1. shopping
2. gifts

A VERY
HAPPY
CHRISTMAS TO
ALL OUR
READERS!
1
Support | Over Xmas
Hopefully the Christmas period will be a
peaceful and enjoyable one for you, BUT
here are some suggestions of where to
seek support if the going gets tough.
Friends and family.
Think of a couple of people you can talk to if you start
to feel stressed, down, like a drink or using. Make sure
you have their contact details on you and that they
know you may ring them.
AA and NA helplines and groups.
The AA local 24/7 help line is 01384 482929. Even if
you don't already go to AA you could still ring them,
day or night, if you feel you need to talk to another
drinker. If you already go to AA, use the telephone
numbers they will have given you.
The national NA helpline number is 0300 999 1212.
Why not go to a group over Christmas? See page 14
and23
prepared for a long wait, especially over Christmas.
If in doubt you can get advice from NHS 111.
It helps to talk.
If you are feeling emotionally upset it won’t help to drink
or use drugs, you will just feel worse and be more out
of control. Ring a friend, help line, worker etc as already
discussed. Christmas can be difficult for many people
for all sorts of reasons.
The Crisis Team.
If you are having a mental health crisis and your usual
ways of coping aren't working, try and contact your
worker or GP who knows you to discuss the best
course of action. If it is out of hours you can ring
Russells Hall Hospital switchboard on 01384 456111
and ask for the crisis team. They will ring you back
when they are free, talk to you and advise you.
The Samaritans.
If you are a relative or friend of a drinker, the Al-Anon
local helpline is 01384 878246.
Ring 01384 78111 if you need to talk to someone. They
will listen, wont judge you and have helped millions of
people. You don't have to be suicidal to ring them!
When we’re not there.
Domestic violence.
Although your usual services may be closed for a day
or two there will always be staff on the end of the phone
right up to Christmas and between Christmas and New
Year. Make a plan with your worker of how to spend the
time and who to contact, if needs be.
Christmas can be really difficult. If you are in immediate
danger ring the Police on 999. Otherwise you could
contact the Independent Domestic Violence Advisors
(IDVA’s) on 01384 455411 during normal working
hours.
TRY TO SORT OUT ANY CONCERNS IN ADVANCE.
Generally, not just at Christmas time, if you need help
or to talk, phone your worker in the day; don't leave it
until 10 to 5 or a Friday afternoon. Leave a message so
they know what you’re ringing about, especially if it’s
urgent. Sometimes we can be out or away from our
desks with other service users for hours at a time.
Homeless
Hopefully you won’t become homeless over Christmas.
Gibbs Rd Hostel in Lye is now closed for rebuilding but
you can ring housing on 0300 555 2345 for housing
advice.
See page 23 for more support groups and page 24
for local services.
If feeling really unwell.
It’s better, if you can, to arrange to see your usual GP
who knows you, than to leave things and end up seeing
an out of hours doctor.
The walk-in clinic at Holly Hall is very good and will
see anyone without an appointment. Check opening
times.
Make sure you have enough medication for
over Christmas, especially if you are on
Antabuse or methadone. Don’t miss your
appointments in the run up to Christmas or
you may find in some cases there isn't a
free appointment until after Christmas.
A & E is only for medical emergencies. They
won’t admit you just because you are drunk or want a
detox. There has to be a medical reason for an
admission. If it IS a medical emergency then go. Be
“I HAVE OFTEN SAT
BACK AND THOUGHT
‘THANK GOD I’VE
NEVER DONE THAT’
ONLY TO BE TOLD
THAT LAST
CHRISTMAS I DID DO
THAT”
2
Contents | Where To Find...
THE PRODUCTION
TEAM
Joint Editors: Jane Haite & Bob Ross
Proof reading: Sandy & Phil
Bob Ross
Quizmasters: Ant & Sandy
Jane Haite
CTM is for people with
addiction problems in the
Dudley Borough. It aims to
provide a forum for creative
expression, inspiring stories
of recovery and useful
information
for
relapse
prevention. It’s also a darn
good read.
I.T. : Les, Jane & Bob
Time For Me rep: Estelle.
Medical Advice: Dr. Sandy Swatkins
THIS
ISSUE
2
Support Over Xmas
3
Contents
4
What Kids Think About Your Alcohol Misuse
Email us at :root@thechangingtimes.org.uk
5
Star Letter, Son’s View and Writing Your Story
Also please visit our website at
www.thechangingtimes.org.uk
to see this issue and all our
back issues online!
6
Occupational Therapy at AH and Relaxation Sessions
7
Switch, Young People’s Services -Views and News
Any work
for
the
magazine, suggestions
or feedback are very
welcome and can be
sent via your worker or
direct to:
8
Competition Page
9
Emotional Wellbeing This Xmas and How AA Helped Me
10
Xmas Meal at Chawn Hill Church and Soup Kitchens
11
Poems To Inspire
12
Christmas: Easy Does It, Keep It Simple
13
Gambling Services and Gambling Story
14
Recovery Walk, AA Over Xmas and Service Opening
Times
15
RIPT and Photographs Wanted
16
Competition: Taking Stock, £10 Voucher Prize
17
How To Avoid Debt This Xmas
18
Personal Story; Living To Drink, Drinking To Live
19
Animal Therapy; Your Stories
20
Not Getting Enough Sleep?
21
Reflections From Retirement and Fircroft College Courses
22
Street Film Festival and Coming in Issue 65; Detox Special
23
Local support Groups
24
Useful Telephone Numbers
Cranstoun ‘Switch’ young people’s
service rep: Hannah
Tan Jeram and RIPT
Summit House rep: Andrea
Also Mark,. Derek, David, Gav, James
Jane Haite
OT/Editor
CRI Atlantic House,
Dudley Rd, Lye,
DY9 8EL.
01384 426120.
We want your poems,
views
on
services,
artwork and recovery
journey
stories–
whatever stage you’re
at in that process.
Relatives and friends!!
We also want to hear
from you too; poems,
personal stories, letters,
views, all anonymous.
LAST ISSUES’
COMPETITION
WINNERS WERE:
Bradley, Nicole and Matt
Congratulations!!
Printing by:MSA Print
Martin Kinally
Marvic House,
Graingers Lane,
Cradley Heath
B64 6AD
Telephone: 01384 568790.
sales@msaprint.co.uk
.
The Changing Times©2014 welcome articles and stories from a variety of perspectives and reserve the right to
edit for length and clarity. We accept no responsibility for any content of, or links to web pages listed in this
publication or on our website. Any advice or information is meant for guidance only and not to be solely relied on
as each set of circumstances will be unique. We can take no responsibility for any action or inaction taken, based
on material on these pages. Check with your worker or GP if necessary. Photocopying is permitted for further
free distribution. For use of individual articles by clients, please ask us first and credit CTM. Articles may also
appear on related web sites. We aim to maintain anonymity at all times, never using full names.
3
Kids’ | Thoughts About Your Drinking
“You have to care for
your younger brothers or
sisters because if they
are drunk they can’t look
after their children.”
“Alcohol can
cause your mom
or dad to be ill.”
“You never know what they
are going to be like when
they have been drinking.”
WHAT CHILDREN THINK
ABOUT PARENTS WHO
MISUSE ALCOHOL
“My mom does not do
the things that other
parents do when she
has been drinking.”
“It can cause the
unborn baby
problems when
they are born and
when they grow.”
“They promise they are
going to stop but they
never do.”
“Parents could
die from cancer
or have a
stroke.”
“It can cause
them not to get
up out of bed.”
“It causes families to fall out.”
“It can make their
voice go funny.”
“Makes
you worry
about them
when you
are at
school.”
“It’s embarrassing
when others know
at school.”
“It’s a waste of money that could be used
for food or things
that we really need.”
“It can stop your
mom and dad
having children as
some of their body
parts don’t work
properly.”
“Parents can
stop looking
after you”
“Alcohol makes
their feet go
wobbly and they
can fall over.”
“Alcohol causes
people to have
headaches and
be sick.”
“You worry about
them all the time.”
“It can cause them to
have liver disease.”
“It makes me
feel ashamed
and scared.”
“Their skin can
change colour.”
BY CHILDREN FROM THE ‘TIME 4 ME’ PROJECT + ESTELLE HAMBLETT.
4
Star Letter | Life Changes
The day my son told me he had a drug problem, my
life changed there and then. I had known there was
something different about him for many months. I
had read about parents having problems with their
children on drugs and the effects it had on the whole
family. Somehow you push these thoughts to the
back of your mind, that it will not happen to your
own family.
Well here I was, my son was taking heroin. I was well out
of my comfort zone.
Over many months I saw my son change from being a
lovely polite, caring, honest, trustworthy person to
someone no longer recognisable. To me, my son had
become a monster, controlling, manipulative and with
unreasonable demands for money every day.
This was causing significant stress to all members of the
family. Everyday I had a lonely, empty feeling inside,
depleted and exhausted. I couldn't keep up with daily
demands for money. There came a point when I said
‘enough is enough, no more money, we have to get
professional help’.
I wrote to our GP and he got my son referred to see
someone about drug addiction. This still took weeks so I
was still having to give him money on a daily basis, until
treatment started for his recovery.
This was 14 years ago and I am now pleased to say that
when his treatment did start he stuck with it and is still
free from heroin.
A Mum
£10 voucher prize for best letter.
