Issue 6 by Recovery Wire

September October 2013

THE

DEAD BATTERY

HOW MUCH IS CONTENTMENT WORTH TO YOU?

RX: FAITH SPIRITUALITY IN RECOVERY

MEDITATION A MEDICAL MARVEL

TOP 10 WAYS TO

MEDITATE

32 32 32

www.recoverywiremagazine.com

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR What is the state of your mind? Is your own head a place of reprieve, or a drill sergeant citing a list of demands? It’s time to reflect.

TOP 10 WAYS TO MEDITATE Meditation is one of the foundations of our recovery, but did you know there were several ways to meditate? We composed our 10 favorites!

ON MY OWN Some of us are social butterflies, while others are naturally more at ease alone. Is it possible to have our needs met as lone wolves?

MEDITATION, A MEDICAL MARVEL We knew it was good for the soul, but did you know it was good for the brain and the body too?

Q&A WITH DR. T Can humor cure sickness? Do 12-Step programs really work? Dr. T gives us the answers we’ve been waiting for.

RX: FAITH, SPIRITUALITY IN RECOVERY Our resident medical expert perscribes a dose of spirituality as a valuable asset to a healthy, lasting recovery.

THE DEAD BATTERY In need of a recharge? After some self-reflection and hard work, even the disbelievers find their batteries carrying a longer charge.

MOVIE REVIEW: HOME RUN This issue we review Home Run, a redemption film about a sports star working through his own addiction. Is it a home run?

CROSSWORD & CLASSIFIEDS

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR system. It’s one thing to modify my relationships with others, but my relationship with myself has been a much more challenging adventure. When I look back at my internal belief system in the early stages of my recovery, I recall the words of encouragement and the challenges my inner dialogue set out for me. I remember thinking about how I would achieve this great feat of recovery: how I would alter my life to make room for the success I hoped I deserved.

Issue 6, September/October 2013 Editor In Chief Dee Christensen dee@recoverywiremagazine.com Contributing Writers Aakilah Ade R.N. Kimberly-Robyn Covey Dr. Vera Tarman M.D. Russell Powell Cover Illustrations Audrey Chan Illustrations iconspro Veer Jana Guothova Veer Violetaviolenta Veer Photography Liam Philley Printed 6 Times Yearly: January/February, March/April, May/June, July/August, September/October, November/December Mailing Address 360A Bloor Street West P.O. Box 68506 Walmer Toronto, ON M5S 3C9 1.416.922.9227 Subscription Rates We do not profit from the sale of this magazine. Shipping rates will apply to those outside of Canada. Reprints For permission to reprint any portion of this magazine requests should be sent to: info@recoverywiremagazine.com Copyright 2012 Canada Post Publications Mail Canada Post Agreement Number: 42459522

In the beginning my brain urged me to focus on the tangibles: get an Anyone whose been impacted by apartment, secure a job, do your addiction has likely been influenced by dishes, get to a meeting, shower and the distorted belief system that goes brush your teeth. As time went on my along with this pervasive illness. The brain demanded a more evolved set fundamental process of sustaining of expectations: meditate, do service an addiction is simple: supply and work, write in your journal, pay all demand. When our lives are centered- your bills, touch base with those you around this premise, without realizing love at least once a week. And as a few it, we adapt to a system of mistaking more years passed, my brain began duty for love. To keep the peace, we challenging me with ways to evolve solve problems, we repair flaws, we even further, urging me to join a sport, set goals and achieve them, and we or set up a savings account, or take adapt to sustaining ourselves by a holiday, or get involved in charity feeling needed. We have a tendency work, or challenge certain fears. My to seek out those in need, and we brain has always been the source that become experts at resolving snags in pushes me to the next level. the fabric of our surroundings. I think most of us can relate: I think most of us hear the same sort of chatter in our minds, and accept it as the norm. Our thinking is controlled by a list of well-intended demands that will help us reach the next plateau, and we might not even realize that our surrounding systems reinforce this belief. If you’re in a 12-Step program, you have likely grown accustom to hearing demands from those around you. Our hearts are in the right place, but we will indeed be the first to tell you, if things aren’t working out, it’s because you’re not “doing” enough or the right combination of things. Even the Serenity Prayer itself enlists a But even after years of recovery, sense of duty: to be more accepting, I still struggle with an internal belief to be courageous enough to make Once we enter into recovery, we learn about boundary setting, detachment and self-preservation. If you’re anything like me, you might have struggled for a long while to relearn what it means to love somebody. “Love” is not exhausting; it is neither draining nor requiring sacrifice. Love is easy, non-demanding and supportive. I could see the difference in my surroundings almost immediately when I began spotting the detrimental belief systems that had turned my relationships into hazardous waste dumps.

www.recoverywiremagazine.com

changes, to attain wisdom. And despite how well meaning, the message is clear: if we do enough, we will reach our intended summit and happiness will be our reward. Is it an accident that we’ve created this system, even in recovery? On an average day my brain ignites with a mini-list of items required of me in order to earn my own relaxation. I hear this sentiment all the time: we believe that once we attain certain qualities, a certain status, a certain list of circumstances, that life will be easier and contentment will follow. This is not to suggest that having goals isn’t important, or that challenging ourselves to become better versions of who we are isn’t important. But the question remains: is your contentment contingent upon outward circumstances? Is your own mind a place of love: of ease, nondemanding support? If I’m being honest, until quite recently, my mind was a bit of a drill sergeant: honorable, but citing a relentless call to duty. I truly believed (however subconsciously) that so long as I performed this list of constantly changing demands, achieved these goals and became a specific “Zen” version of myself, I would attain some type of permanent joy. But what I attained was the same type of relief I attained from overcoming obstacles in my alcoholic family system as a child. And relief is not joy. How had I allowed myself to be sustained by such crumbs? I reached a point where there state of my own mind had become too exhausting. I began to realize that my own belief system had resulted in me living a life of “supply and demand” all over again. And most importantly, I realized that at no point had I learned an imperative truth: all I require to be happy I already have. Regardless of where I live, whom I date, how much I earn, how well I “work a program”: I am deserving and capable of contentment in this very moment. And

www.recoverywiremagazine.com

if that were true, then I realized I was missing a piece of the puzzle. I started thinking about my own spirituality. If I had to boil down a message from the Universe or Allah or God (or whatever), what would the message be? I cannot imagine it would be a list of demands. I cannot imagine it would be a tense line-up of requirements I’ve failed to achieve. I cannot imagine it would leave me feeling a sense of duty, or the way my thinking sometimes makes me feel; like I’m just not enough. I envisioned that if the Universe or “God” could speak to me directly, those words would be the most ultimately loving message imaginable, wouldn’t they?

