Representing Manitoba’s Credit Unions were Jim Harris (Director, Communications & Governance) and Samantha Stupack (Communications Coordinator) from Cambrian Credit Union. They joined Lisa Cowan, Tamarack Executive Director who launched the fund and this year’s ‘50 for the Future’ campaign to support it, by explaining, “This is a proactive investment in our future. With the help of generous donors like Manitoba’s Credit Unions we’re creating a sustainable financial foundation to ensure another 50 years of impactful service provision.” She added, “Our current data shows that more and more people are seeking addictions treatment services. However, we know that not everyone can afford to access the help they need. The agency fund means we can build on and sustain our innovative and responsive participant subsidy program, reducing financial barriers to accessing treatment for future participants.”

She went on to say that, “through our ‘50 for the Future’ campaign we hope to encourage donors large and small to commit to the future of their community and help us reach our goal of raising $50,000 for the fund in honour of our 50th anniversary year. The Manitoba’s Credit Unions’ donation gets this campaign off to a flying start and is a concrete demonstration of the confidence they have in our dedication to serving our community.”

“As member-owned and community-based financial institutions, Manitoba’s credit unions have a vested interest in the health and well-being of the communities we serve,” said David Mortimer, President & CEO of Cambrian Credit Union. “Tamarack’s innovative treatment program addresses a tremendous need, and their proven track record of results has a profound effect on our community. As credit unions, we’re proud to be able to help support this important work.”

Manitoba’s Credit Unions join a roster of generous supporters who have contributed to Tamarack Recovery Centre’s development and growth over the past 50 years helping to take it from a small grassroots addictions recovery group to the established and effective agency it is today.

About the TRC Agency Fund

The TRC agency fund, managed by the Winnipeg Foundation, allows donors to make contributions of any amount that are then grant matched by the Foundation. Each year an annual disbursement from the interest earned by the fund will be made to Tamarack and used to support participants in accessing treatment services.

About Tamarack Recovery Centre

For 50 years, Tamarack Recovery Centre has delivered impactful addictions treatment and recovery services in Winnipeg. Our mission: to provide a safe, welcoming environment where individuals are supported in recovery to realize their full potential. Our vision is simple: Healthy people, free from addiction.

Over the past five decades supporting thousands of people experiencing addictions on their recovery journey, Tamarack has earned its trusted reputation as both a well-established and forward-thinking treatment centre. Over time, we have developed and refined a truly unique program that meets participants where they are, providing holistic, responsive, and continuous community-based care that supports people not just through treatment but through lifelong recovery.

For more information contact:
Lisa Cowan, Executive Director
Tamarack Recovery Centre
60 Balmoral Street | Winnipeg, MB | R3C 1X4
204-775-1328 | lcowan@tamarackrecovery.org

About Manitoba’s Credit Unions

Credit unions are independent, full-service financial co-operatives, owned and governed by the members they serve. They have played a crucial role in Manitoba’s growth and prosperity since 1938. Today, Manitoba is home to 15 credit unions, with 176 branches in 114 communities across the province, giving Manitobans substantially better access to quality financial services and products than any other financial institution. In 79 of those communities, the credit union is the only financial institution in place to serve local residents and businesses. Together, Manitoba’s credit unions serve over 740,000 members with $46 billion in assets.

For more information, contact:
Sarah Bertnick
Manager, Strategic Communications
Credit Union Central of Manitoba
204.985.4937 | sarah.bertnick@cucm.org

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Practice self-care – This can be a tall order with so much busy-ness around us, however we are far more likely to make bad choices when we are emotionally, mentally, physically or spiritually drained. When we find ourselves running on automatic pilot our buttons can easily be pushed. We may say the wrong thing to the wrong person or we may find ourselves leaning towards taking the easy way out. The easy way out can often be a very slippery slope to navigate.

Carefully chose which invitations to accept – It can be exciting to see so many invitations to holiday get-togethers, but in recovery we can become overwhelmed easily at times. As well, many people in recovery have friends and family members that have addiction issues of their own and for that reason we may find that it is best to pass on these opportunities. It is important to think it through keeping our limits and our safety in mind.

You have worked very hard to have a sober holiday.

Rehearse – Know what you will say if you find yourself in the company of people offering you alcohol/drugs. Have that response ready and on the tip of your tongue. You can put yourself in a vulnerable place if you are caught off guard and not prepared to quickly respond.

Go late/leave early – If you feel that you are obligated to attend a gathering that may not be in your best interest, it’s a good idea to limit your exposure to the uncomfortableness and/or anxiety. Arrive as late as you can while still being respectful, and don’t stay too long. That way you will have ‘made an appearance’ and still honored your limits.