The Son | Heroin:The Biggest Mistake Of My Life
There are many reasons why people use and abuse
drugs and alcohol. With myself it started when I was
first introduced to cannabis at a very young age by
someone a lot older than myself. I did not start to
smoke it regularly until in my late teens, early twenties.
was first offered it, just to try half of a 310 bag on the foil.
It was the biggest mistake of my life.
After that first smoke it gave me a feeling of being at
peace with myself, but as stupid as it may seem, I
thought ‘I will just use it to get me through a bad patch
and when things get better I’ll stop.’
It seemed to make me feel calmer and a lot less anxious
at the time. I never really saw it as a problem apart from
the legal aspect of it and after all it was called a soft
drug. Skunk was not really heard of in the late 1980’s
and early 90’s:it was resin or just normal weed. I never
really drank as I wasn’t keen on going to pubs or clubs.
At first I only used it a few days a week, but in no time at
all I was having to use it every day and yes, I did try to
stop but it was too late; it had taken over me and I just
had to have it.
So it was just cannabis for me, the only downside was
due to some of the issues that I had it could sometimes
make me feel more paranoid. Due to this I rarely left the
house and became even more isolated.
The days turned into weeks, the weeks turned into years
and by then I had sold nearly everything I had to feed my
out of control addiction.
When I was in my mid twenties I was first introduced to
HELL or heroin as it was more commonly known. This
was a drug that I had always thought of as a ‘no go area’. I was going through a bad point in my life when I
If only I had the willpower and sense to have said ‘no
way’ but by now it was too late for that. What made it
even harder was the way it had affected my family and
loved ones that had to suffer due to my selfish addiction
and the misery it caused them with my demands for
money. In the end my mum sorted out the help I so
much needed.
The Son
WRITING YOUR STORY FOR CTM
4. How it affected your life and those around you.
Below are some rough guidelines to help you write
your story. You don’t necessarily have to be out the
other side to write your story. £10 voucher prize for
star letter
5. What brought it to a head i.e. Went to prison...
poor health...really desperate... could get no lower etc
1. Title: anything you like; my story, my battle with
drugs/alcohol.
2. Brief background: i.e. ‘I grew up in Sheffield but
moved to Dudley when my mum and dad divorced when
I was 10. I didn't get on with my step dad ’ etc
3. How drink/drug problems started and developed.
6. What help you’ve had and how you have helped
yourself.
7. Where you’re at now, what’s going on in your life.
8. Hopes for the future.
9. By: anon, initials, first name. Your choice but no
full names used.
RELATIVES! WRITE IN AND TELL US ABOUT THINGS
FROM YOUR POINT OF VIEW.
5
OT | Helping You Get Your Life Back
Some of our readers may not realise that your
Editor, Jane Haite, is also the Occupational
Therapist at Atlantic House. I have been based here
since the merger on 1st April 2014 and now work
with people with drug as well as alcohol problems
and mental health issues.
Occupational Therapy (OT) in the addictions field is
about enabling a person to cope with life without alcohol
or drugs and to get on and do what you want to do in life.
It’s about maximising independence and quality of life.
The ‘occupation’ part in the name refers to all the
things we do in everyday life; caring for ourselves
and others involves Activities of Daily Living (ADL) Skills
and Life Skills.
ADL skills are the everyday things we need to be
able to do; the shopping, cooking, cleaning,
communicating with people, being able to use the phone
and make appointments, organising ourselves and our
home, managing our time, keeping ourselves safe.
Addictions and mental health problems can interfere
with doing all of these– often it’s about empowering
people to get clean/sober and then helping them become
more organised again and rebuilding confidence.
Life Skills are skills we need to cope with everyday
life: managing stress so we can go out and get on
with our lives, being able to relax (see below), asserting
ourselves, problem solving, managing our emotions and
knowing how to calm ourselves down when angry or
upset or how to handle changes in mood. OT can help
you brush up on ADL or Life Skills. Better skills = better
chance of not relapsing.
Occupational Therapy is very
practical;
it’s
about
building
healthier, balanced and more
rewarding lifestyles that don't
revolved around substance use and
include more of what you want to
do.
What do I actually do? Just recently I’ve worked
with someone on building their confidence to go out
again. We’ve used Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
strategies to change the way they think about going out
and a gradual programme of facing the situations that
make them anxious. We’ve also found things they are
interested in that have been a reason to want to go out.
Being able to go out independently again means this
person can get on with their life and leave the drugs
behind.
I’ve been helping another person learn how to assert
themselves in different situations, rather then be passive
or aggressive. They can then better manage their stress
by calmly saying how they think and feel in situations.
A couple of people I’ve seen have short term memory
problems due to long term alcohol use. They both
needed careful assessment to see what they can and
can’t manage to do for themselves at home and what
support they may need.
OT input is usually limited to about 6 sessions and is
additional to your longer term contact with your recovery
coordinator. If you or your worker think OT may help you
Tense? | Come To Relaxation Sessions
Are you already attending Atlantic House?
Do you often feel physically tense?
Do you find it hard to relax mentally and
switch off?
Do you feel as if you have forgotten how to
relax naturally without the use of drugs or
alcohol?
Can you commit to attend and come to six
sessions alcohol and drug free?
Then why not ask your worker to refer you for 6 weekly
relaxation sessions with Jane Haite, CRI Occupational
Therapist?
Learn how to relax body and mind again. Naturally.
For more details prior to referral, workers can speak to
Jane, OT in the Clinical Services Team, or just fill in a
referral form marked ‘For relaxation’ and put it in Jane’s
pigeon hole.
6
Young People’s Services | Switch
and brought it to my home.
YOUNG PERSON’S VIEW OF SWITCH
When I came to Switch I was in a predicament. I was
using drugs and needed to come off them because
money wasn’t there. If I didn’t come off them I would lose
everything. I was arguing with my partner a lot and he
said he would leave me if I didn’t change.
I have struggled with my mental health for 6 years and
was referred to Switch following a hospital admission for
an overdose. I realised I needed to make changes.
The workers at Switch have been very helpful. If I
needed anything they were always there and did things I
needed quickly. I mentioned to my worker that I had no
food and, as I was ill, she collected a food bank parcel
SWITCH OFFICIAL LAUNCH OCTOBER 7TH, 2014
It was a lovely afternoon with music from Dudley College
welcoming everyone as they came to meet the team and
hear more about how Switch supports young people. I
was really pleased to see new faces from organisations
that we have not worked so closely with before. I hope
that these relationships can grow, bringing a wider
access to provision for young people who are involved
with the switch team.
I was most proud of the young people who helped with
refreshments and had the courage to share their
experience of Switch and their journey so far. This
reminded me about the challenges and obstacles that
young people have to face in changing their drug or
alcohol use and the amount of determination, strength
We have also done some baking as I cannot do this at
home. This allowed me to talk openly whilst distracted.
There are lots of staff at Switch who I can talk to and can
help me.
I want to quit all drugs and alcohol so I can be happy and
healthy. I am doing well at the moment and have been
30 days sober. I am looking to do college or get a job, I
can have a conversation with a connexions worker at
Switch to help me with this. I am interested in music
baking and drama.
I would recommend Switch to any young person who is
misusing drugs or alcohol and they are a great team who
are always willing to support you at any time.
Katie
and desire needed. This was inspirational and I wish
other young people can hear them.
So, a big thanks to everyone involved in the planning
and delivery of the Switch Launch. We hope we are now
‘on the map’ as Dudley’s young people’s drugs and
alcohol service. If you require any further information or
marketing material call 01384 241440.
Thanks Vicky Winnall (Service Manager)
Hannah Crockett, Young Person Substance Misuse
Worker m: 07787 565958
We are open 9-5, Monday-Friday except for Christmas
day, Boxing Day and New Years Day.
Switch team
Back left to right:
Roy Stokes,
Fran McBride,
Sean Brown,
Kate Clarke,
Peter Davies,
Debbie Ashbey
Front left to right:
Becky Dimmock,
Hannah Crockett,
Vicky Winnall,
Karl Hamilton
7
Puzzle Page | £10 Prize Draw
CHRISTMAS CROSSWORD After you have
solved the puzzle, rearrange the circled letters to
find the mystery word. Hint:: A decoration
Across:
1. Santa .... 2. Holds groceries. 5. Opposite
of cool. 8. Polka .... 9. Tie this around a
present. 10. Heavenly being. 11. December 25.
13. Eaten with soup. 15. Pals. Buddies. 16. Used
to fasten gift wrap. 18. Metallic tree decoration.
20. Myself 21. God’s son. 22. Christmas carol
“Away in a ......” 23. Santa’s helper.
25. Christmas plant. 27 ...... The snowman.
28. Decoration for door. 29. Journeys
Down
1. Mailed greeting. 2. Christmas songs.
3. Santa is this. 4. Red and white peppermint
sticks. 5. A season. 6. Mary is this to Jesus. 7.
Gifts. 12.Christmas kissing plant.13. Christmas
colour. 17. All. 18. Name cards for gifts.
19. ..... Pole. 20. Tune, melody. 22. Christmas.
24. Giggles. 26. Outside Xmas decoration.
CLOSING DATE— 31st January 2015 £10
voucher prize draw. Send answers to Jane Haite.
NEW !!! Somewhere in the CTM is a little green frog!! Smaller than this.
tell us what page he is on. £5 voucher prize. For first correct entry drawn
Find Freddy the Frog, write in and
FREDDY IS ON PAGE ........... Name ............................................... Address .......................................... ....................
............................................................................. .....................Tel: ................................................................................
Your Worker is ......................................................