“You are exactly how I planned you. Where you see flaw, I see delicious twists. When you think you’re not enough, I hurt knowing you’re just right and you aren’t celebrating it like I am! I could not be more proud, you are everything I imagined you’d be in this moment.” I decided that if that was the message that “Allah” would send me, that is the message that should take precedence in my own brain. How different would my choices be if this was the mantra I chanted each day? How different would my life be? How different would my day be if I began, not in a deficit, but from a surplus? I challenge you to overthrow the government in your mind. From now on our minds will not rest in a space of supply and demand, but in a space of reprieve. We will become the support systems we deserve, and life will be a joy and not a task to be crossed off an imaginary list.

Dee Christensen Editor in Chief

TOP 10 WAYS TO

M EDITATE 1. Mantra Meditation

Mantra meditation predates Buddhism by hundreds of years. Numerous cultures and practices use mantras as a form of worship or a way of cultivating formidable outcomes. Mantras are words that are chanted during meditation. The notion of making a sound during meditation might seem odd at first, but it’s actually the sounds that become the object you focus on. In yoga, the mantra “Om” is a common because of the deep vibration it delivers, which offers a soothing sound that’s easy to concentrate on. But a mantra can be whatever you want; perhaps you want to feel more compassion or work on your patience? Then create a mantra that enhances that feeling for you, like “Beauty in all” or “Everything in its time.” The idea is to allow yourself to sink into a meditative state, concentrating on the sound, and letting everything else fade away.

2. Breathing Breathing is a great meditation for beginners or for people that need a quick “go to” meditation in times of stress. Have you ever noticed the way a baby breathes? They breathe deep into their stomachs, pushing those little bellies way out and filling them up with air. As we “mature” we forget to breathe this way, and we begin breathing strictly from our throats. Yet this type of deep breathing is the most soothing method of exchanging air, and the healthiest! After a few deep breaths, filling the lungs with air on your inhale, and pushing your belly out during your exhale, you’ll begin to realize the magnitude of this process. It forces your muscles to relax, it forces your mind to focus on your body, and other thoughts begin to melt away. This is a great meditation for people trying to quit smoking, because it mimics the deep inhale of a cigarette, which can help alleviate cravings while replacing that cigarette smoke with fresh air!

3. Body Scan for Sleep This meditation can be an incredible tool for anyone who struggles with insomnia or tense muscles. To begin this meditation, sit in a comfortable position and close your eyes. Starting with your head, notice any tension you’re carrying or “energy” in a particular area. Focus your attention on relaxing your head, letting the energy drain from this area. Perhaps the energy has a color or a thickness, and you can imagine sending it into the ground and out of your body. Using this same technique, slowly move through all the areas of your body, scanning for tension and focusing on allowing any strain to relax completely. This can be a great exercise just before bed, to clear your mind and your body.

www.recoverywiremagazine.com

4. Simply Being The idea of this type of meditation is to simply clear your mind, and as it wanders, bring it back to clearness. The object is not to achieve total clearness of mind, but to coach your mind back to focus as many times as necessary. The act of bringing your mind back to centre is incredibly beneficial. It activates our minds in ways that no other activity can. The ability to continually clear ones mind increases memory and focus, and it also teaches us to be gentle with ourselves and embrace our own humanness.

5. Vipassana: Since the time of Buddha himself, Vipassana meditation has been handed down, teacher to student. The very word itself means, “to see things as they really are.” To observe Vipassana one must forgo all other distractions for at least a 10 day period in an effort to eradicate suffering and promote mental purification. If you’ve ever complained about the sensation of discomfort that comes from being in your own skin, Vipassana might be worth trying. This is not a meditation one performs at home, but a retreat one commits to for a minimum of 10 days. Due to the longstanding tradition of this 2500 yearold practice, Vipassana retreats are generally paid for by donation. This is no easy meditation, since it asks that you remain in total silence, and forgo all communication devices and keep to a strict eating/ sleeping/meditation schedule. There is no throwing the towel in early; there is no chatting with your bunkmate at night. This is a time for deep reflection, to scan the mind and body, and experience all the dark/light corners of yourself in a safe and sacred space. There are centres throughout the globe for this type of ancient spiritual healing, and it will guarantee to transform anyone brave enough to embark on deep self-exploration.

6. Oasis Meditation This is a simple meditation that requires nothing but a bit of imagination. Simply conjure up an image in your mind of a space that would be sacred to you alone. Is it a meadow sheltered by lush trees? Is it a space in the mountains, covered in soft moss, boasting a delicate little waterfall? Is it a space you visited as a child? The idea is to create a sacred place for you to retreat to in your minds eye, and it’s important to give the space a door. It doesn’t matter that the door appears out of nowhere, in the middle of a forest of evergreens or a field of daisies. The point is that, the door represents the beginning and ending of your time in this safe space. When you meditate, allow yourself to walk up to the door, open it, and close it behind you; telling your mind, “this is my space, and meditation begins now.” And don’t forget to close the door behind you! The reality of being in recovery is that, although we have each other to count on, humans are innately fallible creatures. It’s important to have a back up plan: a sacred place to go that can offer you spiritual comfort on those nights when you’ve called all the right people on the wrong day. Perhaps you meet a loved one in your space: a grandparent offering to hold you a while? An angel or a faceless light that covers you and alleviates some of the struggle you carry through that door with you. Whatever you bring into your sacred space, remember that the idea is to feed your soul. Imagine how much healthier our relationships would be if we fed the deepest parts of our soul ourselves?

7. Alternate Nostril Breathing Alternate nostril breathing is also known as Pranayama and it is part of a yoga philosophy. The term comes from two Sanskrit words: “Prana” meaning “life force”, and ““ayāma” meaning “to draw out.” The nature of this exercise is to balance the body, by alternating breaths through each nostril, and calming the mind at the same time. This is an age-old tradition in some cultures, and it used as a means of purification and self-discipline. The process is simple: Using your right hand, fold your pointer and middle finger into your palm. Place your thumb to the right side of your nose and your ring finger to the left side. Begin by closing off your right nostril with your thumb and inhaling slowly through your left nostril. Then close off your left nostril with your ring finger, and exhale through your right nostril. The idea is to alternate this series 5 to 10 times, some people count on the inhalation, holding and releasing of breath. This activity is a surprisingly effective way to ground and centre the mind, while oxygenating the body.