Use the Fellowship – Spend time with people that understand how difficult this time of the year can be. At a 12 Step meeting you will not have to wrestle with what to say or do. You can freely share whatever you may be feeling, without feeling like you need to put on a mask or worrying that others won’t understand. Many 12 Step groups organize special events and ac-tivities throughout the holidays to socialize and have sober fun.

Maintain your structure – It is easy to deviate from our regular routine and structure during busy times. For people in recovery however, it is extremely important to maintain a sense of normalcy and consistency. Although that is hard to do any time of the year as ‘life happens’, maintaining a routine as best we can, will help to keep us grounded. Use a day planner and make ‘to do lists’. This will help keep you on track.

Be grateful – You are sober! You have worked very hard to have a sober holiday and now is the time to count your blessings. Make a gratitude list. It will help you put things in perspective, bring you a sense of peace and keep you grounded and focused.

Reach out – If you are feeling that it is all too much, reach out to your supports. Call your sponsor, attend an aftercare group, stop by Tamarack, or go to a meeting. Don’t delay or overthink it, just ask for help. It can get you through sober and may even save your life.

Have a ‘safe at any cost’ plan – If you have a plan for when/if the unexpected and unlikely occurs, you are much less likely to need it. We have a greater sense of safety and manage-ability if we know we are covered should we find our sobriety in trouble. Know what lengths you will go to in order to stay safe and sober and have that in order if needed.

Maintain your spiritual connection – Whatever that means to you, should it be God, Higher Power, Creator, nature, or anything else that brings you a sense of wellbeing and peace. You may want to attend church, a synagogue, a meeting, a sweat, sit under a tree, meditate, take a mindful walk, or do yoga. Try to make this a part of your everyday life if you have not already. You may find that when that spiritual tank is filled, everything else will fall into place throughout the holiday as well as the rest of your life.

Here are some local resources you can access if you feel extra support is required: 

Winnipeg Area AA meetings
Winnipeg Al-Anon meetings
Winnipeg Families Anonymous meetings
Main Street Project
Klinic Crisis Support
Crisis Response Centre

Reach out to your supports…don’t delay or overthink it, just ask for help.

The post Preparing for the Holidays appeared first on Tamarack Recovery Centre.

Thankfully, while living sober, we find that we can create something completely different. If ‘garbage in, garbage out’ was true in the days prior to recovery, then life in recovery gives us the opportunity to experience the opposite: ‘sober living brings sober results’ and, in time, our new healthy behaviours, choices and outlook bear fruit.

One way this process has been described is through ‘The Twelve Rewards’ of recovery, a concept presented at the AA International Convention in 1985 and we at Tamarack believe it still holds true today. The Twelve Rewards of recovery are as follows:

• Hope instead of depression
• Faith instead of despair
• Courage instead of fear
• Peace of mind instead of confusion
• Self-respect instead of self-contempt
• Self-confidence instead of helplessness
• The respect of others instead of their pity and contempt
• A clean conscience instead of a sense of guilt
• Real friendships instead of loneliness
• A clean pattern of life instead of a purposeless existence
• The love and understanding of our families instead of their doubts and fears
• The freedom of a happy life instead of the bondage of an alcoholic obsession

Ann C. – Presented at the 1985 International convention.

Of course, the process of recovery can be very hard. At times we struggle to see our progress and can feel stuck, but once we experience the ‘fruits of our labours’ in recovery—improved relationships with family and friends, for example—a renewed sense of purpose and determination takes hold and we find that we no longer miss our old way of life.

Eventually, we look at where we are and realise we have come so far

Eventually, we look at where we are and realize we have come so far. So far, in fact, that we can see there is too much to lose by going back to old behaviours.

Stopping and appreciating the rewards of recovery helps us to not only actively embrace (and even celebrate) where we are in the present, but also grow to understand that we have the potential to live beyond the self-perceived limitations we had previously held.

So, take some time to reflect, focus on the present and see how far you have come. Savour the moment and the rewards of your recovery!

The post Reaping and Savouring the Rewards of Recovery appeared first on Tamarack Recovery Centre.

Understandably, these experiences of ‘friendship’ in addiction can make us really wary of connecting with and trusting anyone again. However, if we want to grow in confidence in our recovery and begin to create a life worth living, learning about and beginning to build healthy friendships is highly important.

