18 • Thursday, October 17, 2019
Rehab Reality... By Judy Butler
Comfort Food
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
SOCIAL
Why Relapse Happens
Many of the clients who come to Bayshore Retreat have been to other rehabs and some to many rehabs multiple times. There’s always the question of ‘why didn’t it work?’. The answers vary. For some it’s because the individual needed more time to change a lifetime of addiction. For others it’s returning to the same environment, issues and influences. For some the rehab they went to didn’t help them address the problems individually instead they were thrust into one group meeting after another with hope that something will register and bam they’re cured. The latter is the most frequent reason people relapse and this is what we hear all to often especially when they see the difference at Bayshore Retreat. Admittedly we’ve had clients return also and they always take ownership of their failure. They offer up “I thought I could have an occasional drink with friends” or “my doctor prescribed it so I thought it would be okay” and so on. Do your homework before choosing a rehab – forget the insurance factor because in most cases it sucks when it comes to substance abuse and mental health. Be sure that you or your loved one is going to get quality help both physically and mentally. Abstaining for 30 days isn’t enough. You have to get to the real issues whether it is a trauma that hasn’t been dealt with, toxic relationships or coping skills. Quality counseling will be the answer to helping with these issues. Now in our ninth year we’ve seen and heard just about everything. We treat the whole person, not just the addiction.
Local restaurants, caterers and food trucks whipped up their best recipes for a staple comfort food at the annual Magic City Mac N’ Cheese Fest. The event was hosted by Community Grief Support on Oct. 6 at Brookwood Village and included mac and cheese tastings ranging from vegan recipes to meat-lover and white cheddar options. Beer, cocktails, soda and water were available to wash down the meals, and free activities were available for kids. Funds raised benefit Community Grief Support’s free compassionate counseling, education and support for bereaved persons within the sevencounty Greater Birmingham area. ❖
Journal photos by Jordan Wald
Community Grief Support Hosts Annual Magic City Mac N’ Cheese Fest
Greater Birmingham Humane Society volunteers, front, from left, Sara Sciara and Julia Alton Tubbs. Back, Angel Coker with Bailey, Cassidy King, Lauren Brown with Patty, Megan Montgomery and Alexis Helton with Penelope.
Kelly McKinney and Andrea Lindenberg Barber.
Ciao bella!
Dread River Distilling Co. team members Alethea Uptain, John Cubelic, Azul Weber and Ben Smith won Adult Favorite for their mac n’ cheese.
Brad, Ashley and Janice McCormick.
John Pizzitola and Madison Guthrie.
Cameron Harper and Jillian Tinglin.