The Wellness Connection - 10 August 2022

THE

WELLNESS N CONNECTION August 2022 Issue One

RAINBOW’S END CHRISTOPHER’S STORY THE CRISIS HOTLINE MEN’S SECOND CHANCE LIVING JENNA’S STORY

R E C OV E RY THERE IS HOPE

Welcome to the premier issue of Wellness Connection, a collaboration of Rainbow’s End Recovery Center and the Crisis Hotline. Our goal is to provide timely information on mental health issues, such as addiction, depression, grief, and trauma. We hope to shed light on and encourage discussion of mental illness, addiction, and recovery. We will present stories of hope and encouragement as well as essays on related topics. This is just a start. We welcome your feedback and will be seeking submissions from our readers: wellness23@gmail.com

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ainbow’s End Recovery set out to be different than the traditional substance use disorder treatment facility my friends and family had attended. A substance abuse counselor and an energy healer raved about the potential of the property in Challis on the Salmon River as the perfect place for people to heal. So it began.

The easy part was converting the bed-andbreakfast facility into client rooms. The hard part was the bureaucratic hoops.

The hardest part was finding employees.

When we opened our doors, we were

staffed by good-hearted souls with little or no experience so there were some bumps and crashes along the way.

The clinical director and one full-time counselor bore the burden of treating the clients, but because we were new, there was only a handful at a time.

Going forward, we were able to recruit more and more qualified staff. We worked on honing the curriculum and schedule to accommodate the needs of the clients and the requirements of accrediting agencies. We saw more clients and were building a reputation for quality care.

Sponsored by Rainbow's End Recovery Center & The Crisis Hotline

Each client had a different story, used a different drug, but in the end, each was a person in need of unconditional love and care. Once they realized they were accepted as a whole person and no longer identified by their drug use, they could begin to heal. They would open up to each other, counselors, and group members realizing they were not unique or alone.

We provided community experiences, such as the Fourth of July celebrations,

farmers’ markets, and car shows. We took them to eat in restaurants and shop in local stores. They explored their environs: hot springs, wildlife, rock hounding, fishing. We encouraged them to find a passion to occupy their time.

Mindfulness and meditation became part of the curriculum. Grounding pads and yoga mats were purchased. Speaker meetings were introduced, and some alumni come to share their stories of hope and recovery.

Clients are finding hope in their sobriety, reconnecting with loved ones, healing from their traumas and expressing gratitude for their experiences here.

Eleven years and about 400 clients later, we are still working on perfecting our treatment program. Each new hire brings something different to the program and each new client presents another set of challenges. We are organic, a work in progress.

Nancy A. Del Colletti, BA, MA Executive Director Rainbow’s End Recovery Center, LLC

THERE IS A SOLUTION

M

y name is Christopher. I am a recovering addict with a story to tell.

Before I begin the story, I want to let you know that I accept responsibility in my addiction.

As a young child, my father was absent due to heavy drug use. I did not see him for 15 years and that destroyed me as a young child. One of my first sad memories of him was Father’s Day when I was 12. I begged my mother to buy gifts for my dad, but he never showed up to see me. I ate the candy and cried for days. I did not understand why the man did not love me. I always promised myself that I would never be like him. Sadly, that was not the case. I am an addict.

I began using substances at the young age of 14 years old. It all started when I had my wisdom teeth removed and was prescribed pain medication (Vicodin). The moment I consumed the first pill, I knew I wanted to feel like this all the time. I enjoyed the numbness and it helped me cope with the ongoing abuse I received daily from my stepdad. Once my prescription was gone, I began stealing pain pills from him. I consumed pain pills all day because of “physical pain” but it turned out I was doing it for mental pain. I could not handle the abuse at home; I was broken and still am working through that to this day! I even had an incident in PE class of my freshman year of high school. My leg appeared to have a massive bruise behind it (which to me looked like a blood clot). No one noticed, and I was able to continue using opiates daily.

Once I was 18, I made an impulsive decision to move to Los Angeles to pursue event production. The whole move and delusions came from my constant usage of stimulants (cocaine, meth, Adderall, etc.) and opiates. I became psychotic and returned home to Las Vegas. After a month or so, I was admitted to a facility for suicidal ideations. I prayed that they would catch my drug use. There was always that small voice in the back of my head begging to be caught and helped. That was not the case; I hid it even more.

The treatment did not resolve anything, which was due to my issues with being honest. I was released and continued my cycle.

I eventually crashed a car into a wall, fell asleep in a bath on benzos, which flooded everything, and assaulted a family member. I could go on and on about the choices I made while high. I then brought meth into my sister’s home where I was living and was caught. At that moment, I was told to leave, and the locks were changed. That’s when I hit rock bottom and family intervened. I am forever grateful for the actions my sister took.