Friendships teach us about life and how to handle situations in new, healthier ways

Of course, this is not easy at first. In early recovery social interactions are uncomfortable, we don’t have our old ways of coping to lean on and it’s normal to feel self-conscious and exposed. However, by daring to reach out and connect with sober people, we not only learn more about ourselves, but we begin to find people with whom we share healthy common interests. And in time it is in these interactions that we learn the meaning of true friendship – neither party expects to get something from the other. Instead, it is a personality bond that keeps us connected – a bond that is not conditional on what we can get or what we give.

Healthy friendships in recovery will often act as a ‘mirror’ to show us things about ourselves that we may not have seen before. They frequently awaken parts of us that we were aware of before addiction, but had since forgotten. Friendships teach us about life and how to handle situations in new, healthier ways. And it’s often our friendships that help us through tough times and teach us to believe in ourselves.

But what about being a healthy friend to ourselves? While the key to this process usually involves a generous amount of self-compassion that certainly doesn’t mean it’s simple…or easy. In addiction we do our best to get away from our true self, certain that our feelings are wrong, unwanted, or unacceptable to others. We then turn on ourselves believing that we are bad, shameful and unworthy. Even after becoming sober we are commonly caught up in a self-loathing cycle. However, it is only when we learn to have compassion for ourselves, in the same way we do for our friends, for example, that we are able to accept where we are in our recovery journey and move forward in our lives.

Building self-compassion means finding ways to be good and gentle to ourselves

Mindfulness and DBT have proven to be effective tools for building self-compassion. They teach us to look at the facts, to accept where and who we are, and to operate from our ‘wise mind’ rather than an ‘automatic pilot’ state where our thoughts ramble into self-negativity, such as “I’m such a loser” or “I can’t do anything right”. It’s a sad truth that while we wouldn’t dream of saying these things to a friend, we often say them easily to ourselves. Building self-compassion means finding ways to be good and gentle to ourselves, treating ourselves as we’d treat a best friend.

Friendship in recovery doesn’t have to end there, though. When someone feels that they are on a healthy path, with good supportive friends and a healthy sense of self, giving back may be the next step they want to take. There are endless ways to begin to give back. You could start by simply being a good friend to someone who needs some encouragement or support. In time, when you are ready, you may choose to be someone’s sponsor. You could sweep the floor at your home group or you could volunteer with an organization that inspires you.

As folks involved in twelve step groups will know, gratitude and giving back (service work) is an anchor that can be used to keep our sobriety. In fact, some say that “you can’t keep it if you don’t give it away”.

Giving back often leaves us richer for the experience, lifting our self-esteem, helping us feel more empowered in our recovery, finding meaning in our life, staying connected to what’s important and developing new skills as well. Possibly the best reason of all to give back in recovery is that studies show1 that individuals in recovery who continue to help others are more likely to stay abstinent than those who do not.

1 – https://psychcentral.com/blog/how-giving-makes-us-happy/

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AA
CA
NA
Dharma Recovery
SMART Recovery
Jib Stop

Recovery Series:

Finding Freedom
Jo and Charlie
Recovery Speakers (online audio library)

Recovery Services and Programs:

AFM
Anchorage Booth Centre 
St. Raphael 

Trauma Healing /Support/Programs:

Laurel Centre (CSA women)
Men’s Resource Centre
RE-ACT

Mental Health Education/Services:

Canadian Mental Health Association
ADAM

Indigenous Resources/Support:

Native Addictions Council of Manitoba
Native Women’s Transition Centre
Ka Ni Kanichihk
Government of Manitoba Indigenous Resources

Detox Services:

RAAM Clinic
Main Street Project
HSC Chemical Withdrawal Unit

Emergency Services:

Assorted Resources through End Homelessness
Crisis Response Centre and Mobile Crisis Unit (same contact info)
Klinic (suicide prevention/crisis line/sexual assault crisis line)

Family Support:

Families Anonymous
Al-anon

Additional Resources:

How to apply for COVID related benefits
1 Just City
Seed

The post Online Recovery Resource List appeared first on Tamarack Recovery Centre.

Tamarack Recovery Centre’s Addictions Recovery Phone Support Services is a non-crisis phone support service for anyone who is:

• Needing some help finding resources1 to support their recovery process during this time.
• Looking to help someone they care about in accessing supports during this time.
• Finding it hard to stay sober or feeling like they’re close to slipping during this time.

 What we provide

• Tamarack will provide you with a 1:1 support session with one of our Addictions Counsellors.
• If you would like another session, you can set this up with the counsellor when you talk with them.
• All session can be up to 1 hour in length.
• Sessions can be arranged any time between 9am and 5pm Monday through Friday.
• Sessions are completely free.