E E T T A R D M R T Y L F D
R T R A D I
T I
O N L N E E
P R E S E N T C T C L C S C
S S E N R E H T E G O T T E
D R A C A R O L E R H O I
E C E O D M E E A S I
M
L V B
I E L C R B W T N E N L A E
T L V S R N I
O N T E I
L T E A R O W E N I
E E T I
L R
R W O L
N S E L T S WD X P
E E S F L H L G O E S O T I
B T L L I
S E N M V L O R Y
A N E U W G E I
C L C G E T
R B S L Y B L J Y E L G A L
CHRISTMAS WORDSEARCH
CLOSING DATE— 31st January 2015
ONLY ONE ENTRY PER PERSON PER
PUZZLE
£10 voucher prize draw. Send answers to Jane
Haite at Atlantic Recovery Centre or hand in to
your worker to pass on to Jane.
Please clearly put your full name, phone number,
address and your worker’s name in blue box
above.
Find the word on the list that is not actually in
the wordsearch.
Togetherness
Celebrate
Mistletoe
Carol
Tinsel
Gift
Decoration
Festival
Goodwill
Yule
December
Snow
Winter
Elves
Tradition
Jingle
Poinsettia
Tree
Presents
Bells
Card
Xmas
Holly
Snowman
FURTHER COMPETITION ON PAGE16
8
Emotional Well Being | ‘Tis The Season To
Be...Ok
Expectations run high at Christmas, and not many of
us have the sort of lives, families or friends who
would look good in a TV commercial. At it’s worst,
Christmas is a long season of parties you may not
be invited to, or cannot afford to go to, family
gatherings full of tension or outright slanging
matches and visits to children or parents you rarely
see but who quickly remind you why that is. Many
people at the end of Christmas are exhausted, in
debt, near divorce and less optimistic about the year
ahead.
Must it be like that? Certainly there is a tradition of family
get-togethers so strong in our culture that it is very hard
to spend Christmas Day alone, or to allow someone else
to and not feel very sad indeed. No matter how
disruptive, abusive or embarrassing a family member
was last year, the likelihood is they will be invited or at
least accepted again this year. And no matter how much
you want to stay-in with a stack of DVDs and freezer full
of pizza, you are going to feel lonely at some point, just
because its Christmas.
But to be a drug or alcohol addict is almost always
associated with family breakdown and family problems,
often very severe problems which can’t be put aside just
for Christmas. This means that it may feel like a season
of celebration for other people, but a time for you to
endure. If the best we can do is to be ok that’s a good
result, and there of plenty of others in that situation.
If you are not clean or sober yet, whilst it’s important to
take every opportunity for a new start, the pressure of
New Year can be counter productive. Motivation levels
change all the time. Some people feel more motivated to
change as part of a new year resolution, but just as
many plan a ‘controlled relapse’ even though they were
already sober.
The key to surviving the festive season is not in the
practical detail, the key is in having a feeling of control
and self-determination. If you trust your own instincts
about a situation and carry through your own plan of how
to cope, all you
need is someone
to talk it through
with, like a key
worker/care
coordinator
or
a
trusted
friend.
Whether
you
decide to avoid all
situations
where
you
will
be
tempted
to
relapse,
or
to
brave lots of risky
situations, you will
need
to
plan
thoroughly. Don’t
wait for them to sit
you down and ask
what
your
Christmas strategy
is going to be.
If last year was a disaster, don’t be the family’s problem,
tell them the solution. It might be something as simple as
not going to see them, or limiting the time you spend
there, especially if expectations of a ‘new you’ are too
high, because you are only just starting on your recovery
journey.
You might feel resentful about a number of things, but
take responsibility for your own sobriety, you are unlikely
to be able to sort out long-standing issues at this time of
year because everyone else is under pressure.
Make sure you know where all your support systems are:
where is there an AA/NA meeting on Christmas day?
Which helplines can I use? What am I going to do just for
myself?
Have an ok Christmas, plan it for yourself.
Dr Sandy Swatkins
Recovery | Four Years After
On 29th September 2010 I was admitted to A4 Acute
Stroke Unit at my local hospital after falling
downstairs a broken, battered, dishevelled wreck, a
hopeless alcoholic who wished for the end.
I had tried many times to stop drinking using my own
will. This time I had suffered a stroke due to my
alcoholism. Fortunately someone from the Fellowship of
Alcoholics Anonymous came to see me in my hospital
bed and suggested I go to an ’ice breaker’ meeting
running in the hospital.
A week later two members pushed me in a wheelchair,
in hospital pyjamas to my first meeting at Dove House. I
had a tough pull back from the brink, still unable to walk.
This year, 29th September 2014, four years later my life
is much different due to the Fellowship of AA and its
suggested 12 Step programme of recovery.
I returned on the 29th September 2014 to that SAME
hospital with aFellowship friend, as I do regularly, to do
12th step hospital service to help the still suffering
alcoholic – passing on what was given freely to me.
God willing I shall never have to drink again and today I
am at peace with myself, with others and with God.
David C
9
Xmas Meal | At Chawn Hill Church
Christmas is a lovely family occasion
to which many look forward, for
months. However, for many other
people, especially for those in drug
and alcohol recovery, it is a season
to dread. Invitations to parties may
have to be declined because of the free availability
of alcohol. Family occasions that have to be avoided
for the sake of sobriety and maintaining a drug free
lifestyle.
a more appropriate community building.
The venue for 2014 is again Chawn Hill Church,
Stourbridge. This comfortable community building has
excellent transport links being situated adjacent
Stourbridge Junction railway station and on the 142, 240,
287 and 276 bus routes. In addition, the Stourbridge
Town tram can be caught from the town centre
interchange. Commenting on the Christmas meal last
year, a support worker for a local homeless project
present said:
For a large number of individuals, especially single
people out of relationship and those disengaged with
family members, the Christmas season can be a
desperately lonely time. There are other reasons why
many also dread this particular Christmas season. The
bite of the benefit cuts and the economic recession have
created a situation where people cannot afford to buy
presents and celebrate Christmas. There may be no
money to purchase the turkey and other food essentials
and for some no gas with which to cook.
“There was a fantastic atmosphere. It was great to
meet others from a diverse range of backgrounds.
The volunteers worked hard behind the scenes to
ensure that the Christmas meal did not disappoint.”
It was for these reasons, some years ago, volunteers
involved with Black Country Food Bank (BCFB)
(Replenish) – the Stourbridge distribution BCFB centre –
hosted a Christmas meal for people who used the
facility. The meal attracted a number of people who
were at the time homeless, as well as many who were
struggling with issues of alcohol and substance misuse.
Although, the venue for the first few years was my home,
the numbers grew, and it was necessary to make use of
Be sure, those who come for Christmas 2014 are likely
to enjoy a comparably enjoyable occasion. You will be
made very welcome and the food will be excellently
cooked. Do come!
The meal is to be at 1.00 pm on Christmas Eve;
Wednesday 24th December 2014. Please contact me
ASAP if you would like to reserve your place as numbers
are limited. The event will be hosted by Danny Brierley
and the Chawn Hil church team and the RIPT team.
Steve Buck, Substance Misuse Volunteer, CRI Atlantic
House
Soup Kitchens | In The Borough
Sometimes people can literally be without food for
many reasons, such as benefits sanctions or other
financial problems. If you need a hot meal there are
several places in the borough to which you can go
for a meal and warm welcome too.
Albion Street Church, Brierley Hill
Albion Street
Brierley Hill
Breakfast Club:
West Midlands DY5 3EE
Mondays – Thursdays
Tel: 01384. 261860
9.30 am – 12.30 pm
Champions Church, Netherton, Dudley
St Giles Street
Netherton
Soup Kitchen:
Dudley
Every Tuesday Evening:
West Midlands DY2 0PR
6.30 – 8.00 pm
Tel: 01384. 457923
Free two course meal
Dudley Community Church
Salop Street
Soup kitchen:
Dudley
Every Monday 6.00- 7.00pm
West Midlands DY1 3AT
Every Sat 10.00-11.00am
Tel: 01384. 239222
Divine Community Church, Dudley
Claughton Community Centre
Soup Kitchen:
Blowers Green Road
Every Friday Evening:
Dudley
6.15 – 7.15 pm
West Midlands DY2 8UZ
www.divinecommunitychurch.org.uk
Sri Guru Nanak Gurdwara
118 Wellington Street
Dudley
West Midlands DY1 1UB
Meals:
Every day: lunch times
Extra copies of the Christmas edition will be
available at the above addresses.
10
Poems | To Inspire
Dreaming My Life away
Shock
Sitting on my own
Thinking what to do
With my mind far away
What to do next?
It’s a clear day
Not a cloud in the sky.
Sitting on my own
Thinking what to do
Should I call a friend and go out for a drink?
Or put pen to paper
And write about the way
I feel about the world?
The way I feel about the powers that be
That are supposed to look after
The interests of you and me.
Sitting on my own
Thinking what to do next
Should I book a holiday far away
Or just jump in my car and go to Blackpool
And book into a B&B and stay the night.
Sitting on my own
Not a cloud in the sky
Sitting thinking
Dreaming my life away.
Now the crisis is over, the shock sets in,
I’m either crying
Or staring into space.
I get up, as far as the edge of the bed , and cry.
I don't know what to do next.
‘Get in the shower’.
So I get in the shower, and cry,
Tears hidden by the water,
Great gulping sobs drowned out.
Dry my hair or get dressed?
Dry my hair or get dressed?