8. Meditation in Action Not all meditation is related to sitting and clearing our minds, there is a whole other type of meditation rarely spoken about: meditation in action. We operate in a society of line-ups, hold buttons, 5-minute meals, drive-thru’s, and hands free can openers. At a time when our environment is at its most fragile, we are purchasing coffee systems that produce a mountain of plastic waste per cup so we can save the time it would take to brew a pot. We are convinced there is never enough time for anything, but all the time we’re saving is rarely spent on anything meaningful. And yet, each day we somehow manage to squeeze in time to watch our favorite programs or listen to podcasts or read another few pages of the latest novel on the best sellers list. There is indeed a crack in the system (no pun intended). One of the most significant types of meditation is a physical meditation, and this is something one need not set aside time, incense or nature sounds to perform. The commitment is to perform your daily regime in a meditative state, that is, a calm grounded state. Few of us can do this for a whole day, but what if you try doing it while you wash dishes or while you’re walking to a destination, or performing another daily task? Slow down, soften your movements, become present and take in the moment. Tell yourself there’s time, release the tension from your body and allow yourself to be gentle and mindful. This is a great way to teach yourself to be patient, and retrain yourself to understand that our spirit is precious.

9. Counting Counting is a great way to quickly tap into a meditative state. Some people count their inhales/exhales (inhale 4 slow counts, hold the breath for 4 slow counts, exhale for 4 slow counts). The point is to focus on the counting and nothing else. When your mind drifts, coax it back to counting. This little exercise can offer a moment of reprieve when you need it most. The next time you feel tempted to make a brash decision, sneak off somewhere alone for a few minutes and count yourself into a quick little meditation. This is a great way to ground yourself in a tight spot.

10. The Chakra System The word “Chakra” is a term familiar to various belief systems around the world. For some, the chakras are as real as kidneys and lungs, yet for others the term represents another bit of mystical mumbo-jumbo. The word “chakra” comes from the Sanskrit word “cakra” meaning “wheel.” Visions of these coloured lightwheels extending from the human body have been noted throughout history. Mentions of the chakra system appear in varying texts and artifacts dating as far back as the second century B.C.E. Multiple religions and cultural practices have mentioned chakras; from Buddhism to Hinduism, from the Christ halo to new age religions and yogic practices throughout the globe. Most information gained about chakras is the same, despite the contrasting practices and texts the data was derived from. The sheer age and broad historical mentions of these light wheels make it difficult to simply dismiss the notion that there are indeed energy centres in the human body. It is said that the chakra centres help us attain a higher understanding of our consciousness. Ironically, modern physiology has revealed that these seven main chakras correspond exactly to the seven main nerve ganglia in the human body, which emanate from the spinal column. Even more fascinating is that information about how each chakra impacts us (correlating perfectly to the nerve its attached to) has been passed down through the centuries, long before we knew what a nerve ganglia was. Much like the way our veins transport blood throughout our bodies, the chakras are said to transport our life energy. When the chakras are blocked or under/over-stimulated, different effects are experienced depending on which chakra is out of balance. Some cultures believe that the organs and systems surrounding each chakra can be impacted by this imbalance. Using this philosophy would mean that a kidney infection was related to an imbalanced first chakra (or root chakra), and addiction is related to an imbalanced sacral chakra (might want to have yours checked, just in case!). Performing a chakra meditation involves focusing on each chakra centre, one at a time, and bringing your attention to harmonizing each one in an effort to regain synchronicity.

www.recoverywiremagazine.com

The seven primary chakras and their associated endocrine glands: The first chakra or “root” chakra is located at the base of the spine, connected to the adrenal gland, which is active when we are exerting physical effort, anger or in a state of emergency. This chakra is said to represent our foundation and feeling of being grounded. The second chakra is located at the spleen or sacral centre, connected to the gonads, which regulate sexual behavior. This chakra represents our emotions.

The third chakra is located at the solar plexus, connected to the pancreas, which oversees our blood sugar level. This chakra is said to draw balance and confidence.

The forth chakra is located at the heart centre, connected to the thymus gland, which is the nucleus of our immune system. This chakra is said to facilitate compassion, spirituality and love.

The fifth chakra is located at the throat, connected to the thyroid gland, which regulates our weight, metabolism, temperature and activity level. This chakra is said to foster our ability to transform and change. The sixth chakra is referred to as “The third eye chakra” and is located in the centre of the forehead, connected to the pituitary gland. The pituitary controls our growth and regulates other glands, and this chakra is said to be the nucleus of our intuition and connection to our higher self.

www.recoverywiremagazine.com

By Russell Powell

I am one of those people who spends a lot of time on my own. There are days when it feels like a self-imposed exile and others when it is a needed retreat from the clatter of daily life. A need for connection with humans and humanity is a both a lifeline and a burden. I will often retreat from the world in the safety of a darkened movie theatre, alone. It offers me a chance to be among people without much interaction. Luckily I am not one of those who shuffles past seated people without saying ”excuse me.” That odd sense of being amongst people yet still set apart. Early in my journey, when I was emotionally constipated, I would often choose movies to trigger emotions. I learned that my fear of not being able to stop crying once I started was false. As the theatre would darken I would sit back, tissue at the ready. It is a strange part of my healing to weep openly in a crowded theatre and then stuff everything back down at the end; credits rolling. Not unlike leaving a therapists office and going on a spending spree, but possibly more healing. This also offered me a chance to identify feelings that I was clumsy with. I have spent some time with therapists trying to connect a physical response with an emotion. I would try to understand the hot face, the holding of breath or a knot in the stomach or conversely the symptoms of happier feelings.

OWN

KHLT RECOVERY BROADCASTING

TAKE12RADIO.COM Recovery Talk & Positive Music

There is some science behind the collective connection felt by people sharing an experience: a symphony, a movie, a roller coaster and other things that trigger emotional and bio-chemical responses. The shared release of endorphins is a strong temporary bond. That sense of belonging when there is a shared laugh or a scream or a tear is a very powerful part of the human experience. I know it is healthy for my spirit to have at least one solitary art outing each week, but for many going to movies alone is odd. I have not had much luck finding other people who appreciate the pithy films I favour. Also, I am still not good at group conscience when it comes to choosing a film. I still balk at the dynamics of people travelling in packs, sorry large groups. Summer blockbusters have their place but I can wait until they are chopped up for television. Fall and winter are the seasons that I get excited about movies again and find myself mapping out the films that will edify and enlighten my sense of the greatness of humanity and not the bloodlust and cruelties. As to the social interaction part of the movie experience I need to work on that. Fitting in can be overrated, not fitting in can be overrated. And please no butter on the popcorn.

www.recoverywiremagazine.com

!!!

