Haloween & Talks from TEDx

This is your brain and this is your brain on drugs! lol j/k but these pumpkins had me laughing so I thought I would share!

TALKS FROM TED!


Sarah Nerad- Investing in Recovery
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtpx0EJHzeI#t=160




Lessons from the mental hospital- Glennon Doyle Melton

Glennon Doyle Melton is the author of the New York Times Bestseller, CARRY ON, WARRIOR, founder of http://www.momastery.com, and creator ofhttp://www.monkeeseemonkeedo.org. 
Glennon believes that life is equal parts beautiful and brutal, and writes about the "brutiful" she finds in marriage, motherhood, faith, addiction and recovery. 


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHHPNMIK-fY

The Anonymous People viewing here in Charlotte!!!!

TONIGHT!!!





There are still tickets available!!!


http://gathr.us/screening/5613

Repel for Recovery!

Hey Everyone!!

It is just crazy how things fall into place, especially when my recovery is first. Just a few years ago I felt like there was no hope. My entire world was crashing in around me. Everything I knew of was going horrible and I was all alone. Come to find out everything was mainly in my head. My messed up thinking and rationalizing the most obvious bad decisions. My using and drinking put me into places where I thought I would never be. Fast forwarding a few years later, here and now. I'm in college, clean and sober, part the first Collegiate Recovery Community in NC and working with people in recovery. Who thought this drunk would be flying out to California tomorrow to repel off the side of the W Hotel in Hollywood?? Not me!! That is for sure! I couldn't have told you what the future held back then. Now I know there is hope, even when you feel helpless and worthless, there is help. I felt so alone in a room full of people. I thought being alone was better that people seeing the true me. Today I get to help others or should I say they help me more than I help them. I get to be surrounded with people who truly understand what I am feeling. Being in college and in recovery is such an amazing concept! Just the opportunities that have been sent my way, all the people who I have met, everything has gotten so much better! Just remember you are not alone if you are struggling with this disease. There are tons of people willing and able to help. For me asking for help was the hardest thing I had to do and still to this day can struggle with trying to do everything all by my self. I have learned through trial and error asking for help is totally worth that minute that I might feel uncomfortable. After that minute it seems everything I was either worried about or stressing over is just turned over, or explained

in a very simple way for me.

A friend sent this to me and I thought I would share!

The Over the Edge Repel Event in Hollywood!!

http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/ChelseaSchmidt/hollywood-over-the-edge

 Anna David's Webpage (one of the Celebs who will be repelling with us) She also goes to colleges and speaks on recovery

http://annadavid.com/speaking/

Contact us:

http://wellness.uncc.edu/collegiate-recovery-community-crc

Many faces one voice:

http://manyfaces1voice.org/

Faces and Voices of Recovery:

http://www.facesandvoicesofrecovery.org/

The Anonymous People viewing in Charlotte NC: GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!

https://gathr.us/films/the-anonymous-people

The Anonymous People trailer:

http://vimeo.com/64948005

Young People in Recovery:

http://youngpeopleinrecovery.org/

National Youth Recovery Foundation:

http://nationalyouthrecovery.org/

Addiction

Standing Tall for Recovery

 We made it on the front page of UNC Charlotte's web page!

http://www.uncc.edu/spotlight/2013/spotlight-standing-tall-recovery

 Its amazing to see that students are becoming more aware of recovery on our campus! 

Yesterday was The Center for Wellness Promotion's big October event, OctSober Fest! Students came out to participate in the fun and games, while of course learning about health and wellness. There were tables set up on sexual health, relationship health, nutritional health, recovery and alcohol awareness. Along with fun and games thanks to Venture, Rec Services, GAMMA, RSA, Scarowinds, the Police Department and many more. Thank you to everyone who came out to volunteer and participate!!! It goes to show how much fun can be had without drinking or using drugs. Back years ago I would have told you that the idea of doing anything without a drink would have been crazy. Now I know that everything is so much better without it!