I can’t for the life of me decide.
‘Get dressed’.
So I get dressed, and cry, looking at the trees.
I seem to be moving so slowly, in slow motion.
I feel as if I have been knocked off my feet by a wave.
I’ve been dragged under
And backwards,
I’m still spinning round and don’t know which way is up.
Tom
Restoration
Going the distance whatever that means
A backpack of memories to remind;
Acknowledging truths, forgiveness, redemption
Sometimes being cruel to be kind.
We make plans, move towards them
Then a challenge appears
Throwing up all we thought made true sense;
Suddenly our world alters, we are starting afresh
Clearing out the unnecessary, now past tense.
Taking time, regain balance
Then we walk on once more
Lessons learned, wisdom gained, faith re-found,
Facing days with more clarity
Gaining strength from despair
Living through with our feet on the ground.
‘Take the dog out, you’ll feel better’.
I take the dog out
But crawl along at a snails pace,
Or like an old person.
Two women with babies on their backs overtake me
With a cheery smile,
Then disappear into the distance like greyhounds.
I don’t feel better.
I finally make it home,
Getting lost on a route I know so well
As I forget where I’m going.
I fear I’m going mad.
Will I ever speed up again?
“Yes” a calming voice tells me.
“It’s shock. It will pass”.
Laura
Written a poem? Don’t be shy, send it
in to us, we’d love to print it. We’d
especially like to hear from young
people;
Send to Jane Haite, Editor,
at Atlantic House
See page 3 for full address.
Hard to imagine I will ever see the world
In the same way again.
None of this mundane stuff around me matters right
now.
I feel detached from it, as if
Watching a play I no longer care about, but should be
in.
Maybe that’s good! Less attachment.
Maybe I can re engage, I need to still be a part of it all,
But take it all less seriously?
A lightness of touch.
Anon.
Breathe-in experience,
breathe-out poetry.
Muriel Rukeyser
11
Christmas | Easy Does It, Keep It Simple
It is difficult, each year, to write a ‘new’ Christmas
‘How To Stay Sober’ article when the advice to be
dished out has to be – because it works – exactly the
same as that given the year before and the year
before that and so on, right back to the yuletide of
1935, the first Christmas in shared sobriety for the
two founder members of Alcoholics Anonymous.
And what an amazing Christmas gift they left under my
tree! It is perennial, beautifully put together and practical.
It always looks good on me and, if I take care of it, it will
never wear out - even if I need to use it all day and every
day. The more I use it, the smoother it becomes.
To make sure that it is gifted to me it every year, I still
have to do the exact same things each Christmas. I work
to a programme which is headed ‘Do not pick-up that
first drink, just for today, because it is the first drink that
gets you drunk’.
You’ve all heard that before but it really is still the
essence of all advice and an ultra simple maxim for the
survival of recovery during the frighteningly festive
season.
With Christmas, New Year and, for some, Thanksgiving
being very close together, staying sober throughout can
be an understandably tough proposition. I remember it
well; an endless round of dangerous drinking traps;
severe peer group pressure; steely determination,
solemn promises to myself and family and the inevitable
misery of everyone after I take ‘that first drink’. Since
falling (sic) into the rooms of AA I have come to accept
that the simplest suggestions are those that work
effectively: I no longer think of them as ‘stupid’ or ‘too
obvious’ or, indeed, beneath me.
I have been, over the years, extremely lucky to have
been a member of The Fellowship of AA because I have
always had the support of my fellows whenever I have
needed it, particularly during recovery’s most stressful
times – birthdays and Christmases included.
Here’s a few of the simple suggestions that will, I
promise,
carry
you
through
the
Christmas
minefield...............
1 ) Continue to work your programme of recovery as you
would on any other day of the year. If you don’t have a
programme, get one!
2) Stay in close touch with your fellows in recovery and
your sponsor. If you don’t have a sponsor, get one! Call
her/him on a regular basis and at every moment of
uncertainty, temptation or peer group pressure.
3) Stay active, keep busy.
4) Wherever you go, take with you your chosen nonalcoholic drink.
5) If you are new in recovery, avoid completely all
potentially boozy parties. Keep out of ‘wet’ places.
Accept only those invitations to gatherings you know
you’ll be able to enjoy with people who know that you are
trying to change your life.
6) If you socialise, take a sober trusted friend with you.
7) Do not go anywhere where you have no personal
escape route or backup plan.
8) If you feel that your sobriety is being compromised, do
not hesitate to use that escape route or backup plan.
Politely excuse yourself and remember, your wellbeing is
far more important to you than are the sensibilities of
others. Choosing not to drink is not rude. Pressurising
someone to drink is rude....and dangerous.
9) Let someone who cares know where you’ll be. Make a
point of ‘checking-in’ whilst you’re there.
10) Make sure you know which AA meetings are on over
the Christmas and New Year period. Call the AA 24hour
helpline for up-to-date information*. Plan how you’re
going to get to meetings; public transport will be
operating restricted services so organise lifts.
11) Make clean and sober plans for each and every day
of the holiday but do not project into what might happen
in situations where, in the past, you’ve run into trouble.
Live only in the day and enjoy the privilege of that day.
Easy does it. Keep it simple.
12) H.A.L.T. – avoid becoming Hungry, Angry, Lonely or
Tired. Do not isolate or hide yourself away under the
assumption that if you don’t see temptation you’ll not be
tempted. You’ll stagnate and be at your most vulnerable
when you are alone because it is your own head that will
take you for ‘that first drink’, not anyone else’s.
................ and that’s just a dozen of the things to try;
there are many more such as inviting clean and sober
people to your place ( you’ll have to tidy-up); be good to
yourself, allow some treats; plan fun as well as safety;
stay away from yourold drinking haunts - avoid the
temptation to ‘pop in’ to wish them all a merry Christmas;
vary your activities – TV, walking, rest, jogging, reading
etc.
For all the people about to experience their first
Christmas and New Year festive season in recovery, the
AA programme works if you work it. If it works for me at
Christmas and throughout the year, it can work for
anyone who has a desire to stop drinking and to stay
stopped. Have faith, because faith will overcome your
fears of the consequences of failure.
Finally, you may be wondering why, after all these
years, I still have to bear in mind all these do’s and
don’ts? The answer is simple; why would I stop or
even think of stopping doing something that has
helped me stay sober for 13 Christmases past?
Come on, I’m an alcoholic but I ain’t that stoopid.
Love at Christmas.
ANtON
12
Gambling | Aquarius Services
The overall number of adults gambling in Britain is
increasing. You will have noticed more opportunities
online and in the High Street, with new, more tempting
machines to play, lotteries and scratch cards abound
and there is advertising everywhere you look.
For many people, this is just an increase in ways to have
fun but for 450,000 people in Britain it is a serious
problem. A recent report by the Royal College of
Psychiatrists called it ‘The Hidden Addiction’. Both
women and men, of all ages and in all sorts of financial
situations, are finding it hard to keep their gambling as a
harmless bit of fun. Up until now there have been few
services around the country to help but this is starting to
improve.
People struggling with their gambling in Dudley are
fortunate in having:

A dedicated service 2 days a week

Run by Aquarius in partnership with Gamcare

Providing a choice of 1-1 counselling and/or group
support

Staffed by experienced practitioners with specialist
training.
It is not unusual for people who have alcohol and
drug problems to also have issues with gambling.
For example, one report found that 1 in 6 people with
drink problems were problem gamblers too.
Aquarius gambling practitioners also have experience
helping people with alcohol and drug problems so they
are able to understand the ways these problems can
interact.
The service is free, confidential and available to help
gamblers, their families and concerned others.
For help and advice ring:
01384 261267 (Mondays and Tuesdays)
0121 414 0888 (Wednesday – Friday)
0808 8020 133 (24 hr helpline)
gambling@aquarius.org.uk (Email)
3 of our service users went on holiday this Summer for
the first time in years; funded by the money they saved
by not gambling! Could that be you next year?
Pip Mason, Aquarius Gambling Practitioner
I Gambled | Until I Lost Everything
My first experience of gambling was at the age of 16.
I went out with family and friends to the local
bookmakers and we all placed bets on the Grand
National horse race.
Although I lost all my bets I got an adrenaline buzz
and found the thrill of having my money placed on a
horse intoxicating. Looking back now, I can see this
is where my problems started. From then on, I went
to the bookies’ every Saturday when my friends and
I went to the pub. They would stay at the pub
drinking and I would go and place a small bet on
every race. The thrill of being there was more
exciting than being in the pub drinking with friends.
This pattern continued over the next 6 years but my
stakes were getting higher; they went from around 50
pence per bet to £5.00 per bet. During this time I met my
future wife, we were married in 18 months and I began
spending all my money in the bookies’ and living off her
wages. Over the 5 years we were together I lost
everything to gambling. In the summer of 1986 my wife
went away for the weekend to visit family. My need to
gamble was so strong I sold everything out of the house
to make some money. The only thing left in the house
were the carpets and curtains. When my wife returned
on the Monday morning she looked around the house,
then walked straight back out taking the children with
her. My marriage was over and, at the age of 24, I had
nothing left.
Over the next 5 years my gambling continued on this
level but I added another problem to my list - drinking. By
1991 I was drinking up to 2 litres of vodka per day. My
gambling was steady when I was drinking but when I
stopped drinking the need to gamble came back and the
amount of money I was placing on bets more than
doubled.
