A Proud “Visions Mom”

Next week on February 5, Josh S. will have 116 days sober. I (the proud Mom) thought you might enjoy some digital photos of some of the paintings Josh has done since he’s been home. Living a sober life has elevated Josh’s artistic creativity to a whole new level. What I see as a “Visions Parent” is that after his being a part of the treatment program, Josh now has the ability to reach down inside his heart to use “what he feels inside” for inspiration to paint his “vision.”

He had his very first art exhibit on January 26th along with 40 other kids who are part of the Youth Arts Collective program which he attends 4 days a week from 3pm-7pm. There are some pretty amazing young artists at YAC, and Josh has been learning a lot from them.

I hope you are all doing well and I know that you are working hard with all the kids and their families.

Anyway, Josh says, “hi,” and please tell Lani that we miss her cooking.

Warmest Regards,
A Proud “Visions Mom”

The only thing you have to give is everything you have

It only cost me a cigarette.



…And the man said, “The only thing you have to give is everything you have.”

When I was nineteen I worked construction for a company that built and installed high-density mobile storage for corporate filing systems and small libraries. It was exhausting work, but I liked the feeling of accomplishment that came with finishing a large job. My partner’s name was Mark. He was a middle-aged man who was going through a divorce for the entire year that we were partners. He was a very unhappy man and drank more than out employer would have liked, and was often surly to the point of making our job harder than it should have been.

On a morning in late winter Mark had court appointment in downtown Oklahoma City, and left me with three hours to kill. I walked around and through the Bombing Memorial for the first time since it was constructed. I found a place to sit and took off my headphones. The weight of where I found myself was heavier than I was prepared for, and before I got comfortable I realized that I was weeping. I can’t say for sure how long I had been sitting there when a man, presumably homeless, sat next to me and asked me for a cigarette. Begrudgingly, I obliged him expecting him to leave me alone. He lit his smoke with a match and said, “The only thing you have to give is everything you have.” With that, he left me, and I never saw him again.

Have often thought what he meant by that comment, and at different times in my life, it has had different meanings. When I got sober it meant that the only thing I had to do to stay sober is everything I could do. As I grow in my recovery, the meaning of the homeless man’s statement grows with me.

Sobriety and Art

Sobriety and Art

When I first got sober, I was afraid that I would loose my ability to create music and art. Even though I was interested in giving sobriety a real try, I though about using again just because I thought my creativity would suffer. When I have thoughts like this one, I learned it is better to share them with someone else to get some insight. My sponsor told me to give it some time and to have faith in the process.
What I learned over time is when you aren’t using drugs and alcohol, there is no filter or block on your creativity. Kind of like “art is all you have.” Also, there are no distractions from your art of choice. You get more creative with you’re time and your work gets more intense because you have no blinders on. Also, when you are creating music, it’s a little easier to keep a band together when people aren’t drunkenly fighting or showing up late to practice. In the beginning of sobriety, the absence of drugs and alcohol makes you feel naked. Especially when making all kinds of art, but you can take that vulnerable feeling, all of your fear, anger and passion and channel it to your art rather than just snuffing out these emotions with substances to just end up being ides that never get off the ground.
By Cheryl Lindsey


http://www.tsktsk.org
http://www.myspace.com/tsktsk

Warning Signs: Beyond the Obvious Physical Symptoms (part 3)

Warning Signs: Beyond the Obvious Physical Symptoms

Many teens can hide their drug use from their parents with ease. They find secret spots to hide their drugs and paraphernalia. They show no physical signs that they are using, such as dilated pupils, bloodshot or glazed eyes. In fact, they may even be able to mask the smell on their breath and clothing. Beyond the obvious slurring or nervous increase in rate of speech, there may other physical symptoms to look for. Many clues are much more subtle, but with some minor investigation, you’d be surprised what you might discover when you look closer.

