Daily Message of Recovery

I am only one drink or drug away from never being clean again for the rest of my life. 

We can stay clean and sober just for today. 

Try not to worry about the past or the future and focus on today and living in the moment.

Daily Message of Recovery

NUCF Minutes 19/02/2015

Minutes of NUCF

Date: 19/02/2015

Location: Plummer Court

Chair: Paula

Apologies:  Andy H, Andrea, Terry T, Kev and Gary.

Update on Client Advisory Groups and Events

Trading Places – Cliff reported there were 29 people on Sunday and it is on every Sunday now. The service is going really well with no issues or problems to report and there are plenty of clothes, the food is good as always and the service users are happy with everything and enjoy being there and fellowship. The volunteers are happy with everything and working hard as ever and enjoying giving back to those in need.

Plummer Court – Steve R updated on the recovery clinic, reported it is going well and suggested we must keep working at it as it takes time and patience to build these types of groups and it is letting clients know they have choices and there is a way out. Clients aren’t always receptive due to frame of mind. Paula mentioned it’s very important that the NUCF has a presence there as staff can see and get a better understanding of how well peer to peer support works especially ex-service users of Plummer Court.

Recovery Clinic - Going well supporting people in end of care and continuing care. If you are interested in volunteering opportunities – see Andy.

Special Guest: Streetwise Opera

The Streetwise Opera attended the Forum and first of all updated us on what they do and have been doing in the community lately. They bring singing and Opera in to the community and engage with all types of people and organisations, especially those people who may have never experienced this type of thing due to their personal circumstances e.g. homeless, isolated or in active addiction and recovery. Their purpose is to try and bring a bit of joy and fun in to people’s lives and help build confidence and self-esteem.

They have been attending Ron Eager House in the mornings and Recovery Centre on a Thursday at 1-3pm. They said Ron Eager House and the Recovery Centre was going really well and the service users enjoyed engaging with them and had a really good time.

The Streetwise Opera Gang then got the Forum to introduce themselves in their unique way and got us all singing different songs and in harmony. Everyone really seemed to enjoy taking part, singing and it was all really good fun.

Streetwise Opera do a big production every year at the SAGE Gateshead with a band and singers and volunteers and people who have engaged with them are invited along to join in or help run the production. They also organise Theatre trips to the Theatre Royal and all tickets are paid for. They offer these opportunities to people who have been disadvantaged or feel excluded from society in some way and otherwise may not get the chance to experience something like this. They also arrange work placements in the music and entertainment industry for people who engage with them which can really help with their confidence, self-esteem and getting back in to full-time employment.

Streetwise Opera will be running sessions Every Thursday at the Recovery Centre.

http://www.streetwiseopera.org/

Trinity College

Richard updated on the NUCF visit to Trinity College in Fenham, which ran from Monday 9^th to Thursday 12^th February. Trinity College is a school for excluded children with emotional and mental health problems who age from 11-16 and have been expelled from other schools they have attended. The NUCF sent in 3-4 service users every day to chat with the teachers, kids and also carers of the kids like parents and Foster Carers.

We shared our experiences of addiction and recovery with the kids, teachers and carers and the kids were really respectful and interested in what we were talking about, our experiences and they engaged and asked us lots of questions during and after our shares. The teachers and carers were also fascinated and humbled by our experiences and were extremely grateful for our honesty and openness.

The college appreciated our visit so much they invited us to come back and visit at any time and Andy said he would arrange another visit in the near future. The Forum also offered its time freely to the college and offered to go back at any time to engage with them and the kids.

Team Building Event

Cliff suggested Go Karting which was a popular idea which could be done at Gateshead, but cost unknown at present. Steve R suggested a day out at an Outdoor Activities Centre, which was also well received, but again costs were not known. Paula suggested a Spa day at Newcastle or Gateshead College as the students run these as part of their studies and this was also well received, but costs were not known. Chris mentioned Paint Balling as well.

Paula said she would discuss with Andy and ask him to look in to these events.

AOB

None

Next NUCF 05/03/15

Venue Plummer Court

Chair – Richard

Daily Message of Recovery

What you deny or ignore you DELAY,

What you accept and face you CONQUER

Daily Message of Recovery

Daily Message of Recovery

Daily Message of Recovery

NA February 19th 

Basic Text, p.79

“Relapse is never an accident.  Relapse is a sign that we have a reservation in our program.”