! ! !

? ?

24/7 with the

MontyMan Celebrities • Recovery Workshops • Clinicians • Circuit Speakers • Authors www.recoverywiremagazine.com

By Dee Christensen

Meditation A Medical Marvel

It’s been said that meditation has been part of our history for thousands of years, predating what we now consider civilized society. Archeological findings from this primitive era show hunters and gatherers practicing meditative reflection. And even before we had a word for it, Buddhists in India and Taoists in China were using repetitive murmuring or meditative exercises. These practices can be traced throughout history: the origins stemming from Hindu Vedantism to the Hebrew Bible, Zen, Western Christianity and Islam. The practice of mindfulness has been at the foundation of most faiths. The quiet repeating of words, names, phrases, prayers, mantras: the devoted practice of silencing all other distractions. The very word itself stems from a Latin term meaning, “to ponder” and a Hebrew word, meaning “to murmur” or “to meditate.” But in todays western culture the term “meditation” represents very little beyond the notion of relaxation. We generally deem it a lovely concept, but an unnecessary luxury. And for most of us, when the topic is raised, we nod fiercely in agreement to the obvious benefits. We know we’d be happier if only we’d chill out, and we intend to meditate, one day. Someday. When we have time, we have every intention of becoming completely Zen, but for now, we just can’t focus on such a frivolous indulgence. But what if you were told that meditation had been proven to change you at a genetic level? That this ancient practice of relaxation is now being considered a medical marvel? A study at Harvard University showed that people who meditate regularly have somehow managed to activate disease-fighting genes that are not present in those who do not practice. And as far as medical benefits are concerned, this is just the tip of the ice-burg. During this same Harvard study, researchers asked the second control group to begin using meditation techniques daily in order to monitor if changes would occur and how quickly. According to Jake Toby, a hypnotherapist at London’s BodyMind Medicine Centre, ‘’After two months, their bodies began to change: the genes that help fight inflammation, kill diseased cells and protect the body from cancer all began to switch on.’’ (Stephens, 2009)

BE SEEN

BY THOSE

WHO NEED YOU MOST

YOUR AD

HERE 416.922.9227 info@recoverywiremagazine.com

The power of meditation is rooted in the human brain, and the brain is our most fascinating and complex organ. It has long perplexed scientists that an organ no larger than a grapefruit could foster so many systems in the body. The brain regulates a vast number of unconscious systems, including your ability to breath, the coordination of your movements, your ability to digest, to think, to create, to learn. At birth we are equip with approximately 1.1 trillion brain cells, and on an average day (sober) we lose about 10 thousand of them. This isn’t a major concern, until we begin the aging process. Once we reach our golden years, we will have lost around 4% of our brain mass; this process is called cortical thinning. In a lecture entitled, “How Mediation Slows Down Aging of the Brain” Neuropsychologist Rick Hanson PhD reports staggering results of a study performed on an aging population that practiced regular meditation. When compared to the brains of non-meditators, “the people who routinely meditated (…) did not experience cortical thinning.” (Hanson PhD, 2011)

But the benefits did not stop there. Researchers also found that in the following months participants experienced a gamut of additional side effects from continued meditation, including: loss of joint pain, lowered blood pressure, healthier hormone levels and the disappearance of arthritis Further research led by Yale University showed brain symptoms. At a time when every ailment has a prescription, imaging of people who practiced regular meditation. The and every prescription has a side-effect, scientists around results were staggering: the globe are launching studies of this age old practice that, in some cases, achieves what even modern science “They found that the experienced meditators, cannot. According to the Mayo Clinic, meditation can help regardless of the type of meditation they practiced, heal conditions such as: allergies, asthma, fatigue, sleep seemed able to switch off the default mode network, disorders, pain, heart disease and cancer. which has been linked to lapses of attention and (…)

www.recoverywiremagazine.com

other psychiatric disorders (…) such as attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and anxiety. This part of the brain, comprising the medial prefrontal and posterior cingulate cortex, has also been linked to the accumulation of beta amyloid plaques in Alzheimer’s disease. “ (Paddock PhD , 2011)

“Meditation can help heal conditions such as: allergies, asthma, fatigue, sleep disorders, pain, heart disease and cancer”

So what is Meditation exactly? Meditation is simply the practice of stillness: the clearing of thoughts and the attempt to focus our minds. It seems, in the beginning, like such a pointless practice. Constantly drifting off and returning back to a mantra, an image or a sacred space in our consciousness. Trailing off again and again, back to the humdrum details of our lives, “Did I turn the stove off? What day is it, Tuesday? Gotta remember to take the garbage out. Did I feed the cat?” Again and again, scolding ourselves for allowing the mind-chatter back in. Telling ourselves to return to nothingness: we’re not sure what we’re waiting for, in that empty abyss, but we try to withstand the stillness anyway. And that in essence is the very point: to withstand the stillness. To train ourselves to return to centre: to clear the pathway. To be gentle with ourselves and allow for as many return visits to our shopping lists as our minds need to take, while softly coaching it back to stillness. In time this focus: this repetitive insistence upon complete surrender is the very power capable of transforming our lives. And most importantly, despite common myths, according to Yale researchers, this repetitive act of reminding ourselves to stop drifting back into conscious thought is one of the strongest benefits of meditation. “When the default mode network was active in the experienced meditators, other parts of the brain, associated with self-monitoring and cognitive

control, were active at the same time. This could be the result of meditators constantly monitoring mind-wandering and the emergence of “me” thoughts, and suppressing them. These are the kind of thoughts, when in extreme or pathological form, associated with diseases such as autism and schizophrenia.” (Paddock PhD , 2011) But how is all this possible? How could the simple practice of mindfulness transform our biology in such diverse ways? How could doing nothing at all, achieve so much? One of the reasons is that our regular state of mind; alert and processing the world around us, operates in a state of stress. This process results in the release of stress hormones: adrenalin and cortisol. These chemicals increase our heart rate, blood pressure, weaken our immune systems, lower our fertility and tighten our muscles. But when we integrate meditation techniques into our daily routine, we are connecting to a different set of chemicals. Relaxation is connected to serotonin and growth hormones that are responsible for tissue and cell repair. A task this potent should indeed become part of a daily regiment, after all, if we can commit to the moments it takes to brush our teeth or shave each day, surely we can set time aside for mindfulness. Little did we know that the most powerful tool available to us is remaining still. Doing so can

