At a very young age, I felt the shame of my mom’s problem with alcohol. It was the secret we kept within the walls of our home. So all of us, my mom included, lived with a giant gorilla in our home.
This is 2015, and millions of people are in recovery from a seemingly hopeless disease. More of us have the courage to openly talk about it without shame or the fear of being judged, and if we are; I say so be it. But the stigma associated with addiction still exists.
The month of September is ours….National Recovery Month. Created by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), 26 years ago, there are walks, runs, town meetings, rides and events like the Art of Recovery Expo. (www.recoverymonth.gov).
We aren’t bad people, we are sick people when active in our addictions. Anyone who has struggled and survived are the lucky ones, we made it out of the abyss alive.
I’m blessed and fortunate to be associated with the recovery movement taking place across our nation. I want to stand alongside and walk forward with those who believe there are many options and ways to treat this disease.
Together, we must continue to encourage our friends, families, communities and leaders to start conversations about the prevention, treatment, and recovery of behavioral health conditions at any stage of life.
Many of the successes of recovery often go unnoticed by the broader population; Recovery Month provides a vehicle for everyone to celebrate these accomplishments. In doing so, we help to increase awareness and a greater understanding about the diseases of mental and substance use disorders.
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