One of the first things you may notice is a lack of personal hygiene. Many teens become unconcerned about their physical appearance. Their clothing may be unwashed, wrinkled, or otherwise shabby looking. They may change the style of their clothing in order to “fit in” or conform to the “druggie” look. You may notice that they don’t frequently shave and their hair or body may not be as clean as usual. You may also notice skin abrasions, burn marks on their skin and clothes, and the tone of their skin may be paler than usual. Look for a sudden drop or increase in weight. Many teens will stop eating regularly or may overeat depending on their drug of choice. Generally speaking, look for any physical symptom that is irregular in the average teen

Warning Signs of Teen Drug Use at Home (part 2)

Other Warning Signs: HOME

There are many signs that your teen may be using and abusing drugs. Many warning signs can be observed in the few hours that teens are actually at home. Commonly, adolescents will make excuses for their behavior. They will refrain from telling you vital information, such as where they are going, where they have been, and who they were with. You may notice a significant lack of interest on the part of your teen in participating in family functions. In fact, when they are home, they may be completely withdrawn from routine events like having an evening meal. They would rather stay in their room to talk with friends, listen to music, watch TV, or surf the Web. In this way, they neither have to confront you if they are under the influence, nor do they have to answer incriminating questions you may have about their recent behavior.

When you do ask your teen simple questions, that any concerned parent would ask, they may seem irritable or evasive. Many will act out both verbally and physically. Sleep patterns may be irregular or they may be in a state of withdrawal, which can greatly influence their mood in a negative manner. You may notice that they make little effort to prioritize their time. They may not make ample time for homework, chores, and their hygiene may begin to suffer. Due to poor performance in school, they may be hiding the fact that their grades are dropping. That’s not all they may be hiding! Many clues may be right under your nose. If you drink, keep track of the liquor cabinet. Many teens steal prescription drugs and money from their own parents, so it’s important to prevent the temptation. Check their rooms for paraphernalia such as pipes, baggies, rolling papers. You may feel like you are violating their privacy, but what you really may be doing is saving their life.

Our Annual Ski/Snowboard

This past weekend was our annual ski/snowboard trip with all of our visions outpatient and alumni. The trip was such a blast, and everyone got along so well. We sang songs in the car on the drive up, and we all went skiing and snowboarding together. The staff and the kids came together so well, and it was just such a great time. We went to meetings and met new people, and fellowshipped with the AA up in Big Bear. The kids got closer to each other, and we all created a strong bond with one another. It really helped everyone to open up with each other and to have fun while being sober! There were some challenges everyone faced, some people were drinking at the mountain, but the kids didn't let that faze them. It was great for them to see that you don't have to drink in order to have fun! We all helped each other out on the trip. Some helped others to learn how to ski, some helped to give emotional support when it was needed. All in all, it was a successful trip. I'm greatful I was able to be a part of something so amazing.

Visions Teen - Our View

Drug Addicts Invest In Gold

Drug addicts are famous for there poor financial decisions. Clouded by the insatiable need to use drugs, addicts tend do things, that to the normal person, would seem insane. Addicts do things like spend their rent money on drugs, thinking they will worry about rent later. They go to casinos and gamble with their entire life savings, in an attempt to make money to by drugs with. Addicts are even known for selling there cars among all their other prized possessions. Drug addicts are good at liquidating all their assets. For alot of addicts, they do not get sober until they have financially demoralized themselves.
Once they have gone to drug rehab or just gotten sober, these addicts learn a new views surrounding money. They learn how to hold get and hold a job. Addicts then learn how to properly budget there money to live. They begin to have money left over and put it into savings and begin to plan for the future. Now with the US economy and the dollar plummeting down the tubes. Foreign governments and the worlds elites are liquidating their billions in US assests and investing in a more stable market, gold. This trend is expecting to drive gold from the record breaking 900 dollars a troy ounce to an unbelievable amount of $2000 dollars a troy ounce, within the next few years. Some of the same addicts whom before, poorly invested everything they own into crack, are now making better investments, such as investing large sums of money in gold.

Signs That a Teen is Using Drugs

Warning Signs: School

There are many obvious signs that a teen is using drugs. For example, you may smell marijuana or alcohol on their breath or clothes. They may seem withdrawn from their usual activities, or may come home late and have numerous excuses for where they have been. These signs should be taken seriously, but there are other signs that need that are far less obvious, unless you know what to look for. School is a good place to start if you have an inkling that a problem is emerging with you teen.

School is a large part of an adolescent’s life and can be a significant indicator that there is a drug problem. When looking for warning signs, things related to school can be a revealing. The first place to look is the backpack, even though you may assume that this would be the last place a teen would hide drugs, paraphernalia, or other clues to drug use. A close search into the hidden recesses of a backpack may reveal random phone numbers (dealers), creative drawings of their drug of choice, or remnants such as seeds or baggies form prior use.