Between 1991 and 1994 I lived mainly in hostels and my
gambling was getting heavier and heavier. In 1994 I met
my second wife, we moved in together within a week and
we were married the following year. My gambling
increased steadily over the following years, I was placing
up to £1,000 per bet and not feeling satisfied with
anything less. The more money I spent, the more
depressed and anxious I became.
As the years passed and my gambling continued, my
marriage deteriorated and we grew apart. I was lying to
her over how much money I had spent on my addiction.
In September 2003 I left my second wife - I just walked
away - left everything. I couldn’t tell her that I had lost
£21,000 in the previous 6 weeks.
This is when I realised I had a serious problem and
needed to seek help. I have been seeing a counsellor for
my addiction and I find this very useful, looking at the
reasons behind my gambling and where it became a
serious problem for me. I am unsure of what I will do
next but I am going to try and continue the good work I
have started with my counsellor so I can control this
addiction, which has been in control of my life for the
past 25 years.
Anon
13
Recovery | 6th National Recovery Walk 2014
Saturday 13th September was the 6th National
Recovery Walk which this year was hosted by
Greater Manchester. You may be asking yourself
what is this Recovery Walk all about? Well it a
national event that is normally attended by around
4000 people from all over the country. It gives a voice
and face to people in recovery and provides support
and information on where to get help to people that
are thinking and wanting to enter Recovery and
progress with their lives, free from addiction.
It’s a celebration with people in recovery, their families
and friends. Helping each other to celebrate their growing
visibility that: RECOVERY IS POSSIBLE, DESIRABLE
AND ACHIEVABLE.
We had a coach full of people, their families and friends
who attended the walk. We all met in the car park at
9:30am for our road trip up to Manchester. The
atmosphere on the coach was electric. Everyone was
excited that they were going to be part of this great
national event. The children were all well behaved on the
long journey up.
We arrived in sunny Manchester around 12:30pm, made
our way to the Castelfield Arena and were blown away by
the many people that were already there. There were
musical artists on the stage and fire engines to keep the
children occupied. We started getting ready for the walk
which was about 5km taking us through Deansgate and
back into the Arena. The walk was started by inspirational
speeches by people who were themselves in Recovery.
Once we’d completed the walk we arrived back at the
Arena and were greeted by bands playing music. There
was a festival type of atmosphere. People were singing
and dancing along, showing that you didn’t need to take
any substances to have a good time.
The journey back was very quiet, everyone was
shattered. People had lost their voices from all the
singing they had been doing. Everyone had a fantastic
time, proud to show the world that they were in recovery.
Everyone is looking forward to next year in Durham –
September 2015. Watch this space for details.
RIPT
Recovery In Progress Team
OPENING HOURS OF ATLANTIC HOUSE OVER
XMAS:
Friday 26.12.14 CLOSED
Monday 22.12.14. 9am-8pm
Tuesday 30.12.14 9am-5pm
Tuesday 23.12.14 9am-5pm
Wednesday 31.12.14 9am-3pm
Wednesday 24.12.14 9am-3pm
Thursday 01.01.15 CLOSED
Thursday 25.12.14 CLOSED
Friday 02.01.15 9am-4.30pm
Monday 29.12.14 9am-8pm
Artwork by Leigh
14
RIPT | Different Roles Explained
I often get asked how successful our Volunteer and Peer
Mentor Programme is; very successful is my answer!
The majority of our Volunteers and Peer Mentors leave
the project into paid employment. This month (October) I
have had 5 leave into employment; Stuart Higgins,
Kristian Watts, Lindsey Deakin, Lee Skinkys and
Samantha Wenlock. Stuart, Lindsey, Lee and Samantha
have all secured positions as Recovery Champions here
at Atlantic House and Kristian as a Care Home Assistant
in a local Care Home.
My name is Tan Jeram; I am the Volunteer, Peer
Mentor and Service User Involvement Co-ordinator at
the project. My role is to recruit, train and manage the
Volunteers, Peer Mentors and Service User Reps.
Volunteers support all the different teams at the
project by helping the workers carry out certain roles,
enabling us to provide a better service for the clients that
access the project. These may be co-facilitating groups,
supporting setting up groups and the admin involved,
needle exchange, assessments, chasing up clients that
may have missed their appointments, seeing clients on a
one-to-one level and updating client records. To be a
Volunteer you must no longer be in treatment or have
never been in treatment.
Service User Reps are part of RIPT and will be the
voice for the many clients of the service. They will carry
out Service User Surveys, meet and greet clients, attend
service team meetings and strategic meetings involving
the Commissioner of the service. Service User Reps will
support with external events promoting CRI and the Peer
Mentoring Programme, support CRI with Staff and
Service User events when they win new contracts and
attend local and regional forums. To be a Service User
Rep you have must have been in treatment or are still in
treatment, stable on your medication if prescribed with
no illicit use.
Peer Mentors are also part of RIPT. They will carry
out the same role as a Service User Reps as well as
providing support to clients, to help them through
treatment and into Recovery. They understand the
issues clients face as they are all in RECOVERY
themselves. They will advocate for them, help with filling
in forms and making telephone calls. They will call
clients and remind them of their pending appointments.
Provide one-to-one support to the client, either face to
face or via the telephone. To be a Peer Mentor you must
have been in treatment or still in treatment, no illicit use,
and stable on your medication if prescribed and starting
a reduction plan.
All above posts must go through the recruitment process
which is: application, interview, references, DBS checks
and complete the full induction training.
If you are interested in becoming a Volunteer and part of
RIPT get in contact with Tan on 01384 426 120 or 07500
891 550, email; tan.jeram@cri.org.uk or pop in and see
a member of RIPT for an application form.
Stuart started as a Peer Mentor in October 2011,
Kristian started as a Peer Mentor in July 2012,
Samantha as a Peer Mentor in April 2013, Lee as a
Volunteer in January 2012 and Lindsey as a Volunteer in
November 2013. Whilst volunteering at the project they
attended numerous training courses and achieved
between, OCN Level 2 Diploma in Peer Mentoring and
Level 3 Health and Social Care mapped to DANOS
(Drugs and Alcohol National Occupational Standards).
I would like to thank them all for all their hard work and
support they have provided to the project and wish them
all the very best of luck in their new careers.
Tan Jeram
Volunteer, Peer Mentor and Service User Involvement
Co-ordinator
WANTED!!! PHOTOS FOR
FRONT COVER
Photos of Dudley borough
landmarks, or somewhere
easily identifiable as being
in the borough, at different
times of year i.e. Snow or
frost covered, maybe
daffodils in the background,
blue skies of summer and
autumnal colours.
Send as an attachment to
root@thechangingtimes.org.
uk
£10 prize voucher if used
for cover.
15
End Of Year | Stock Taking (£10 voucher prize)
The end of a year is a good time to take stock and see where
you’ve got to. Try answering these questions:
1. What went well for you in 2014?
2. What were the circumstances that helped you?
3. What did you struggle with still and why was this?
4. What are the three most important lessons you’ve learnt
this year?
5. What makes you happy? What do you enjoy?
6. On what do you want to focus your energy doing in 2015?
7. What 3 steps will make this happen? Who can help you?
8. What do you want your life to look like this time next year?
Why not discuss these ideas with your worker?
£10 voucher prize for best thought-out plan which will also be printed in CTM
Don’t forget to add your name, tel and worker on the bottom.
Closing date 31.1.15
16
Debt | How To Avoid It This Christmas
6. Buy safe to be safe
Whatever the deal and whatever the temptation, don’t
buy from unauthorised traders or borrow from
unauthorised lenders. The initial saving may prove to be
a false economy in the longer term.
MONEY CONFIDENCE PROJECT
Ten top tips to avoid a Christmas debt hangover.
realistic and budget
Christmas is a time of giving, but you don’t want to give
yourself a headache in the New Year with bills and debts
you can’t afford. It’s all too easy to overspend – there are
tempting offers and pressures to buy, but you must
decide how much you can afford before you start
spending.
Planning, budgeting and organisation are essential to
avoid getting into debt at Christmas and beyond. If your
spending runs out of control, you can soon find that debt
is not only a problem at Christmas, but can become a
way of life.
If you do get into difficulties, get advice as soon as you
can from your local Citizens Advice Bureau or visit
www.adviceguide.org.uk
1. Plan early for Christmas
Be realistic and budget accordingly. Work out how much
you are going to spend on each person and stick to it.
Manage expectations as to what you or Santa can give.
2. Keep things simple
If you can afford to, pay for your goods outright by cash
or debit card, don’t be persuaded to take out extended
credit agreements which may cost you much more in the
longer term and impact on your future budgeting once
Christmas is gone.
3. Don’t forget the everyday bills
Remember that rent, the mortgage, utility bills, food bills
and other existing debts still have to be paid –and the
consequences can be severe if they’re not. Even though
it’s Christmas, get your priorities right.
4. Don’t bank on an overdraft
If you do need to use your overdraft facility, don’t run up
extra bank costs by exceeding your overdraft facility
without speaking to your bank first. This could become
very expensive if you are left with unauthorised overdraft
charges in the New Year.
5. Shop Around
Try as many different places as possible to find the best
prices. Buy what you need and not just what you want.
Be wary of buying extended warranties on items; the
cost of a repair could be less than the cost of the
warranty.
7. Read the small print
Check for hidden extras in any credit agreement. Work
out the total amount payable. Make sure the monthly
payments are within your budget before signing. Interest
free credit may seem like a good idea at the time but if
you don’t pay on time or miss a payment, you could end
up paying a lot more.