Once my family forced me to get help, I was open to anything. I did not want to be alive anymore if this was going to be my life. Days before I was sent to rehab, I had a seizure from benzo withdrawal, which landed me in the hospital. Once recovered, I was sent to South Haven, Mississippi, for treatment which was where I was physically assaulted by a patient. The facility was an old hotel with many, many patients. Treatment centers are not all the same. They continue to change their names to hide from bad public perception. I’ve seen the bad part of the industry. I demanded to leave and was not allowed to until my insurance intervened. I was able to leave and was sent to Rainbow’s End Recovery. At first, I was unsure about being in Idaho because I am from Las Vegas. That all changed when I arrived and felt the presence of hope. It is divine intervention that brought me to Rainbow’s. I did not believe in myself at that time, but they did.

Once I was greeted and settled in, my life began to change. I was among six other clients who helped more than they will ever know. I met therapists who were on another level from other treatments. The passion I saw in these people gave me hope. For the next two months, I cried, screamed, laughed, forgave, and felt love. It’s very difficult to put into words what those two months did to me. The lessons taught daily, the adventures, the sense of community, one-on-one therapy, group therapy, arts, and the outdoors changed me. I promise you, if I did not receive treatment from Rainbow’s, I would be dead. I believe that with my whole heart.

The man they guided me to be was not the same man who entered. I entered rehab at 135lbs (I’m 6ft), I left 160lbs. The suicidal ideations and hopelessness disappeared. However, the journey was not over!

Rainbow’s therapist, Kevin Pettus, helped me get into to a sober living in Boise, Idaho. I moved my whole life to Idaho because I could not go back to Vegas while still healing. I was placed in a sober living house for two months while I attended outpatient treatment. Once I became stable, I moved into my own apartment and obtained a position with a real estate company. I was now a productive member of society. I even healed some family issues which my being away helped. I continued outpatient treatment for another nine months.

Fast forward to present day, I will be three years sober on July 14th, 2022.

I never thought I was going to make it past the age of 23 but here I am at 25! I continue therapy and see a doctor monthly. I am still healing and will be until the end of time, but I believe I have made a life worth living.

There is nothing more freeing than not relying on drugs to feel OK. I wake up daily with no withdrawal and that just feels amazing.

Thank you, Rainbow’s End (especially the two men who guided me: Kevin Pettus & Wayne K. The love and passion you give is like nothing else.

I love you all and am forever grateful.

Christopher M

Recovery

Once a wounded soldier who lost the battle and admitted defeat, Had one last door to knock on before her last heartbeat.

So broken and so lost, with nowhere else to turn, Little did she know, she had so much more to learn.

Without a guide to lead her, hope would ’ve been an illusion, And the story of her life would have already concluded.

But if it weren’t for the hard times, she never would have learned, T hat the flame she was longing for, was that one that caused the burn.

So many apologies, so many times she cried,

I f you love hadn’t save her, she surely would have died.

With time the scars faded and hope was a reality, Now the future had meaning, rather than mortality.

Who would have know that one last decision, Would be the one that gave her life a whole new mission.

I t took a small army to hold her up and carry her when she fell, And to save her from all the things that could lead her back to hell.

No amount of money, diamond or precious gem, Could pay for the gratitude that she will hold in her heart until the very end.

Aly Brown ‘1 7

THE CRISIS HOTLINE THERE IS HELP

The Crisis Hotline, located in the Wood River Valley, Blaine County, Idaho, is a 24-hour/7 day a week confidential information and referral agency and crisis intervention service. We serve the permanent population of Blaine County and surrounding counties as well as those who visit the area on vacation. Since we added our website, we have had an increased amount of calls from people living all over Idaho and in other states as well. With easier access to computers, callers are finding the Crisis Hotline phone number on the Internet and reaching to us for help from all over the map. Our Resource & Referral Directory contains over 400 referral sources on the local, state and national levels and is used regularly by our volunteers who cover the phone around the clock.

The Crisis Hotline began operation in April of 1987. We serve a permanent population of approximately 22,000 residents and an additional tourist population of 95,000 in the winter and 135,000 in the summer. Our statistics show that over one quarter of the Wood River Valley population have availed themselves of the services of the Crisis Hotline since its inception. Often, we receive calls from family members and friends living outside the area that are concerned about someone living in the Blaine County area.

The Crisis Hotline receives calls from people of all ages and all economic circumstances.

VOLUNTEERS MAKE A DIFFERENCE

How can you help ?

www.thecrisishotline.org to learn how you can volunteer or message info@thecrisishotline.org Men’s Second Chance Living

ABOUT MEN’S SECOND CHANCE LIVING We are a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization that provides an all-male, supportive, sober living environment for individuals who want to maintain a clean and sober lifestyle and advance on their path to a new and better life.

OUR MISSION The mission of MSCL House is to help men living with addiction succeed in their recovery and achieve sustained sobriety by providing them with safe, affordable sober housing and support services while serving their needs and treating them with respect, compassion and a belief in the value of each individual.

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE We charge our residents nominal monthly rent to help them get back on their feet financially. We rely on your generous donation to help us provide adequate housing for our residents, so they may focus on their recovery.

LIVING ENVIRONMENT MSCL House is located in a residential area in the heart of Hailey. Our home fosters feelings of safety and ownership of space allowing for the emotional healing necessary for lasting recovery.

RESIDENT INTERVIEW Q: How did you get to the point where you needed the support and services of MSCL House?