Works Cited: Hanson PhD, R. (2011). How Meditation Slows Down Aging of the Brain. Science of a Meaningful Life Series. International House at UC Berkley. Mayo Clinic. (2011, 04 21). Meditation: A simple, fast way to reduce stress. Mayo Clinic . Paddock PhD , C. (2011, 11 23). How Meditation Benefits The Brain. Medical News Today . Stephens, A. (2009, 08). Relax - It’s Good for You. The Sidney Morning Herald .

www.recoverywiremagazine.com

Tri-Tech (Canada) Inc. PRINTING PRINTING& &FINISHING FINISHING

CCATA ATALLOOGGUUEES S• •MMAG AGAAZZI N I NEES S• •BBRROOCCHHUURREES S• •PPOOS STTEERRS S• •FFLY LYEERRS S CCATA ATALLOOGGUUEES S• •MMAG AGAAZZI N I NEES S• •BBRROOCCHHUURREES S• •PPOOS STTEERRS S• •FFLY LYEERRS S

PRINTING PRINTING& &FINISHING FINISHING

905-831-3886

940 940Brock BrockRd, Rd,Unit Unit1,1,Pickering, Pickering,Ontario, Ontario,L1W L1W2A1 2A1 940 940Brock BrockRd, Rd,Unit Unit1,1,Pickering, Pickering,Ontario, Ontario,L1W L1W2A1 2A1

905-831-3886 905-831-3886 www.tri-techcanada.com www.tri-techcanada.com www.tri-techcanada.com 905-831-3886 905-831-3886 www.tri-techcanada.com www.tri-techcanada.com 940 Brock Rd, Unit 1, Pickering, Ontario, L1W 2A1

Tri-Tech Tri-Tech (Canada) (Canada) Inc. Inc. Tri-Tech Tri-Tech(Canada) (Canada)Inc. Inc.

PRINTING & FINISHING

C ATA L O G U E S • M AG A Z I N E S • B R O C H U R E S • P O S T E R S • F LY E R S CC ATA ATALL OOGGUUEES S• •MMAG AGAAZZI N I NEES S• •BBRR OOCCHHUURR EES S• •PPOOS STTEE RRS S• •FFLY LYEE RRS S

Can humor really help? Can it cure illness?

Did you know that children laugh about 300 times a day? Studies have shown that adults only laugh about 20 times a day – on a good day. When was the last time you laughed? Using humor to improve health is not new to medicine. Norman Cousins was the first personality to introduce this concept in his book Anatomy of an Illness, where he describes how humor cured his debilitating arthritis. Since his groundbreaking work, physicians in oncology and palliative care have started to use laughter as a form of treatment. Humor is an ingenious technique our brain uses to respond to negative events. Notice how we tend to find things funny that are actually quite terrible. The brain takes a painful event and turns it around into an unusual twist. This ‘surprise’ novel experience releases endorphins to the reward center in the brain, soothing the hurt. Endorphins are our natural ‘opiates’, our neurochemicals that relieve pain during times of emotional or physical distress. These are released whenever we laugh, cry, and even when we swear. Laughter is also a social lubricant. We laugh thirty times more in the presence of others than when we are alone. Humor is contagious. There is one episode where three giggling girls ‘infected’ a small town for three months. The laughter would die down in one group of people, only to start up with another group, spreading the laughter from household to household, even from town to town. Laughter yoga is meditative practices that can help you cope better with life’s challenges. Practitioners of this yoga point to scientific research that shows that you don’t even have to think something is funny – you just have to go through the act of laughing, simulating the actual sounds – Ha, Ho, Heh - to get the full benefits of humor. It helps high blood pressure, chronic pain, and it relieves depression. Thirty minutes a day is as good as an antidepressant. There are laughter clubs now in most major cities to get people laughing on a regular basis. Learning to laugh at our personal tragedies and ourselves is often a sign that we have healed from our pain. The jokes’ on you? Great! Have a belly laugh full of happiness and health!

www.recoverywiremagazine.com

Does AA really work? What is the proof?

It is nearly impossible to measure the success of Alcoholics Anonymous. The third tradition of anonymity has restrained researchers from even identifying AA members in the first place. How can they possibly design a study of AA’s success if they can’t find members or be allowed to discuss their experience working through the 12-step program? However, Project Match (1997), a large study of over 1600 Americans in treatment for substance abuse, has given some instructive information. This study that was done over a ten-year period was able to isolate enough subjects in their large sample size who used AA as part of their recovery program. They compared this group of AA members to other groups in the study who used therapy and also with others who did nothing but relied on self will. Four key activities indicated long term recovery for the AA members: Meeting attendance, chairing a meeting, having a sponsor, and doing 12 step work were all predictors of long term success. The success of these activities was ‘dose dependent’. The more people did, the more likely they were to stay sober longer. When people stopped doing these activities, relapse rates increased. Interestingly, the study also showed the same success for subjects that followed any recovery program – as long as the subjects did their program regularly and consistently. It did not have to be AA. The ones who did nothing and relied only on self-will alone fared the worst. “It works if you work it” seems to hold true for any intervention.

By Dr. Vera Tarman M.D.

Rx:

h t i a F

Spirituality in Recovery My family immigrated to Canada when I was four years old. I had been exposed to religious life in Germany and came to my new home in Toronto filled with religious awe. The lights in the airport were the angels of God showing us the way down the runway. My first books were church books and catechisms. My favorite bedtime stories were of saints and martyrs. Growing up tarnished the sheen of my reverence. My mother died an alcoholic death when I was an adolescent. The relationship between my father and me soured with bitterness as I watched the relationship between my parents deteriorate. I left home at 17 and lived in shelters for a time. Life seemed like an endless procession of only two moods - sadness and frustration. I came to question my belief in God. What good was God if this was life? Spirituality was only useful as a high I tried to attain with the right mixture of drugs and alcohol. In hindsight, I believe that some sort of higher power was looking out for me then. A friend steered me away from the worst of the drug world and, eventually, I found my way to a YWCA shelter. They set me up in with social workers that

