Do you know how to talk about your recovery?

By Mountainside

Every year, from birth until I was a teen, my family and I traveled to West Virginia to visit my grandparents on their 200-acre farm, set on a dirt road in the mountains. The land was filled with animals, a party line telephone, one television channel, a radio station (more like just static), and no lights to drown out the stars and thousands of fireflies.

As a child, I embraced the time I had there. I fed the chickens, rode horses, played in the barn, caves and creek, and spent time laying in the open field. As I got older, the farm lost its appeal. As a teenager, being stuck in the middle of nowhere was boring and uneventful. I felt trapped, and had lost the ability to find joy in the beauty that surrounded me.

Recently, I traveled back there. I watched every twist and turn of that old country road, and it seemed like it was only yesterday that I was making this trip. All the memories came flooding back to me. Not much had changed since the last time I was there. The property was missing a few chicken coops, but the barns and carriage house were intact.

As I stood there looking at the house, hugged by the mountains, I felt a sense of peace and a deep sense of gratitude for the time that I had spent there throughout the years. In fact, I wish that I could escape to the mountains, where cellphone service is terrible, there is no such thing as high-speed internet, and all of nature’s wonders surround you.

I know now that each moment counts. I try to embrace each day with childlike eyes and see the magic in all things big and small. Those moments on the farm are a piece of my history, a snapshot in time that I will never forget.

Ask The Experts

How to Talk to Children about Your Recovery

Living a life of recovery after a period of addiction comes with a new set of rules and challenges. One of those challenges is talking to your children about your addiction and recovery. How you approach the subject depends on a variety of factors, but Outpatient Services Clinician Kristin Hankins shares some general tips on what is and is not effective.

Recovery Wellness: Q&A with Nicole S.

At her lowest point, Nicole felt she had no reason to live anymore and was desperately looking for a way out. That's when she came to Mountainside. Now, she wakes up every morning thankful for her sobriety and ready to take on the day. In this month's Spotlight, learn more about her biggest hurdles and what she wishes she could tell her younger self. **Q.** What is your favorite song right now? **A.** 1800-273-8255 by Logic. That number is actually the National Suicide Prevention Hotline. It's a powerful song taken from the point of view of someone calling the hotline. The chorus depicts a progression from dark into light while also encouraging listeners to know that they matter and that someone cares about them and their well-being.

An Introvert's Guide to Small Talk

Some people dislike small talk, but if you're an introvert there's a good chance that small talk is your idea of torture. Nothing makes you dread an event more than the prospect of awkward conversations, silence that seems to last forever, and uncomfortable eye contact. Small talk is unavoidable, but it doesn't have to be so painful. Learn how master it with these few tips.

Life in Recovery: Q&A with Chanelle C.

Alumni Chanelle C. recently shared with us her secret to staying in shape without working out, her current guilty pleasure, and the one thing she cannot live without.

Want to Share your Recovery Birthday?

We are building a list of sobriety birthdays. If you’d like to have your recovery birthday featured in our newsletter please contact Jessica Dolan.

How do I explain an employment gap in my resume due to my drug addiction?

Overcoming addiction is difficult and certainly not something you should be ashamed of. But it is also not something you are obligated to share with everyone, especially the stranger who is interviewing you.

If the interviewer asks you about a gap in your resume,…

By Amy Sedgwick, LADC, CCDP, SCPG, Director of Clinical Operations

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