A: After a long struggle with addiction and frequent visits to the county jail, I had finally had enough but didn’t have a safe place to recover. It was always the same story: go to jail, sober up, get out, and then relapse because I had nowhere to go other than “the old places.”

Q: What attracted you to MSCL House? How did you learn about our program?

A: I first learned about the program while I was incarcerated and attending Narcotics Anonymous meetings. The current house manager at MSCL House was chairing some of those meetings and told me about the house that was opening. When I got out that time, I had two options: stay with my mom, who had just moved to the area, or apply to the sober house.

I tried to stay with family when I got out, but I soon realized that it was not a safe and sober environment where I would be able to succeed. So, I made the decision to apply to the sober house to give myself a better chance at recovery. I needed to be in an environment where I would not be tempted by active drug and alcohol use and surrounded by others who were committed to maintaining their sobriety.

Q: In what ways has MSCL House helped you continue your journey of sobriety?

A: MSCL House has provided me with endless opportunities to improve myself and continue my education. There was emotional and financial support along the way, as well as opportunities to connect with the community through volunteer programs and outdoor activities. I even started snowboarding! MSCL House gave me a safe place to live, and it felt like being under an umbrella of love. The fact that there is structure and rules helps to keep everyone in line. At MSCL House, you are accountable to yourself and to the other residents.

Q: Which of our programs (continued education, financial education, matched savings, wellness - medical/dental care, recreational activities) have been most helpful/meaningful to you?

A: I have taken advantage of each of these opportunities, and they are all incredibly valuable. In a way, the programs are all connected – being educated helps get a better job, participating in the financial education classes helps with finances when you have a better job, and improved health and wellness is a critical component of recovery.

Q: What are your hopes and plans for the future?

A: My goal is to continue to be a healthy, sober, contributing member of the Wood River Valley community, and to find a place here that I can call home.

I would also like to maintain a successful business and be able to offer my services to the community. I plan to stay involved with and connected to MSCL House so I can help others on their journey to sobriety.

Our goal is to deliver the highest caliber of service to those in recovery by: • Offering a comfortable home setting where living spaces are shared, collaboration is emphasized, new sober relationships are made, and isolating behaviors are discouraged.

• Delivering strong, caring supervision by staff that is empathetic and available to listen, mediate, support, and provide residents the assistance needed in dealing with anything that threatens their sobriety or ability to stay focused on their recovery.

• Establishing an effective, well-structured, well-run environment where recovering individuals can practice during their stay the recovery skills for day-to-day living.

• Establishing program Standards, Policies, Procedures and House Rules that foster accountability, responsibility, encourage volunteerism, and strengthens residents’ relationships with the community.

• Developing solid strategic partnerships with individuals, businesses, community leaders, faith-based organizations, health care and wellness organizations, and government agencies to arrange for services, volunteer and job opportunities, and general support for the residents.

MSCL House | msclhouse.org | (208) 481-0182 | info@MSCLhouse.org

Jenna

I

pray that I never forget how I felt in the picture on the left. eighteen months ago, I was hopeless and felt just as worthless.

I prayed that I wouldn't have to wake up to live another day. My unresolved trauma throughout my life had become too much. I was at the height of my alcoholism, drinking a fifth a day and in so much emotional and spiritual pain.

I was given a choice and an opportunity eighteen months ago, and hoping it was a way out. I left for rehab at Rainbows End Recovery Center in Idaho. thirty four days later and the journey had only just begun. The last year and a half has been the hardest, most beautiful, most rewarding, and most peaceful of my life.

I have gained a love and an understanding for not only myself, but for those around me as well. I am blessed in my professional and personal life to help those still suffering today with their addiction. I have meaningful and honest connections with the people around me today. I am capable of handling even the worst situation with more love and more grace today. I am a work in progress, with the hope every day to be a better me than I was the day before. I have a beautiful and ever growing and changing relationship with a higher power of my own design and I have more blessings and more hope than I could have ever dreamed, even on my best day 18 months ago.

I wish I could give even just a glimpse of the hope and love I have discovered on this journey. I continue to do the next right thing, let go of things I cannot control, and exist for just one day at a time. Thankful every day for the opportunity to have lived this life.

Jenna H. Resources Rainbow's End Recovery Center www.rainbowsendrecoverycenter.com | 208 879-2267 Men’s Second Chance Living www.msclhouse.org | 208 481-0182 The Crisis Hotline www.thecrisishotline.org | 208 788-3596 12 Step Group Meetings, Mental Health Group Meetings The Sun Club www.sunclub.org NAMI www.nami-wrv.com | 208 481-0686 Advocates For Survivors of Domestic Abuse www.theadvocates.org | 208 788-4191 St. Lukes Mental Health Services www.stlukesonline.org 208 788-2134 The Suicide Hotline | DIAL 988

Our Sponsors

Publisher Nancy Colletti, Executive Director, Rainbow’s End Recovery Center Tammy Davis, Executive Director, The Crisis Hotline

Editor In Chief Claudia Mohr, Manager, The Crisis Hotline Contact us: wellness23@gmail.com Creative Direction Encore Design + Consulting