www.recoverywiremagazine.com

treatment alone is short-lived  and ineffective without the aid of something beyond what I could provide. Advice, medications, even counseling seemed to help for a short time but then the illness would always come back - with a vengeance. Diabetics could not stay on their diet and got worse. Depressed patients could not sustain the changes that would support their medication regime and came back even more disheartened. My addicted patients would soar on their ‘pink cloud’ of sobriety for a few months and then disappear, only to resurface months later looking guilty and remorseful. I began to think that only a spiritual dimension could sustain the changes that were needed to treat any chronic medical problem. Even dealing with psychological issues was not enough. I would eventually see the same standstill in therapy, usually after some degree of initial progress. I started to observe those patients who did achieve their goals; they stayed clean or got less anxious, or kept their weight off. What enabled them to keep up with the actions that sustained their better health? The only common denominator I could determine was faith, some sort of belief system that provided motivation and resilience to push through their challenges that would sabotage the others. It did not seem to matter what the faith was – Wicca,

found a treatment center which enabled me to complete high school. While there, a teacher encouraged me to go to university and a professor recommended I go to medical school. Without these ‘angels,’ as I’ve come to think of them, I have no doubt I would have got lost in the system, maybe even died along the way. Graduating, interning and starting my own practice, I continued to minimize the importance of faith. In the medical world of the late 1990s, doctors and nurses never talked about religious matters. It was considered inappropriate to mention God and faith to other doctors and nurses, and certainly not to your patients. About twelve years ago, I was treating a patient who was HIV positive. She’d received a knife wound in a scuffle and was heavily into drugs. She had been in and out of treatment and could only manage to stay clean for a few months. Each time she went back out, she got sicker and her life got scarier. Thinking that this time she might die from her wounds, I went to see her in the hospital. “I don’t know what to do, doctor. I keep trying to destroy myself,” she told me. 22

Without knowing why, I blurted, “What is your relationship with God? Do you have some sort of higher power you could rely on?” I surprised myself. She looked at me and shrugged. “I had a relationship with God once, but I’d forgotten about it until now. Sure, I’ll try to pray. What have I got to lose?”

“What is your relationship with God..” I realized that my patient had spoken  for the both of us. I, too, had a relationship with something once – a higher power of some sort, but over the  course of the years, my medical training had pushed my faith aside. I’d minimized its importance even when  I had seen repeatedly that medical www.recoverywiremagazine.com

The Thepurpose purposeofofthe thearea areaconvention conventionisistotopromote promote enthusiasm enthusiasmand andunity unitywithin withinthe thefellowship fellowshipofofCocaine Cocaine Anonymous, Anonymous,and andfinancially financiallysupport supportthe thelocal localarea's area's effort efforttotocarry carrythe themessage messagetotothe theaddict addictwho whostill stillsuffers. suffers. SOCA SOCA2013 2013welcomes welcomesall allmembers membersofofCocaine Cocaine Anonymous Anonymoustotoparticipate participateand andhelp helpmake makethe the Convention Conventionaaterrific terrificsuccess. success.

Christianity, family values, nature, and pets…. As long as there was some larger perspective these patients could rely upon. I knew that the only way I could truly help my patients was by suggesting that they seek out their own version of a spiritual dimension. Yet, I held back. I worried that I might be imposing my views onto another person. We live in such a secular society – what would people think about a doctor who started to talk about faith to their patients?

apt to have low blood pressure. They are more likely to survive heart attacks, serious surgeries or get through depressive episodes more quickly. They have less disabling anxiety. They cope better with the hard issues of life. Addicted patients are more likely to stay sober the more they feel they have a sense of purpose in their life or feel satisfied with their life or have a relationship with some sort of higher power.

“The only common denominator I could determine was faith...”

Remarkably, the woman mended her relationship with God and she got well. She stayed sober for years. The longer she stayed sober, the more convinced I became that I had to be honest and forthright about my hunch that faith was crucial for recovery. Unless I did so, I was not giving my patients all I could as a doctor. When I came to work at the Salvation Army’s in Toronto seven years ago, I found myself in an environment that allowed me to be more open about my spiritual leanings. I started to ask people about their relationship with a higher power. To my surprise, people opened up, curious to connect their spiritual questions with their physical and psychological issues. When I joined the Renascent team a few years later, I embraced the spiritual platform embedded within the twelve-step program as key to my patients’ recovery. There is science now to back up my belief that a relationship with a higher power is essential any recovery, from physical to mental to spiritual. Research has shown that people who have an affirming faith are healthier both physically and mentally. They are more

The larger m e d i c a l community is starting to come on board. There has been an influx of mindfulness-based programs in the last few years – for stress, anxiety, depression, hypertension, chronic pain, palliative care. Because research has shown how effective these programs are, most hospitals offer them now for free. There is an acknowledgement that these programs will strengthen (and can even replace) many medical interventions. We doctors do not like to seen venturing into the religious or spiritual realms. We still worry that our credibility will be questioned, that our scientific platform will be seen as shaky. Yet these interventions, ranging from mindfulness, meditation, hypnosis, and relaxation therapy, EMDR are spiritual practices. They are secularized versions of classic meditative and contemplative practices that have been distilled from many different religions. It is the practice of spiritually without calling it a spiritual practice. Who cares what we call it? The rewards of a spiritual practice – whatever it is called – are boundless. Even within the ‘white coat’ terminology, the rose smells just as sweet.

Making Enlightened Society Possible 24

www.recoverywiremagazine.com

By Aakilah Ade

I believed or what I called it, I just had to be “willing” to believe in a power greater than myself. He told me to keep it simple, and asked if I was willing. Willing? Yes, I was willing; would this consent to willingness allow me to move to the next step? The answer was yes. So I consented.

The

Dead Battery I remember when I was told to do the 12 steps, in order to find my own recovery as a family member of a chronic substance abuser. Initially, I read the 12 steps a few times, answered yes and no, mumbled a few amends under my breath and yet still remained unable to control my addict relative or the amount of substance they consumed. When I got honest with myself I also realized, I had no control over myself or anything else in my life. One Saturday I attended a 12 step workshop with my spouse and we did an intensive introduction to the 12 steps in 4 hours. It was enlightening to have a taste of what it meant to do the steps; my previous attempt was definitely not what the process was about. It was during that workshop that I decided to do the 12 steps for all of my obsessive issues; codependency, sexual obsession and compulsive controlling tendencies.

