Recovery Month 2021
Recovery Is for Everyone: Every Person, Every Family, Every Community
Welcome to Recovery Month 2021!
National Recovery Month is as much about celebrating individuals in recovery as it is about generating awareness of the need for addiction and mental health treatment. The numbers are staggering: 20.4 million people reported having a substance use disorder in the past year, and 51.5 million adults in the US reported they had a mental illness, according to the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. But there is help and hope in community.
Recovery Articles for
You, Your Family, Your Community
Recovery-Related Tips & Resources
There are countless ways to nurture your recovery, so we asked Aleah Johnson, MBH’s Director of Alumni Outreach and Development, to share a few tips that have resonated with members of Onward, MBH’s thriving alumni community. We also have some articles, apps, and podcasts to recommend that can provide support, information, and inspiration.
TIP #1: GET OUT IN NATURE
Time in nature can be both healing and grounding. It provides a slower perspective, fresh air, and the opportunity to soak up some vitamin D! A lot of people think they need a lake or mountains for this, but you can find a slower pace right in your own backyard. Throughout COVID, MBH Alumni have shown us their “backyard bliss” during our virtual meetings, complete with bird feeders, wind chimes and cozy chairs. The warm concrete or grass has a calming effect to reflect on the journey — both where I’ve been and where I’m going.
TIP #2: WRITE OR LISTEN TO MUSIC
COVID has no doubt been a challenge for so many of us, but we have some talented alumni that have picked up that guitar or brushed off those piano keys to get back into a rhythm. AA’s Artists in Recovery is an-on-the-rise option for those looking to rediscover their creative side and explore another amazing outlet. Song lyrics can also be very healing. Music has a way of touching parts of the soul that spoken words can’t always reach.
TIP #3: KEEP A JOURNAL
A lot of MBH Alumni use this as an outlet to get things out of their head and onto paper. Some even journal and then burn what they wrote as a way to symbolically release those feelings and experiences. Journaling also allows anyone to organize their thoughts in preparation of having tough conversations with family members or making amends with someone they have hurt. Writing everything out helps sort through all the emotional clutter and boil that down so the message is clear and healing can begin.