8. Do your own checks
If you are going to use credit, shop around and compare
terms. Some cards may charge high interest rates but
provide interest free periods or discounts. Remember to
always budget for these costs and put payment dates in
your diary or your calendar.
9. Be organised
There is a lot to think about at Christmas. If you have
borrowed extra money for Christmas, don’t forget that it
won’t be long before you have to pay it back. Make sure
you pay on time; even if it is just the minimum payment
otherwise you may face additional costs and charges.
10. Start planning and saving for next Christmas
After Christmas is over, it’s worth looking at what you did
well and what you didn’t. Learn from your mistakes and
start planning for how you might do things differently
next year.
If you would like assistance with budgeting and help to
reduce your expenditure, speak to either Carol or Kam
from the Money Confidence Project. Carol is in the
kitchen of Atlantic House on a Thursday from 11 am
onwards or you can ring either Carol or Kam and book
an appointment to be seen at one of the Citizens Advice
Bureaux around the Dudley Borough.
Carol Moir 01384 813333
Kam Bahra 01384 816198
‘OH, FOR THE GOOD
OLD DAYS WHEN
EVERYONE STOPPED
CHRISTMAS
SHOPPING WHEN
THEY RAN OUT OF
MONEY’
17
Living To Drink | Drinking To Live
My name is Samton and I am a alcoholic, an addict
and the adult child of an alcoholic. Thanks to my
higher power and the suggested 12 step recovery
programme of Alcoholics Anonymous, I am also
three years clean and sober.
The thinking that dominated the mind of this alcoholic
was set to kill me and I am so grateful I found a
Fellowship of recovering alcoholics in AA which helped
me to recognise my denial, self justification and the
insane thought processes which not only concerned
alcohol but also many other areas of my life, a life,
before AA, dominated by alcohol and drugs.
Over time, my progressive disease isolated me and
brought me to my knees; the loneliness, terror and
frustration, known only to the desperately addicted, set
in. The last ten months of my drinking were spent alone
my a room, in despair, living only to drink, drinking only
to live.
During that period, knowing I HAD to stop, I went
through many (can’t remember how many) detoxes.
Summoning-up all of my willpower and desire not to
drink, I would complete the course of medication but
within a few hours as the effects of the pills began to
subside, my old thinking would kick back in. Or, rather, I
would allow it to kick back in. Hurts and resentments
returned; morbid scenes of my Mother’s alcoholic death
would flood back – all this coupled with mental
obsessions to either quit for good or to get out there for
the next drink. Maybe, even, perhaps, even, I might,
even, be able to control it!?
In your dreams lady.
This took me, inevitably, well confused, to a place
with no visible exit other than back down the neck of
a bottle in search of controllability and a cure which,
of course, I never found as I’d lost the power of
choice in drink and was drinking against my will.
I can remember justifying, time after time, my reasons for
taking ‘that first drink’, telling myself that I could and
would control it this time. It will be different, I will stop
after three or four, I will not behave like that again. But
everyone hated me anyway so I might as well drink. The
carnage and devastation of my past would diminish as
my thoughts dredged-up sentimental images of the ‘good
old (very early) days’ until finally the drink overtook my
brain and obliterated even those.
I would come round, full of remorse and guilt, confusion
and acute self hatred as, yes, I’d done it yet again. A few
snippets of my behaviour in blackout would crawl into my
consciousness but with pounding heart, within minutes of
opening my eyes, the craving for alcohol was there, so
powerful, that I had to take another ‘first drink’. Off and
up and running again.
Baffled by how I’d got home – if at all – where I’d been
and with whom, how oh how I envied the normal or
social drinkers who didn’t have these feelings and
experiences in drink, who did not drink to change totally
the way they felt, over and over again.
ALL CHANGE. Cutting short a long, repetitive story,
eventually, I did not say no, no, no to rehab. Which is
where I found AA, where AA found me. I am, indeed, a
fortunate woman.
However, being very slow to catch-on, it took me a full
year to accept that I was an alcoholic and absolutely
powerless over alcohol. Which still did not stop me trying
the controlled drinking route twice more.
The first attempt, just one week after leaving rehab was
only to test my newly re-found common sensibility. I
knew I shouldn’t but I thought I had a new strength. Thus
began six days of concentrated chaos and devastation,
police, ambulances, overdoses, crisis teams, distraught
neighbours and heartbroken family.
I got through it but, six months later – because I couldn’t
cope with some emotional pain that I’d created for myself
– I once again pressed of the f**k-it button, this time
almost losing my life. Another suicide attempt, almost
choking on my own vomit, hospital bed, same old fear,
same old everything.
I knew that I could not drink safely, yet within hours of
being discharged, I was once again drinking wine and
telling my Father that I probably was not an alcoholic.
The following morning, he brought me in a cup of tea: I
refused it and went back to the wine. Same old, same
old.
But wait, hang-on I hear you say, didn’t you start by
saying you’d been sober for three years – that’s over
1000 ‘one days at a time.’
Correct. From written-off hopeless case, through
defeat, surrender and acceptance, to alcoholic/
addict in happy recovery. From drink or die, truth or
lie, to a normal life beyond my wildest dreams.
Although I did not at the time view them as positive
experiences, all of my relapses were very obvious
lessons. I have since been told that the lessons for me
were repeated time after time until they were learned
and that the miracle is that I was given the time to finish
the course.
The ‘College of Knowledge’ that is Alcoholics
Anonymous helped me to understand the lessons, to not
regret the past but to build on it and supported me during
the time I needed to achieve full acceptance of my
powerlessness over alcohol and the unmanageability of
my life.
The self same support is there for anyone having the
desire to stop drinking. For everyone out of control.
01384 482929. 24/7, 365 days a year.
Even on Christmas day.
Samton
18
Animal Therapy | Your Stories
The joy of keeping Pygmy goats!!
We were out one day and saw a sign saying ‘Pygmy
goats for sale.’ We thought keeping Pygmy goats
sounded different, went to see them and fell in love
with them. They were like tiny little lambs and just
two weeks old. We had a chat with the farmer about
what was involved, took the kids back to see them
and that was it, we were having them.
They’re now 1 yr and 2 months old (August 2014) and
about the size of a Labrador dog without the bulk.
They’re called Sirius and Bellatrix.
They’re easy to look after; they need fresh water daily
and a handful of food like rabbit food on top of their hay
Which is the majority of their diet. They eat anything
except pastry but like jammy donuts and fag ends. They
will happily chomp away on brambles, in fact they’ll eat
everything in the garden so you need to either not mind
that or keep them fenced off. .
The neighbours don’t complain about the noise of them
bleating and seem to like them. Next door have since
had chickens which freaked the goats out. The landlord
hasn't minded us having them either.
They’re kept in my ‘purpose built barn’ at the end of the
garden which is just an outside shed. They’re locked-in
at night. I clean them out twice a week but you don’t
even need a poop scoop as their droppings are like
rabbits. You can put their bedding straw on the compost
heap.
We sometimes take them for a walk– it takes ages as we
keep getting stopped by people to pet them. I’ve let them
off the lead in a field and they just follow me around. Half
the estate came out to see them! At Xmas we dressed
them up in Santa suits! They’re easy to train and our two
can climb a slide and do a few tricks!
You can get a
Pygmy goat
for £90 but
ours
cost
£350 for the
pair from a
farm in Clent
and we had
them at 10
weeks
old
and
just
brought them
home in the
car. They live
until about 15.
Our goats live
with two pet
rabbits
and
ignore
our
cats but are
still
freaked
out by next
door’s
chickens plus
bees and flies
seem to scare
them too.
Having the goats has helped me to stay sober as it’s
occupied my time, they’re a constant source of
amusement and companionship and a good talking
point. I spend hours with them in the garden which is
relaxing. Rather than go to the pub after work, I dash
back to let the goats out which is a good choice. It’s the
first thing I do when I walk through the door. It’s a
responsibility but more of a joy. The goats give you the
pleasure of a dog without the demands or commitments
of daily walks.
Si.
Sober 1 yr, July 2014
Animal Therapy | My Dog Bella
My Dog Bella is a 4 year
old white Jack Russell.
She’s good company and
has helped me in lots of
ways. I can talk to her
and it helps me. I go and
sit round the back of the
block of flats in the little
garden there because
she wants to go out. I
wouldn’t
bother
otherwise, but it means I
get some fresh air
sunshine and exercise
too.
The neighbours love her and stop to talk to me because
of her. My 92 year old neighbour comes and sits with us
on the bench and she can’t imagine life without Bella.
Every morning we go to her flat and she gives Bella a
biscuit. Bella cries at the bottom of her stair lift till she
comes down with the biscuit.
If my neighbour doesn’t hear Bella she comes to see if
we’re both alright.
I feel safer with Bella; I live on my own in a ground floor
flat and she’s a good guard dog and sleeps on my bed
at night, guarding me.
When I was depressed, I thought of giving Bella up; she
seemed too much trouble and got on my nerves. But I’d
have missed her terribly and she’s done so much for me
to help me get back on track. She never leaves my side
and I’d never part with her now.
Gill
19
Sleep | Not Getting Enough?
Why do humans
sleep? It’s easy to
think that sleep
might just be like
turning off, a kind
of ‘stand-by’ state,
but in fact human
sleep is a very
busy time. Our
bodies have a
very
complex
pattern of hormone release during sleep. Darkness
is necessary for some hormones, like melatonin, to
function properly. Growth hormone is released
which is important not just for actual growth but for
repairing our bodies and keeping our metabolism
healthy, especially regulating our blood sugar.