A reservation is something we set aside for future use.  In our case, a reservation is the expectation that, if such-and-such happens, we will surely relapse.  What event do we expect will be too painful to bear?  Maybe we think that if a spouse or lover leaves us, we will have to get high.  If we lose our job, surely, we think, we will use.  Or maybe it’s the death of a loved one that we expect to be unbearable.  In any case, the reservations we harbor give us permission to use when they come true—as they often do.

We can prepare ourselves for success instead of relapse by examining our expectations and altering them where we can.  Most of us carry within us a catalog of anticipated misery closely related to our fears.  We can learn how to survive pain by watching other members live through similar pain.  We can apply their lessons to our own expectations.  Instead of telling ourselves we will have to get high if this happens, we can quietly reassure ourselves that we, too, can stay clean through whatever life brings us today.

Just for today:  I will check for any reservations that may endanger my recovery and share them with another addict.

Daily Message of Recovery

Daily Message of Recovery

There is not a Drug on Earth that can make life meaningful

Daily Message of Recovery

Daily Message of Recovery

If you have a problem with drugs, there's a wide range of addiction services that can help

Some of these services are provided by the NHS, and some are specialist drug facilities run by charities and private organisations.

This guide to getting treatment for a drug problem will steer you through the options, so you can find help that works for you. If you have a problem with drugs, you have the same entitlement to care as anyone coming to the NHS for help with any other health problem.

With the right help and support it's possible for you to get drug free and stay that way.

Where to get help for drugs

A good place to start is to visit your GP. Your GP can discuss your concerns with you, assess the nature of your problems and help you choose the most appropriate treatment. Your GP might offer to treat you or might refer you to your local specialist drug service.

Many drug treatment services accept self-referrals so, if you're not comfortable talking to your GP, you might be able to approach your local drug treatment service directly.

You can find information about local drug treatment services on the Frank website.

If you’re having trouble finding the right sort of help, call the Frank drugs helpline on 0300 123 6600. An adviser can talk to you about the different options.

Drug Treatment Service

If you are seen at your local drug treatment service, you will first be assessed and, if you are deemed appropriate for treatment, you will then be allocated a keyworker. Your keyworker may be a doctor, a nurse or a drugs worker. 

Your keyworker will help you organise the treatment that you need, develop a personalised care plan with you and be your first point of call throughout your treatment. You’ll see your keyworker for regular one-to-one sessions during your treatment. 

Charity and Private Drugs Treatment

Outside the NHS, there are many voluntary sector and private drug and alcohol treatment organisations that can help you. As well as residential rehab centres, community services of various types are provided by voluntary organisations. These include structured day programmes, outreach and harm reduction services, counselling services, aftercare and housing support.

Check the homepage of this Blog for Drug and Alcohol treatment services in the Newcastle Upon Tyne area.

Information sourced from:

NHS Living Well

Daily Message of Recovery

Daily Message of Recovery

RESCUED BY SURRENDERING

Characteristic of the so-called typical alcoholic is a narcissistic egocentric core, dominated by feelings of omnipotence, intent on maintaining at all costs its inner integrity.

Inwardly the alcoholic brooks no control from man or God. He, the alcoholic, is and must be the master of his destiny. He will fight to the end to preserve that position.

A.A. COMES OF AGE, p. 311

The great mystery is: "Why do some of us die alcoholic deaths, fighting to preserve the 'independence' of our ego, while others seem to sober up effortlessly in A.A.?" Help from a Higher Power, the gift of sobriety, came to me when an otherwise unexplained desire to stop drinking coincided with my willingness to accept the suggestions of the men and women of A.A. I had to surrender, for only by reaching out to God and my fellows could I be rescued.

Joint User/Carer Regional Forum New Year Event

Joint User/Carer Forum New Year Event Today at 10 am

The next joint service user and carer regional forum is taking place on Monday 2nd February. 

Venue

SPACE Building at Newcastle College

Rye Hill Campus

Scotswood Road

Newcastle upon 

Tyne NE4 7SA

Feel free to come along if you are part of the forums for some fun, entertainment, good food and refreshments.

Daily Message of Recovery