Wellness Connection Feb 2023

WELLNESS CONNECTION

WOOD RIVER COMMUNITY YMCA

WELLNESS CONNECTION N THE R E C O V E R Y

Supporting Health and Wellness

NWelcome to the premier issue of Wellness Connection, a collaboration of Rainbow’s End Recovery Center and the Crisis Hotline. Our goal is to provide timely information on mental health issues, such as addiction, depression, grief, and trauma. We hope to shed light on and encourage discussion of mental illness, addiction, and recovery. We will present stories of hope and encouragement as well as essays on related topics. This is just a start. We welcome your feedback and will be seeking submissions from our readers: wellness23@gmail.com

Rainbow’s End Recovery set out to be different than the traditional substance use disorder treatment facility my friends and family had attended. A substance abuse counselor and an energy healer raved about the potential of the property in Challis on the Salmon River as the perfect place for people to heal. So it began.

One major focus of the YMCA in the Wood River Valley is the health and well-being of its community. Founded in 2007 by dedicated group of volunteers whose goal was to provide programs and facilities that would serve as a recreational center to inspire our community, the Y had the support of the City of Ketchum which provided the land. It continues to promote recreation and community outreach and operates through the continuing support of numerous donors, volunteers, and community leaders.

To achieve its mission, the Y offers classes to promote health and well-being beginning with classes for youth ages 11-15 to orient them to proper use of the gym which allows them to workout unaccompanied.

staffed by good-hearted souls with little or no experience so there were some bumps and crashes along the way.

The clinical director and one full-time counselor bore the burden of treating the clients, but because we were new, there was only a handful at a time.

The mission of the Y is to strengthen community by working together with its neighbors to make sure everyone, regardless of age, income, or background, has the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive.

The easy part was converting the bed-andbreakfast facility into client rooms. The hard part was the bureaucratic hoops. The hardest part was finding employees. When we opened our doors, we were

The Make-a-Splash program was designed to provide swimming lessons and water safety instruction to second graders in the Wood River Valley. Statistics illustrate that if children are not taught to swim by age nine, there is little chance that they will ever learn. Since 2015, Make-a-Splash has graduated 2,000 children who are now water safe and will be able to make water sports part of their healthy lifestyle.

The Y pool also offers classes for adults in water aerobics, group exercises, and water therapy. Swimming is a one of the

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Going forward, we were able to recruit more and more qualified staff. We worked on honing the curriculum and schedule to accommodate the needs of the clients and the requirements of accrediting agencies. We saw more clients and were building a reputation for quality care.

Each client had a different story, used a different drug, but in the end, each was a person in need of unconditional love and care. Once they realized they were accepted as a whole person and no longer identified by their drug use, they could begin to heal. They would open up to each other, counselors, and group members realizing they were not unique or alone.

We provided community experiences, such as the Fourth of July celebrations,

Caring for your body, mind and spirit is your greatest and grandest responsibility. It’s about listening to the needs of your soul and honoring them.

~Anon

Self-care means giving yourself permission to pause.

Wood River Community YMCA

best forms of exercise for overall fitness.

The Y facility offers a full range of strength and cardiovascular equipment for individual workouts in a functional fitness space which allows for freedom of movement. There are also personal trainers available, all of whom are credentialed to provide services. Since they have a diverse set of skills, you can select the right trainer to work with you on your personal health and wellness goals.

For those who enjoy group exercising, the Y offers everything from Pilates to Zumba including Spin and High Fitness classes. These are great cardio workouts.

To develop flexibility, strength, and balance, the Y offers a variety of yoga classes. Yoga makes us aware of our bodies and helps achieve a sense of calm. Leave the hustle and bustle of daily life for an hour or so and learn to focus on yourself and relieve some stress.

Other services offered through contracted employees are CPR and First Aid Classes, Massage Therapy, and Physical Therapy. The Y strives to provide a broad range of activities for all age and ability levels. They would love to have you get involved. Contact them to sign up for a class, donate, or volunteer. Visit their website at woodriverymca.org for more information or contact them at 208-727-9622 or stop by the facility at 101 Saddle Road, Ketchum.

SUGGESTED BOOKS

• Stumbling on Happiness by Daniel Gilbert

• Live Free by DeVon Franklin

• Addicted to Unhappiness by Martha Heineman Pieper, Ph.D. & William J. Pieper, MD

• Authentic Happiness by Martin E. Seligman, Ph.D.

• How to Be Happy All the Time by Paramhansa Yogananda

• Habits of a Happy Brain by Loretta Graziano Breuning, Ph.D.

• Be Happy (The Happiness Project) by Robert Holden, Ph.D.

• Name, Claim & Reframe Your Path to a Well-lived Life by Andrea Mein DeWitt

“Realize that true  happiness lies within you. Waste no time and effort searching for peace and contentment and joy in the world outside. Remember that there is no happiness in having or in getting, but only in giving. Reach out. Share. Smile. Hug.”

~Og

You find peace not by rearranging the circumstances of your life, but by realizing who you are at the deepest level.

~Eckhart Tolle

Keep your face always toward the sunshine and shadows will fall behind you.

THREE GOOD THINGS

A LITTLE MORE HAPPINESS

With the state of the world today, we could all use a little less stress and a little more happiness. There are tools which specifically focus on stress reduction and repeating them consistently will increase happiness and reduce stress.

American psychologist, educator, and author Martin Seligman developed the concept of positive psychology in 1993. Even though psychologists are trained to help clinically depressed people feel better, there were no guidelines for helping people who are considered okay live a fuller, more vibrant life. How can we help people thrive?

The following are some simple interventions we can all apply to our lives. The key to being successful is consistency. It works if you work it.