One of the first discussion pieces (step 1) was my sponsor getting me to understand and connect with the concept that I was a “dead battery. He needed me to understand and accept that, like a battery, I was dead; a dead battery has no power, and like a dead battery I was powerless. I needed to be honest. Powerless; what a new concept! It meant a lifetime of trying to exert power over addicts and everything else in my life was time wasted, because my electrodes were corroded, dead, and powerless. The second, step 2, was one of hope “Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.” This phrase took me back to that fearful place of religion, I was afraid that I would have to seek religion and it was still a “no go” zone for me. Several things happened that allowed me to move past this step. I listened to many different people who also struggled with the concept of a Higher Power. Some people talked about making a tree, a pencil, a meeting group, a sponsor, or a book their Higher Power. I realized that the issue was not religion-based; it was based on humility. I had to accept that this dead battery – Aakilah, needed a source of power source. I needed an energy supply to jump start, and recharge me in order to do the rest of the steps and change my life. “What a task,” I thought, “this is work.” I actually contemplated going no further but the reality of my pain was still a greater deterrent than a Higher Power.

During the workshop, it was revealed to me that in order to do the steps effectively I would have to make contact with a higher power. I did not know what a higher power was at that time, I was agnostic, I resented all types of religion and was not willing to “go there.” But the desire for a better life was still a great need inside of me, and the need was intense enough that I decided to pursue this recovery thing further. Later in the week I contacted the facilitator of the workshop and asked him to take me through the 12 steps of recovery as my sponsor, which are the same 12 steps used in the AA My sponsor made this step attainable, he made it a baby program… the same steps, what a surprise! step instead of a huge leap,; he told me it didn’t matter what

www.recoverywiremagazine.com

With consent came a feeling of relief, it meant that I no longer needed to worry about looking after anything or anyone, it meant my Higher Power (and my family member’s Higher Power, and my addict’s Higher Power) was now responsible for looking after everything. I no longer had the job. I was fired from being the CEO of my life and everyone else’s. Step 3 was the faith step, “Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood him.” The steps were written in the 1930’s the language is old, but the instructions were clear. I now needed to implement my willingness with action: I needed to “turn it over.” What I learned to do was when faced with a dilemma, a fear, an obsession I had a choice to try to fix the problems with my usual strategies which were sourced in powerlessness, or give the dilemma over to the Higher Power that I have said does exist. I started to practice turning it over, it was difficult at first, I spent some time obsessing about the action of turning over, which became tiresome, when I practiced the instructions it was less work, I was relieved of duty, I slowly developed faith in the process. “Sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly” was the mantra that came my way from those who went before me, it offered reassurance. I spoke to a recovered codependent who was atheist, I asked her how she dealt with the word God when reading step 3. She taught me an alternative way of looking at God and she explained to me that God also stood for Good Orderly Direction. Another moment of relief for me that God did not have to be seeped in religion but in the redirection of my actions away from my will and way, and towards good orderly direction. Years later I have had lots of time to repeat steps 1, 2 and 3, I call them the gateway. Step 1 is the foundations stone, honesty, step 2 is the corner stone, faith, and they support step 3, the key stone, which is at the top of the arch of the gateway to recovery. I practice these 3 steps continuously in all aspects of my life; they keep me honest about my powerlessness and connected to a Power greater than myself. Over time I have found a spirituality that supports me daily, and when I pray I talk to God (of my understanding), and I ask for help to keep faith in the forefront of my mind, I ask for the ability to stay humble and to be of service to others, and then listen in meditation for guidance. I take my orders from a new source… one with real power, I call that power God (Good Orderly Direction).

ByKimberley-Robyn Covey

Home Run I don’t know what disturbed me more...the reviews about this film or the film itself. I always like to see what other critics are saying about a film before I actually watch it. So, after I read a plethora of reviews about Home Run that all seemed to say that that the film was just another cheesy redemption story about an alcoholic sports star, I prepared myself to be bored and probably offended - which sometimes happens to me when non alcoholics/ addicts make movies about addiction. I think, now, that I also get offended when non-alcoholics/addicts review movies about addiction. Gee, that sounded a bit resentful ... must be inventory time again.

MOVIE REVIEW Eventually, after identifying with member’s stories of hope and healing at the meetings, he starts to take the 12 step program seriously and begins to pursue his recovery... What disturbs me about the reviews are the critics’ common statements about the ‘over familiarity’ of the topic (addiction/ alcoholism) and 12 step programs in film. It seems that when movies tell simple tales of alcoholism and addiction, they are ‘boring and predictable’. Have we become desensitized to the disease of addiction?

What makes me a bit uncomfortable about the film is the actual 12 step program, Celebrate Recovery. It is a real program based in Oklahoma and connected with over 20,000 churches in the United States. The fellowship is Christian based, and recognizes a religious God as their HP, which is absolutely ok if it’s the group’s conscience to do so....also, Celebrate Recovery is not drug/ behavior specific. The mandate is recovery from all substances/ behavior that folks are powerless over, equally admirable... However, and this is where they lost me, in the film they actually had authentic members standing at the podium and reading their stories from a piece of paper. First of all, what Flash forward to the future... Cory, now about the tradition of anonymity a reknown ball player, is struggling with of 12 step members at the level his own alcoholism and, although he is a of press, radio and films, and two, popular player, his alcoholism is beginning to seriously affect I thought it was a little strange to see so many members his judgment and his career. ‘reading’ their stories...almost like they couldn’t remember He suffers an umpteenth fall from grace when he has them. a drunken meltdown that results in a batboy, his own little nephew, getting injured. As a result, he gets suspended from Scott Elrod, in his first starring role, does a great job of the team pending rehab. playing a likeable jerk. In some scenes he kind of put me in mind of a young Tom Selleck. Charles Henry Wyson is a real Enter Vivica Fox who plays Cory’s no nonsense agent, sparkling gem as the child actor playing Cory’s son. Vivica Helene. She does some damage control magic and Cory gets Fox, who was the biggest name in this movie, over played sent back to his Oklahoma hometown, to attend a league her role as a pushy, miracle making agent. Her character mandated 12 step program called Celebrate Recovery. seemed contrived and out of place. Regarding the rest of Initially, Cory only goes to the meetings because he wants the characters, although the acting was on target, it was not to have his suspension lifted. He half heartedly attends particularly memorable. meetings and pays lip service to his sponsor ... he’s arrogant, selfish and cynical. Sound familiar? To me it seemed that the Celebrate Recovery group members who participated in this film were strangely His behaviour finally escalates into a spree that causes an unanimated when telling their stories and expressing their accident which lands his brother Clay, (James Devoti) in the gratitude. They sounded eerily flat and it felt as though there hospital. In an attempt to spin this public relations nightmare, was something amiss when I listened to them. Helene signs Cory up to coach to his brother’s little league team... As he reconnects with individuals from his past, At the end of the day, Home Run still delivers a message of including his former girlfriend and little son, Cory slowly hope that recovery is possible. It just didn’t hit the ball out of starts to see the drama and pain he has caused in their lives. the park for me. After watching the film, I could not disagree more with those reviews that denigrated Home Run. I found the story line to be actually pretty believable ... Cory Brand , a major league star, played by Scott Elrod, is a full blown alcoholic and full of resentment towards his abusive father, who was also a raging alcoholic. (Hmmm... a resentful alcoholic angry at his alcoholic dad...go figure). The story opens with Cory’s drunken father hurling baseballs and profane names at 8 year old Cory and his 6 year old little brother Clay on the family farm in Oklahoma. It quickly becomes obvious that these little boys are growing up in fear and alcoholic chaos.

www.recoverywiremagazine.com

1 1

Header Info 1 Header Info 1Info 2 Header Header Info 2etc... etc...

