After 9 months—Nine months after quitting, the lungs have significantly healed themselves. The delicate, hair-like structures inside the lungs known as cilia have recovered from the toll cigarette smoke took on them. These structures help push mucus out of the lungs and help fight infections.

After 1 year—The risk of heart disease will decrease by half after quitting smoking for 1 year, and arteries and blood vessels will begin to widen after 5 years.

One year after quitting smoking, a person's risk for coronary heart disease decreases by half. This risk will continue to drop past the 1-year mark.

After 5 years—Cigarettes contain many known toxins that cause the arteries and blood vessels to narrow. These same toxins also increase the likelihood of developing blood clots.

After 5 years without smoking, the body has healed itself enough for the arteries and blood vessels to begin to widen again. This widening means the blood is less likely to clot, lowering the risk of stroke.

The risk of stroke will continue to reduce over the next 10 years as the body heals more and more.

After 10 years—After 10 years, a person's chances of developing lung cancer and dying from it are roughly cut in half compared with someone who continues to smoke. The likelihood of developing mouth, throat, or pancreatic cancer has significantly reduced.

After 15 years—After 15 years of having quit smoking, the likelihood of developing coronary heart disease is the equivalent of a non-smoker. Similarly, the risk of developing pancreatic cancer has reduced to the same level as a non-smoker.

After 20 years—After 20 years, the risk of death from smoking-related causes, including both lung disease and cancer, drops to the level of a person who has never smoked in their life. Also, the risk of developing pancreatic cancer has reduced to that of someone who has never smoked.

--Medical News Today

Join the IC every Thursday in November at 11:00 a.m. as we run a smoking cessation series that will help you prepare to quit and stick to it a smoke free lifestyle. We will discuss the benefits of quitting, how to develop a quit plan, and provide you with resources to help you on your journey.

Infoline CT 211 VEYO 1-855-478-7350 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 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

Make this the year that you put yourself first and choose to invest in your health!

7

advocacy news 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.

Independence Center 21 Church Street Waterbury, CT 0672 Phone: 203-756-5772 Fax: 203-756-9744

Congratulations to Richard A. and Matthew R. for co-winning KTP’s Media Mogul Award! They both had op-eds in regard to mental health issues published in our local paper recently. Way to go!

It is so important that voices are heard from those with lived experience during times when there is so much uncertainty- in our cities and towns, our state and our country. Writing or calling your legislator, writing to a local or state newspaper, or even writing for our newsletter are just a few ways to express your passions, concerns and the miracles of recovery that are just waiting inform those who don’t even know about mental health or substance abuse issues. Please give the gift of your story, there’s so much to tell.

And remember to mark your calendars - Tuesday, November 5th is Election Day! This is your chance to have your voice heard so get out there and vote. If you are unsure where to vote or need assistance with obtaining transportation, see staff at the IC for assistance.

PLEASE PLACE STAMP HERE