Our sleep should follow a pattern called a Sleep
Cycle. One cycle takes about an hour and a half and
after the first couple of cycles phase 3 is missed out.
Phase 1:Firstly we go through restless light sleep, when
we can be easily woken.
Phase 2:Then gradually we sleep more deeply where we
stop wriggling and are harder to wake.
Phase 3: If we sleep normally, after about an hour we
should reach Delta sleep phase when we are deeply
asleep. In Delta sleep our minds are completely shut
down and if we are woken from this kind of deep sleep it
can take a long time to ‘come round’ properly. It’s during
this phase that our body repairs. Our temperature and
blood pressure drop.
REM: We then go into a phase of dreaming sleep or
REM sleep where our mind is extremely active. This is
still a “deep” sleep but in REM phase, the brain is
processing huge amounts of information, filing it, storing
it and making sense of our experiences. REM sleep
seems to be as important for mental health as deep
sleep is for physical health.
After REM sleep we go back to Phase 1 light sleep and
the cycle starts again.
Drugs and Sleep
Alcohol , sedatives, antidepressants and sleeping pills all
shorten the time it takes to fall asleep but reduce the
length of REM and Delta sleep. So you feel like you’ve
slept but you still feel tired and once your body is used to
them, they won’t even help you to fall asleep.
Antidepressants help sleep by treating the cause.
Methadone reduces REM sleep so that withdrawing from
methadone often produces vivid dreams and nightmares.
Opiates do not seem to produce any long term damage
to biological rhythms, but it can take a long time to
recover.
Unfortunately, stimulants, (amphetamine and cocaine)
can produce very long term sleep problems. The body
has a number of biological clock genes which work
through dopamine chemistry. Use of stimulants in
adolescence may cause permanent changes to the
body’s ability to set a natural day/night rhythm.
What can you do to improve your
sleep?
Stop smoking.
Nicotine withdrawal during sleep causes waking every 34 hours.
Sleep remedies
Herbal remedies, including herbal teas that have actually
been scientifically studied, do reduce the time taken to
fall asleep by small amounts.
Milky drinks help some people. Tryptophan in milk (there
is extra tryptophan in Horlicks) is thought to be the
ingredient that helps with sleep. It increase the length of
deep sleep and reduces REM sleep. Sadly there is no
research to show that it helps you fall asleep quicker.
Melatonin
Melatonin is a natural hormone that the body produces
to tell the body it’s night-time. It is available on the NHS
for children and old people. Most adults who can’t sleep
don’t have a deficiency or imbalance of melatonin, so it’s
not a standard treatment for insomnia. However, now
that we know that many recovering addicts do have long
term circadian rhythm problems, it may be something
that will become a common treatment. It is a hormone,
not a herbal remedy, and misuse or use with drug and
alcohol will cause problems.
Taking a Nap
A short nap in the daytime will not harm your chances of
sleeping well at night. And could help you to relax. But
because of the length of a sleep cycle, it is very
important that a ‘nap’ only lasts for 20-30 minutes so that
it does not involve any periods of deep sleep. Short naps
(some people call them ‘power’ naps) can even help
your concentration, memory and mood.
Some recent research found the alarming statistic that
naps of over a couple of hours in the daytime predicted
early death. Naps did not seem to be a cause, simply a
sign that something might be medically wrong. Taking a
long sleep in the day will mess up your chances of
setting a good pattern.
Exercise
Exercise is good for you. Studies have suggested that
people who exercise regularly sleep better but there
have been no studies (not surprisingly) of chronically
poor sleepers, who have a history of addiction and
exercise. Everyone seems to believe that exercise in the
daytime helps you sleep at night but there is no firm
scientific basis as yet. So give it a try, it will have many
other health benefits which are scientifically proven!
Dr Sandy Swatkins
20
Reflections | From Retirement
I wouldn't tell everyone this, but since I don’t see
patients any more and we’re all friends here, I
suppose its ok. I've had some episodes of anxiety
and depression in my lifetime which have had an
impact on my relationships and career. I’m better
when I take fluoxetine.
I discovered this too late to save my first marriage, or my
brilliant career in academic research (ok, not really) and
like most of my patients, I’ve tried repeatedly to stop
taking it. Obviously I would never recommend anyone
with severe depression do that, or anyone else unless
they were having therapy, but I was always ‘too busy’ to
have counselling and my early experience with
psychotherapy was shudderingly horrible. I actually paid
to have someone watch me get more and more
depressed. So in recent years I went to meditation
sessions and that helped me a lot.
Anyway, after several continuous years I decided it was
time to stop the fluoxetine again, at least till the clocks go
back. I know the risks - I’m a shrink for heaven’s sake–
so it’d be fine. But my daughter, who hadn’t been let in
on this plan, started to show some reluctance to go
shopping or to eat out with me. Then one day, after I had
just been explaining to a young painter and decorator
what was needed, I commented: “he seemed a bit
nervous, I wonder why he ran off so quickly”.
“Mum !! you were terrifying! He was probably peeing
himself!
“What do you mean”?
She then went on to list all the shop assistants,
waitresses, car mechanics, and delivery men that I had
recently intimidated and humiliated, much to her
embarrassment, she claimed.
“But I’m just sharp and witty. . .”
“No, Mum, you’re very very scary.”
I asked my husband and he confirmed that whilst there
used to be a certain attraction to my caustic wit, recently
he felt that he was close to receiving the death penalty
for leaving the milk out.
So you see there is something very self indulgent about
wanting to be off medication when it’s helping you. Its
very frustrating for people who care about you and I think
the best solution is to listen to them, maybe take the
blasted antidepressants, (they wont hurt you, honestly)
but definitely get some counselling or CBT.
I understood perfectly whenever patients described their
fear of being less in touch with their feelings. At the
moment I’m really enjoying crying like a baby listening to
old rock songs and digging out old Peter Frampton
posters, and I’m losing weight. However, I’m not so keen
on the feeling of utter despondency whenever I watch
the news (“we're all going to hell in a handcart”) and my
old OCD is edging back (I’ve just spent an hour trying to
remember the funny name of the drummer in Dire
Straits. (Yes, yes, I know now, don’t write in.)
Dr Sandy Swatkins
Fircroft College | Inspires
Courses at Fircroft College.
I’ve recently done two courses at Fircroft college in
Selly Oak, Birmingham and found them very
enjoyable. The staff are very welcoming, friendly and
supportive to people with a range of difficulties.
There are also support workers upon request who
can work with you on a one to one basis.
I did a personal development course and also
‘understanding human behaviour’. We worked through a
work book in the sessions with the tutor.
The courses are residential; however you don’t have to
stay if you have child care issues. The bedrooms are
really nice with en suite showers. The
food, which is excellent, is free and
eaten in a communal area.
The building and grounds itself are
stunning and it’s a very relaxing
environment. The premises are alcohol
and drug free.
If you are on certain benefits the
courses are free, but otherwise there is a charge.
I’d recommend it to other people. In some cases you
can go on to do an access course that could open the
gates to university.
Shirley
21
Misc | Updates
MINDFULNESS MEDITATION
TO FIND CALM IN OUR BUSY DAILY LIVES
Cradley Heath
Thurs 7.30pm, Fri 11.00am
Jangchub Ling Centre, 1a Sydney rd,
B64 5BA
(two minutes from Cradley Heath station)
Stourbridge
Wed 7.30pm
Friends meeting House,
37 Scotts Rd, DY8 1UR
Classes run to term times
Facility fee: £6 (£3.50 unwaged) per class.
www.meditatejlc.org
01384 569 956
Feeling stressed? Mind racing? Can’t switch off?
Then you may find mindfulness meditation helpful.
Based on Buddhist meditation, the classes start with a
brief introduction followed by a breathing meditation.
There is then a talk on a topic such as calming the mind
or being more positive, then a second meditation on this
topic. The classes are drop-in classes so you don’t need
to come to them all for them to make sense. People sit
on chairs, or on the floor if they prefer. Afterwards, why
not stay for a free cup of tea
Coming soon in issue
65/spring 2015:
Special feature:
On 16th September 2014 Birmingham hosted the Recovery Street
Film Festival.
The event was sponsored by numerous treatment services, with CRI being one of them. Myself, Ronni
Wheeler, Kim Scott and Lindsey Forsyth from RIPT attended the event in Birmingham.
This was a national event and was launched at Borough
Market Hall in London by Mitch Winehouse (Amy Winehouse’s Dad) followed by events in Cardiff, Birmingham,
Liverpool, Glasgow and then returning back to London.
The aim of the event was to empower people in recovery
by providing a platform for them to tell you their story by
a short 3 minute film. This features their ups and down
and highlights the problems that are often confronted
when people are trying to re-engage back into their community: making new friends, building family relationships,
finding somewhere to live and finding employment.
10 films where shortlisted to be part of the Recovery
Street Film Festival with the winner being picked back at
an event in London. The films were shown on a loop
within the Recovery Street Film Festival marquee.
It was a lovely hot, sunny day in Victoria Square, Birmingham. We engaged and spoke with loads of the general public, explaining the purpose of the event, showing
them the films and even signposting some to treatment
services. When you get a spare 30 minutes, take time to
watch the films, you can find them on the link below:
www.recoverystreetfilmfestival.co.uk
Tan Jeram
Volunteer, Peer Mentor and Service User Involvement
Co-ordinator
both drug and alcohol detox.