4 4

5 5

Header Info 1 Header Info 2 etc...

8 8

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS

5 6 12

7 14

September 20 - 22

12th Annual Women’s Gratitude Weekend Mount Alverno Retreat Centre 20704, Hearlake Road - Caledon, Ontario $132, includes 5 meals and 2 nights accomodation For more information visit: http://www.aatoronto.org/flyers/12thwomensgrat itudeweekend.pdf

October 11 - 13

TORONTO GRATITUDE ROUND UP The Courtyard Marioty 475 Yonge Street This is a GLBTQ AA Confrence with Al-Anon participation. Everybody is welcome! To register visit: www.torontogratitude.org

October 18 - 20

CELEBRATE SOBRIETY 62ND EASTERN ONTARIO FALL CONFERENCE National Arts Centre - Ottawa, Ontario This 3 day conference hosts a series of speakers from around North America, as well as AA and AFG discussion panels, an exceptional banquet, a soiree of live music and open-mic performances, and a Saturday evening dance. Visit: www.ottawaaa.org/fallconference

17 17

18 18

14 22

24 25

22 26

27 24

ACROSS

Across Across

25 26

DownDown

DOWN

1. Opposite of macro. An energy 27 1. Opposite of macro. 2. An 2. energy centre.centre. 3. Salad parsley. 4. do What an orange and a paper cutinhave in common? 3. Salad mademade fromfrom parsley. 4. What an do orange and a paper cut have common? A type of meditation that requires a minimum 10-days. 5. Equals 5. Equals 100 metres. 6. A 6. type of meditation that requires a minimum 10-days. 100 metres. 8. Acronym for "God", Orderly... 7. Bluenose time zone. 8. Acronym for "God", GoodGood Orderly... 7. Bluenose time zone. 11. Aykroyd and Stevens. 9. Auburn and Scarlet. 11. Aykroyd and Stevens. 9. Auburn and Scarlet. 12. gland The gland the nucleus our immune system. 10. To10. tell a story. 12. The whichwhich is theisnucleus of ourofimmune system. tellToa story. 14. Who laughs 300 times a day? 12. A poodle a slinky. 14. Who laughs 300 times a day? 12. A poodle and a and slinky. Across Down 15. Cory of Home The Clash 15. Cory of Home Run. Run. 13. Joe13.ofJoe TheofClash 1. Opposite ofstudy macro. A 10-year study 16.energy A question of location. 17. A17. 10-year of AA.of AA. 16.2.AAn question ofcentre. location. 3. Salad made fromand parsley. What do or anrepeating orange and a paper cutorhave in common? 18. Lead, Aluminum and Barium. 19. Chanting or repeating aor word phrase. 18. Lead, Aluminum Barium. 19.4.Chanting a word phrase. 6. AWarm type of meditation that requires a minimum 10-days. Equals metres. 20. Warm Canadian 21. To100 advance or progress. 20. Canadian hat. hat. 21.5.To advance or progress. 8. Acronym formeaning, "God", time zone. A word "not part the heterosexual norm." 22.7.ABluenose 22. A gluton-free edible seedinhigh in protein, riboflavin 23. A23. word meaning, "notGood partOrderly... of theofheterosexual norm." gluton-free edible seed high protein, riboflavin and and 11. Aykroyd 9.essential Auburn and Scarlet. 24. Hungry inStevens. Amsterdam. 24. Hungry inand Amsterdam. essential amino amino acids. acids. 12. The is the nucleus of our immune system. 10. To tell a story. 25. gland Capital of Australia. 25. Capital of which Australia. 14. Who laughs times a day? 12. A poodle and a slinky. 26. Type of drum. 26. Type of300 drum. 15. of Home Run.asks 13. Joe of The Clash 27. Cory The that that asks us tous meditate. 27. step The step to meditate. 17. A 10-year study of AA. 16. A question of location. 18. Lead, Aluminum and Barium. 19. Chanting or repeating a word or phrase. 20. Warm Canadian hat. 21. To advance or progress. 23. A word meaning, "not part of the heterosexual norm." 22. A gluton-free edible seed high in protein, riboflavin and 24. Hungry in Amsterdam. essential amino acids. 25. Capital of Australia. 26. Type of drum. 27. The step that asks us to meditate.

September 20 - 22

SEX & LOVE ADDICTS ANONYMOUS

www.recoverywiremagazine.com

OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS September 1st, 2013

World Service Convention “Recovery to Rock Our World” Cleveland,Ohio Hyatt Regency Cleveland at The Arcade For more information visit: www.oa.org/world-service-events/world-serviceconvention/

24th Annual 2013 Florida Roundup “Building Bridges to Recovery” This convention will include workshops and meetings, banquet dinner, keynote speaker and auction. Entertainment and a hospitality suite is also provided. Regular registration is $99. Late registration is $ 109 On-site reg is $119. Rooms only $79. Scholarships available first come first serve. For more information or to register visit: www.fafroundup.org

NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS September 27- 29

Canadian Convention of Narcotics Anonymous Edmonton, Alberta Four Points Sheraton, 7230 Argyll Road Buffet banquet, comedy show and a dance! To register or for additional information please visit: https://canadianconvention.com/

October 25 - 27

26th Annual Pacific Northwest Convention of Narcotics Anonymous Vancouver, BC COAST PLAZA HOTEL & SUITES, Comox Street For more information or to register, visit: http://pnwcna36.com/

GENERAL RECOVERY EVENTS September 8

www.recoverywiremagazine.com

RECOVERY DAY CANADA Toronto: Allen Garden 1:00 pm - 6:00 pm Ottawa: 110 Laurier Avenue West Noon - 3:00 pm www.recoveryday.ca