Check with the attendance office and check in with teacher if you are suspicious. Many students that are using are truant or may be inattentive in class. In fact, if they do go to class, the may be defiant, irritable, or may just sleep the day away if given the opportunity. Of course, grades and work performance will decline with prolonged and even short term teen drug use. Make sure that you talk to your teen about their homework. Demand to see their homework, graded assignments, and make sure that you receive a copy of their report card on a regular basis.

Drugs and Pregnancy

Drugs and Pregnancy
When a woman becomes pregnant it is extremely important for her to take some proper precautions such as eating healthy foods, taking a muti- vitamin, and most importantly staying away from drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes. It is extremely important for an expectant mother to stay away from alcohol in the early weeks of her pregnancy. In the mothers body alcohol chemically breaks down to a cell-damaging compound that the fetus readily absorbes. Fetal alcohol syndrome is a birth defect that is cause by heavy drinking during early pregnancy. Several characteristics of this disease include a small skull, abnormal facial features, heart defects, impeded growth and mental retardation.
Women who smoke during pregnancy run the risk of miscarriage and early labor. The most crucial danger is delayed fetal growth. Nicotine supresses the appetite of the mother at a time where she should be steadily gaining weight. Smoking also reduces the ability of the lungs to absorb oxygen, and if the fetus us deprived of oxygen and nourishment it may not grow as much or as fast as it should.

How I Got Excited About Life

So I just celebrated two years of sobriety two days ago and it feels amazing. I can’t even put into words how grateful I am for my life today. Two years ago, my life revolved around getting that next high. To be quite honest, life was miserable. Today, I can honestly say that I am excited about my life.

Today, instead of being a slave to my addiction, I get to devote my life to helping other people find the happiness that I have found in recovery. I get to come to workat a teen treatment center and be a role model to teens struggling with drug and alcohol problems that are just like I was. I get to show them that it is possible to get clean at a young age and have an awesome life.

I look at life in a totally new perspective than ever before. I try to view everything as an opportunity for change rather than an obstacle or a tedious task. I get to appreciate everything in my life, even the simple things like the trees and clean water. I never even thought about those things. I took everything in life for granted. I always wanted everything handed to me on a silver platter. And, no matter what was handed to me, I was never happy. Nothing was ever enough. I now realize that everything in my life is a gift. And, without my sobriety I probably would have lost everything that I have.

Anyway, I am just so grateful for all the gifts that I have received through recovery. I am excited about life today. I have never been excited about life. I never knew a happiness like I have today. Life is truly beautiful.

Elizabeth M

The Number 1 Gateway Drug

I read an article today about teens that smoke cigarettes are more likely to develop drinking and/or drug problems. The article suggested that because smoking at such a young age messes with the chemistry and brain function, that makes them almost twice as likely to drink and almost three times as likely to smoke marijuana.

Now I can relate to this because I first started smoking around 15, then quit for a year or two, then picked it up once more. The second time I started smoking, my drinking had picked up about double what it was the year before. This information, in my opinion makes sense. The other thing is, it makes me ask the question what really is the number 1 gateway drug?

Dennis

I'm Doing God's Work

I'm a recovering addict and I've been clean for five years now. I've had the honor and privilege of working with the Visions family for three years. On most days, being able to work in teen drug treatment is one of the blessings of my recovery. However, working with adolescent addicts, alcoholics and drug abusers can be as challenging as it is rewarding.
A friend of mine recently passed on. His name was Bobby and he died with 34 years clean in Narcotics Anonymous. He shared with me that he'd been working in drug treatment since he had one year clean and he had loved it just as much in the end as he had in the beginning. His enthusiasm for helping people never died. He ended up touching many lives because of this.
Rarely, after a really long, trying day of work, I sometimes wonder why I'm not in an office job wearing heels and pearls. It's then that I think of dear Bobby, and how every time I saw him, he'd wink at me and tell me I'm doing God's work. I'm reminded that the important jobs take actual "work;" that's why we call it that. I then remember who I am and what I stand for and I know that I'd never want it any other way.
I may not believe in "God" (don't worry, I have a higher power), but I want more than anything else to do his work. Thanks for the reality check, Bobby. Rest in peace.

-Laurel
-Visions Adolescent Treatment Center