1. Next Steps in the Recovery Journey
Presented at the 6th Annual RSVP Recovery Conference
In Ashland, Ohio
September 25, 2013 By
Ruta Mazelis
Trish Risser
Pat Risser

2. Started or stopped __________?
First Steps
You’ve:
Stopped Drinking
Stopped Cutting
Stopped Drugging
Started Medications
Stopped Medications
Started or stopped __________?

3. Step One: Now What?

4. Now What? What’s Next?
Understand that starting or stopping a behavior is only the beginning of the recovery journey. Recovery is further down the road. How much further is up to the individual.

5. We’re here to offer hope

6. Feelings 101 Name that feeling: Mad Sad Glad Hurt Afraid Ashamed
Crayons: We all start with a single color. Eventually we grow to the six color box. We can grow to develop nuances into the big 128color box. That’s with regard to our feelings. But, depending on where we’re at in our growth, we might need help identifying even the basic six to start with. By starting here, you can grow, identify your feelings and then learn to cope with them.

7. Be creative in expressing your feelings
I was always told to beat a pillow. I could never take my anger out on a poor defenseless pillow.

8. Be creative in expressing your feelings
I found some cheap goodwill dishes and the act of smashing them was a much better release of anger for me. I loved the sight, sound and feel better.

9. Be creative in expressing your feelings
Depression

10. Be creative in expressing your feelings
Depression: When a friend dragged me out of bed and into the world, he took me to the races. There my senses were bombarded by sight, sound, smell, feel and I found that I couldn’t stay in that place of depression. It was only a short vacation from my depression but it was a start, a next step.

11. This Too Shall Pass
Feelings just are. They come and they go. Feelings are real, they can hurt but they can’t do real damage. You can control your actions. You can survive. You can recover.

12. It’s as easy as falling off a ladder

13. Sometimes

14. It’s been a rough week but I made it. How about you?