There is Hope

When a desperate family member joins one of our Hope & Support Groups to ask the question, “Where is the hope in all of this?”, we must stand ready with solid and uplifting responses! Their fear, isolation and need for resources and support must be addressed.

Bereaved parents make their way to one of our Hope After Loss groups, defeated in utter despair, also ask, “Where is there hope in all of this?” The answer does not come easily. Losing someone you love to a drug-related death is something beyond profound. In many ways, the loss may have occurred long before the actual act of passing. Many years of heartbreak and struggle often precede these tragedies and leave in their wake feelings of dismay, regret, guilt and despair.

Addiction is isolating, not only for the individual, but for the entire system of people who surround their loved ones. Families, friends and co-workers alike experience the extremely uncomfortable feelings associated with their attempts to help affect change.

Despite what we know, addiction is still attached to a great deal of shame and stigma, which is as detrimental as the disease itself and provides yet another barrier to treatment.

Addiction does not discriminate and knows no bounds. Our Support Group attendees come from a wide range of demographics, but they all come with a still small voice in their hearts that whispers, “There is hope.”

So, how do we recover? Where do we find hope? SAMHSA’s website offers the following:

Recovery is a process of change through which people improve their health and wellness, live self-directed lives, and strive to reach their full potential. There are four major dimensions that support recovery:

Hope, the belief that these challenges and conditions can be overcome, is the foundation of recovery. The process of recovery is highly personal and occurs via many pathways. Recovery is characterized by continual growth and improvement in one’s health and wellness that may involve setbacks. Because setbacks are a natural part of life, resilience becomes a key component of recovery.

The process of recovery is supported through relationships and social networks. This often involves family members who become the champions of their loved one’s recovery. Families of people in recovery may experience adversities that lead to increased family stress, guilt, shame, anger, fear, anxiety, loss, grief and isolation.

The concept of resilience in recovery is also vital for family members who need access to intentional supports that promote their health and well-being. The support of peers and friends is also crucial in engaging and supporting individuals in recovery.

Recovery services and supports must be flexible. What may work for adults may be very different for youth or older adults. For example, the nature of social supports, peer mentors, and recovery coaching for adolescents is different than for adults and older adults.

Supporting recovery requires that mental health and addiction services:

TriCircle has worked very hard and is proud to offer resources for all of these recommended services and supports. Yet, with all of this in mind, I believe recovery and hope resonate on a much deeper level. The challenges we meet and the contrast we create here during our brief stay on this planet are the cornerstones of our ability to be resilient, to heal, and to co-create with others and, more importantly, to find purpose, joy and unconditional love. Without the difficult times there would be no desire for something more, something better, something different. As we sift, sort and navigate these waters together, we find a space where inspiration, hope, resilience and love grows. Together WE are Stronger!

(From TriCircle Newsletter, November 2021)