Three Good Things

Every day, at the same time, write down three good things that happened to you that day. Commit to doing it for 30 days and not repeating yourself. As the month goes on, dig deeper and notice the little things such as the barista made me the most amazing latte or the birds were singing a happy chorus this morning.

Positive psychology pulls from many different scientific principles to guide the development of this intervention. It capitalizes on neuroscience and the knowledge of neural pathways and neuroplasticity. (We are often told the brain is a muscle; this is a similar concept.)

Humans are wired to notice the negative because as we evolved we had to protect ourselves and became hypervigilant. We were protecting ourselves from physical dangers; whereas in today’s society we are often more threatened psychologically.

This intervention forces you to pay attention to the positive. If you do it consistently, you will permanently rewire your neural pathways, and noticing the “Good Things” will become a habit.

The Free Three

The following activities are directly connected to improved mood and higher levels of satisfaction in life.

• GET OUSIDE for at least 15 minutes, preferably in nature.

• LAUGH. Watch a funny film clip or spend time with people who make you laugh.

• MUSIC. Listen to music, preferably up beat tempos which energize you.

These are easily accessible activities which are FREE. It may sound simple, but these are action-oriented activities which enhance positive psychology programming.

For more information on Positive Psychology visit www. authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu

Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.

~ Annie Lamott

PUT YOUR HEALTH FIRST

What is self-care? It’s the thoughtful practice of protecting and improving our own physical health and mental health within a balanced lifestyle. In these stressful and uncertain times, it’s never been more critical. Self-care includes the intentional acts of eating well, getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, maintaining a strong social network, tending to our spiritual needs, looking after our financial security, and so much more. Think of it as the gentle art of loving yourself.

Take action to improve your mental wellness. Take the

stairs. Wake up early. Include coffee and tea in your diet. Monitor your sleep habits; six to eight hours is recommended. All these actions help reduce the risk of dementia and depression and contribute to overall well-being.

Be open to mindfulness. Focus on the task at hand, eliminating distractions. Take slow deep breaths, inhaling through the nose and exhaling slowly through the mouth. Take note of your senses, appreciating what you see, hear, feel and taste. By slowing down, you can reduce your anxiety and enhance your enjoyment of the moment.

According to the Harvard Health Annual Report for 2023, science continues to find that people with an optimistic outlook enjoy longer, healthier lives. This is not having an upbeat attitude, but rather applying optimism to solve problems and improve circumstances. It suggests four practices which can help build optimism.

Jenna

• Look for opportunities. If things don’t go as planned, such as being too sick to work-out, do what you can like gentle stretching.

• Focus on your strengths. Make a list of your strengths and plan to focus on one each day. For example, if you are naturally curious, try something you have an interest in, but haven’t tried before.

Ipray that I never forget how I felt in the picture on the left. eighteen months ago, I was hopeless and felt just as worthless. I prayed that I wouldn't have to wake up to live another day. My unresolved trauma throughout my life had become too much. I was at the height of my alcoholism, drinking a fifth a day and in so much emotional and spiritual pain.

• Practice gratitude. Every day be sincerely grateful for at least one thing, such as a great meal.

• Create a mental image of your best possible self. Look forward five years and focus on the goals you need to achieve to get to that place. Focusing on possibilities is a positive activity.

Source: Harvard Health Annual 2023 Howard LeWine, M.D., Chief Medical Editor

MISSION STATEMENT

I was given a choice and an opportunity eighteen months ago, and hoping it was a way out. I left for rehab at Rainbows End thirty four days later and the journey had only just begun. The last year and a half has been the hardest, most beautiful, most rewarding, and most peaceful of my life. I have gained a love and an understanding for not only myself, but for those around me as well. I am blessed in my professional and personal life to help those still suffering today with their addiction. I have meaningful and honest connections with the people around me today. I am capable of handling even the worst situation with more love and more grace today. I am a work in progress, with the hope every day to be a better me than I was the day before. I have a beautiful and ever growing and changing relationship with a higher power of my own design and I have more blessings and more hope than I could have ever dreamed, even on my best day 18 months ago.

The Wellness Connection was developed to provide timely information on mental health issues, such as addiction, depression, grief and trauma, and showcase the community nonprofit services. We will highlight the services of a different nonprofit organization each month to give the community a better understanding of the broad scope of services offered. We will present stories of hope and encouragement as well as essays on related topics. We welcome your feedback. Contact us at RERCjournal@gmail.com

I wish I could give even just a glimpse of the hope and love I have discovered on this journey. I continue to do the next right thing, let go of things I cannot control, and exist for just one day at a time. Thankful every day for the opportunity to have lived this life.

Resources

Rainbow’s End Recovery Center www.rainbowsendrecoverycenter.com | 208 879-2267

Men’s Second Chance Living www.msclhouse.org | 208 481-0182

“988” is the nationwide phone number to connect directly to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline 12 Step Group Meetings, Mental Health Group Meetings The Sun Club www.sunclub.org

Rainbow s End Recovery Center www.rainbowsendrecoverycenter.com | 208 879-2267

Men’s Second Chance Living www.msclhouse.org | 208 481-0182

The Crisis Hotline www.thecrisishotline.org | 208 788-3596

NAMI www.nami-wrv.com | 208 481-0686

12 Step Group Meetings, Mental Health Group Meetings The Sun Club www.sunclub.org

NAMI www.nami-wrv.com | 208 481-0686

The Advocates For Survivors of Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault www.theadvocates.org | 208 788-4191

Advocates For Survivors of

St. Lukes Mental Health Services www.stlukesonline.org 208 788-2134

Publisher Nancy Colletti, Executive Director, Rainbow’s End Recovery Center

Editor In Chief Claudia Cabot Mohr, BA, MFA

Contact us: rercjournal@gmail.com

Creative Direction

The Suicide Hotline | DIAL 988

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