Write in and share your story of
detox. How did you keep sober/
clean?
Drug and Alcohol
detox:
£10 voucher prize for star story.
What are they? Do they work?
The facts.
Send in to Jane Haite, Editor,
Atlantic House Or give to your
key worker.
Service users experience of
22
Self Help | Local AA, NA and Al-Anon Meetings
Local AA meetings.
24 hr HELPLINE - 01384 482929.
DAILY (not Sun)- Wolverhampton.
Mon-Fri. 11.00-12.30pm.
Sat. 10.00-11.30am. Darlington
St.Methodist Church, WV14LF.
SUN / MON / WED- Brierley Hill.
8.00-9.30pm.
New Health & Social Care Centre, Venture Way, off Little Cottage St. DY5 1RG.
FRI- Stourbridge. 8.00 - 9.30pm.
Methodist Church Hall, Glebe Lane,
off South Road, DY8 3YG.
FRI- Halesowen. 8.00 - 9.30pm.
Halesview Clinic, Highfield Lane,
Andrew Rd. B63 4SG.
SATURDAY- Dudley. 6.15 - 7.45pm.
Dove House, Bushey Fields Hospital,
Bushey Fields Rd, Russells Hall, DY1 2LZ
Gay, Lesbian & Transgender
Alcohol Support Group.
0121 440 6161 / 07941 238 170.
MON-Walsall. 8.00-9.30pm.
St Martins Church Hall, 1,Daffodill Rd. Off
TUES– 7.30-9.00pm.
Sutton Rd. Walsall, WS5 3DQ.
Birmingham LGBT Centre, 38/40, Holloway Circus, Birmingham B1 1EQ.
SUN- Wolverhampton. 2.00-3.30pm.
Chaplaincy Centre, Wolverhampton
University, Molineux St. WV1 1SB.
Local NA meetings.
MON- Wolverhampton. 7.00-9.00pm.
Darlington St. Methodist Church.
Address as daily meetings.
TUES- Kidderminster. 8.00-9.30pm.
The Salvation Army, Jerusalem Walk, Off
Queen St. DY10 2NP
SUN- Dudley 6.30pm.
Switch, 1 Castle Street, DY1 1LA.
SUN- Birmingham. 7.00pm.
Fircroft College of Adult Education, 1018
Bristol Road South, Selly Oak, B29 6LH.
TUES- Birmingham. 7.30pm.
Northfield YMCA, 200 Bunbury Road,
Northfield, B31 2DL.
WED- Smethwick. 6.00-7.30pm.
Alberta Bldg, 128B, Oldbury Rd. B66 1JE. TUES- Halesowen. 7.30pm.
Zion Church, Little Cornbow,B63 3AJ.
WED- Wolverhampton. 8.00-9.30pm.
WED- Birmingham. 7.45pm.
Darlington St. Methodist Church.
The Manor, Woodbourne Priory Hospital,
Address as daily meetings.
21 Woodbourne Rd, Edgbaston, B17 8BY
THURS- Blackheath/Rowley Regis.
THURS- Ladywood. 7.30pm.
8.00 - 9.30pm.
Summerhill House, Summer Hill Terrace,
The Flame Community Centre, Beeches
B’ham, B1 3RA.
Road, B65 0AT.
THURS- Wolverhampton. 7.30 - 9.00pm. THURS- Walsall. 7.30pm.
St Matthew Centre, St Matthew Close,
Chaplaincy Centre, Wolverhampton
WS1 3DG.
University, Molineux St. WV1 1SB.
THURS- Kidderminster. 8.00 - 9.30pm. FRI- Birmingham. 2.00pm.
The Salvation Army, Jerusalem Walk, Off 1st Floor, The Terrace, Handsworth CDT,
Queen St. DY10 2NP.
Osborn House, 55 Terrace Rd, B19 1BP.
THURS-Tipton. (Women’s Meeting)
11.00-12.30pm. St Pauls Community
Centre, Brickiln St, DY4 8BP
FRI - Sedgley. 7.30 - 9.00pm.
Sedgley Community Centre,
Ladies Walk, DY3 3UA.
SAT– Bartley Green. 12.30pm.
(Women’s Meeting). St. Michael and All
The Angels, Field Lane, B32 BPS.
Local Al-Anon meetings.
National HELPLINE - 020 7403 0888.
Local HELPLINE - 01384 878246.
Al-Anon is for the friends and families whose
lives have been affected by someone else’s
drinking.
TUES- Brierley Hill. 7.30-9.00pm.
New Health & Social Care Centre,
Venture Way, off Little Cottage St.
DY5 1RG.
National HELPLINE - 0300 9991212.
TUES- Tipton. 7.45-9.15pm.
MON- Lye. 6.30pm.
St. Paul’s Community Centre, Brickkiln St. Atlantic House, Dudley Road, DY9 8EL.
DY4 8BP.
MON- Handsworth. 7.45pm.
TUES- Wolverhampton ‘Women in
Trinity Methodist Church, Farnham Road,
Recovery’. 11.00am-12.30pm.
B’ham, B21 3EF.
Tabernacle Baptist Church, Dunstal Rd.
TUES- Walsall. 6.45pm
WV6 0NJ
Lantern House, 130 Lichfield Road,
WS9 9PD.
TUES- Walsall. 7.45-9.00pm.
Buttermere Day Centre, Dorothy Pattison
Hospital, Alumwell Close, WS2 9XH.
SAT- Ladywood. 12.00pm.
Summerhill House, Summer Hill Terrace,
B’ham, B1 3RA.
FRI- Wolverhampton. 7.30pm.
Methodist Church, Darlington Street,
WV1 4LF.
FRI- Lye. 7.30pm.
Atlantic House, Dudley Road, DY9 8EL
THURS- Wolverhampton. 7.30-9.00pm.
Community Room, Wolverhampton Asda,
Molineux Way, Waterloo Rd WV1 4DE
THURS- Kidderminster. 8.00-9.30pm.
The Salvation Army, Jerusalem Walk,
off Queen St. DY10 2NP. (There is also
an AA meeting, same time, at this venue).
SMART RECOVERY GROUP
FRI- 1.00pm. Atlantic House, Dudley
Road, Lye, DY9 8EL.
IT
WORKS
IF YOU
WORK IT
23
USEFUL TELEPHONE NUMBERS
These ‘phone numbers are checked annually but please report any wrong numbers to us
DRUG & ALCOHOL
RELATED
CRI
Atlantic House
Integrated
Substance Misuse
Service
01384 426120
Switch ~ Young people’s drug
and alcohol service 01384
241440
( Formerly The Zone)
Talk to Frank ~ drugs info
0800 77 66 00
Adfam ~ Families, drugs and
alcohol
020 7553 7640
Narcotics Anonymous
Helpline 0300 9991212
HEALTH RELATED
NHS helpline ~ for health advice/
enquiries
0845 4647
GENERAL
Victim Support
01384 241511
MIND ~ mental health information
01384 442938
GUM, Russells Hall Hospital
01384 456111 Ext. 3900
Local HIV & AIDS helpline
Birmingham Women’s Aid
0808 2000 247
Domestic Violence
0121 626 8078
01384 243220
Dudley Rape & Sexual Assault
Counselling Service
0121 6028817
Dudley Relate ~ Relationship
counselling
01902 428447
First Step ~ Counselling & support for
The Volunteer Bureau
01384 573381
young people up to 21 years who have
been sexually abused
01384 411739
Housing ~ To register or for advice
0300 555 2345
The Samaritans
01384 78111
CRUSE ~ Bereavement counselling
01902 2420055
Brook Advisory Centre ~ Advice on
sexual health, pregnancy &
contraception. For under 25’s unless an
emergency on 01384 239001
Blackheath hostel for women
0121 559 0829
Independent Domestic Violence
Advisors
~ Advice and support to break out of the
cycle, information on hostels etc.
01384 455116
Chadd Women’s refuge & outreach
'Time for Me' Project
Help and support for young people
aged 8 - 13 years who are affected by
someone who they live with who
misuses drugs or alcohol
Tel: 01384 411722
email: estelle.hamblett@barnardos.org.uk
ALCOHOL RELATED
What? Centre
LGBT Alcohol Support Group
07760 195 642
www.lgbtalcoholsupport.org
glbtas@yahoo.co.uk
Gamblers Anonymous 0121 2331335
Gamcare 0845 6000133
Aquarius Gambling Support Service
01384 261267
SUMMIT HOUSE SUPPORT
Holloway House
Martin Hill St
Dudley DY2 8RT
01384 243 220
info@shsl.org.uk
Help & advice for young people
01384 379992
Child Line ~ free confidential help line
for children 0800 1111
Parentline Plus ~ free confidential
helpline for parents 0808 800 22 22
Alcohol Concern
020 7264 0510
GAMBLING RELATED
New beginnings refuge ~ 01384 864334
Outreach ~ 01384 864232
Support groups ~ 01384 456465
Alcoholics Anonymous
Local 24/7 Helpline ~
01384 482929
National Helpline ~ 0845 769 7555
Al-Anon for relatives/ friends/
family
Local No, 01384 878246
National number 020 7430 0888
Swanswell ~ Sandwell Alcohol
and IRiS drugs service
0845 112 0100
St Thomas’s Network ~ adult &
community learning/2nd hand furniture
01384 818990
Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB)
all areas 01384 816222
Benefits Service Helpline
0300 555 8100
YMCA
Bronach Grewal 01902 371550
07718 099 992
bronach.grewal@ymcabc.org.uk
24