The support from other students is such a huge part in my recovery and education. I'm really not sure how I would still be here, in college, without these amazing people helping me. School has not been easy this time around but I believe that all good things come with challenges. The second chance and opportunity was given so freely to me, now is my time to put down the footwork and ask for help when it is needed.
I'm not sure why asking for help can be the hardest part of using the tools, but for me that phone can be so heavy when it is time to pick it up. Even writing an email to a Professor to get help. There are so many resources here on campus that are available! Why can it be so difficult to just utilize them?

Knowing what needs to be done and actually doing it is the difference between staying the same and changing. Change is necessary for my continual recovery. We must remain teachable! Everything we go through helps us learn and grow. I am so grateful that today I can see when things need to change and have amazing people who are willing to help. The support I receive is just so amazing!

Today I am grateful. Today all I can do is my best and sometimes by best is poor. Either way all I can do today is try! One day at a time, one moment at a time, one second at a time. I am a young person in long-term recovery, a college student, a employee, a daughter, a girlfriend, and most of all a friend. I can be all these things if my recovery comes first! Balance helps to maintain everything and finding that balance has been the hardest thing for me lately. This to shall pass. I know the sayings but sometimes its hard to see. You just have to believe!

Break or Not

Hello!!

Happy Thursday! Some might call this the beginning of the weekend. Here at UNCC we have our fall break this coming up Monday and Tuesday. The sound of doing nothing! Just kidding I've got exams that next week and even though we are out of school the university is still open so all meetings will still be here on campus.

I was looking up some things on recovery and came across this gem! Thank Tim!!
http://www.sobernation.com/being-young-in-recovery-whats-it-like/

That was an amazing trip! I got the privilege of meeting some amazing people and reuniting with ones I hadn't seen in awhile. The crazy part is all these young people are recovery advocates and work locally and nationally to let people know the Recovery Works!

Just thinking of all the people I have met in my short time in recovery just astounds me! There is so much I never knew I could accomplish and be a part of! Super excited for this month! 

Tons of events are going on! Check them out!!

http://wellness.uncc.edu/calendar

Procrastination is not the key

 Hello Everyone!!

Sometimes being a student can be stressful. Deadlines and classes and work. Where does our recovery fit in all this? I've always been told my recovery must come first or everything else will be lost. Well truth is it won't be lost I will freely give it away. My license, my car, my friends, my job, my education, and my willingness. All these things will be exactly where I leave them weather it is in the hands of a police officer, a junk yard or just a waste of a good person.  Today I know I'm far from perfect and that it's progress not perfection. I also know that my laziness and old habits like procrastination or perfectionism can creep back up at any moment. Especially when I am not spiritually fit. Little things that I hardly consider, tend to be the biggest contributors to those old character defects coming back. Reading a daily meditation, exercising, going to a meeting, getting sleep, eating a healthy well balanced diet are those little things that make a BIG difference.

I think when I was told to always say yes when asked to do something in recovery I might just have taken it to the extreme. Haha funny an addict who takes things to the extreme! Sometimes it OK to say no! Overwhelming and overworking your body leads to breakdowns. Not only will your brain not function properly but you will be no use to yourself or others. Being a college student pulling all nighters, pushing things back to the very last minute, surviving on coffee and nicotine, I understand. There has to be balance in recovery, school, work, study time, and personal time. I'm still working on this balance and find myself getting better but at least I know that a drink or a drug is not going to make anything go away. For so long I used to cover up all the messes I was making. Now I see the mess and am trying to figure out how to clean it up, and sometimes it takes awhile to learn these new habits. I truly think all the craziness and events that are happening around me are there for a reason. I just have to keep telling myself it's Progress not Perfection!!

Thought this was pretty helpful :)

Please let me know if you have any questions or advice for the recovering student.

Help Support Recovery and join the cause!

https://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/ChelseaSchmidt/hollywood-over-the-edge

I found this article about Collegiate Recovery and wanted to share!!

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/22/education/edlife/a-bridge-to-recovery-on-campus.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

Powerlessness