 To set up a session

• Read through the information below regarding confidentiality and consent to phone sessions to see if this is a fit for you.
• If you are in agreement with the information below, just reach out to us at info@tamarackrecovery.org and let us know what day or time can work for a session. Also let us know if you feel more comfortable talking with a male or female counsellor.
• Our Clinical Supervisor will get back to you to let you know who you will be talking with and give you a time to call the counsellor.

 We look forward to supporting you.

You can also check out our Online Resource list here.

Confidentiality And Consent To Engage In This Service

All staff members of Tamarack Recovery sign and agree to abide by the conditions as set out in Tamarack Recovery’s Code of Ethics and Personal Health Information Act Policies. These policies expressly forbid the disclosure of an individual’s identity and/or any identifying information and personal details relating to services provided by Tamarack to any third party unless a release of information form is signed by you.

As such you can be assured that the information you share with a counsellor from Tamarack Recovery Centre will be held in the strictest confidence except when a person provides written consent that gives permission for personal information to be communicated to others; when disclosure is required to prevent clear and imminent harm/danger to the client or others; when legal requirements demand that confidential material be revealed, such as a client file being subpoenaed by a court of law or when a child is in need of protection.

Notes from any phone session with a counsellor will be created by the counsellor and held on our secure server for one year from the last date of involvement. Should an individual enter the Tamarack treatment program during this period, the information will be included in their residential client file and securely stored in accordance with Tamarack’s data policy for seven years.

In engaging in this service you understand that you may be discussing potentially sensitive issues over the phone and are aware of potential challenges/ risks regarding service interruption or information being heard by individuals in your immediate vicinity. Please note that this is a support service to provide a way for you to get help with addictions and recovery related concerns. If you are struggling to keep yourself safe, are at risk or actively engaged in self-harm behaviour or are experiencing suicidal ideation or urges you are asked instead to contact:

Klinic Crisis Line at: 204-786-8686
MB Suicide Line at: 1-877-435-7170 toll free
Crisis Response Centre at: 204-940-1781

The post NEW Addiction Recovery Phone Support Services appeared first on Tamarack Recovery Centre.

Do any of these statements sound familiar?

• I need more of the substance to get the desired effect.
• I experience withdrawal if I try to stop.
• I need to take the substance to prevent or relieve withdrawal.
• I’m using more than I planned to.
• I want to cut down or stop. I just can’t seem to.
• Most of my time is spent trying to get the substance, use the substance and recover from its effects.
• I’ve given up or have reduced doing the things that I used to enjoy.
• I want people to mind their own business about my drinking/using and stop telling me what to do.
• Even though the substance is negatively affecting me physically and mentally, I still can’t seem to stop using it.
• My substance use is interfering with my sleeping and eating.
• The thought of running out of substances terrifies me.

Have you ever…

• Decided to stop using substances for a week or so, but only managed a couple of days?
• Had problems connected with substance use during the past year?
• Missed days of work because of substance use?
• Felt that your life would be better if you did not use substances?
• Used alone?
• Manipulated or lied to a doctor to obtain prescription drugs?
• Stolen to obtain substances?
• Avoided people who do not approve of your substance use?
• Been arrested as a result of using substances?
• Lied about what or how much you use?
• Put the purchase of substances ahead of your financial responsibilities?
• Felt it was impossible for you to live without substances?
• Thought you couldn’t fit in or have a good time without substances?
• Felt defensive, guilty, or ashamed about your using?
• Obsessed about substances?
• Used substances because of emotional pain or stress?
• Overdosed on any substances?

Does a person I know have an addiction?

• They appear to be frequently high or intoxicated.
• Their activities are focused around drinking or other drug use.
• Their group of friends appears to use substances.
• They isolate themselves from others and their substance abuse occurs alone.
• They seem reluctant to attend events where substances won’t be available.
• They use “social drugs” with prescribed medications.
• They seem to be able to consume large quantities of substances without appearing intoxicated.
• Their patterns of use are predictable or well known to others.
• They seem to rely on substances to cope with stress.
• Other things in their life have changed (they’ve moved, changed friends) but their substance use has stayed the same or increased.
• They appear to feel guilty about some aspect of their substance use.
• They’ve missed work or gone to work late due to their substance use.
• They blame their substance use on work related problems.
• Family members or friends have expressed concern about their use.
• They have lost or spoiled important relationships because of substance use.
• They have been in trouble with authorities or arrested for alcohol or drug related offenses.
• They frequently miss making payments when they are due.
• They appear angry or defensive but they don’t know why.
• They become defensive or angry when confronted about substance use.
• They give up or change social and family activities in order to use.

Adapted from material provided by:
Alcoholics Anonymous www.aa.org
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health www.camh.ca
Narcotics Anonymous www.na.org
National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. www.ncadd.org

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