Dramatic Expression is Back!
You’d be forgiven for wondering what theater has to do with substance use treatment, but it has many benefits. It’s truly effective at helping people in recovery regain confidence, improve communication skills, connect with others, practice empathy, and learn to have sober fun. Parkdale Center patients experience the value of theater in recovery in our Dramatic Expression class, taught by instructor Dustin Richea.
Recovery Real Talk
So, you completed rehab. That means the hard part is over, right? I hate to be the one to break it to you, but you couldn’t be more wrong! Getting sober and starting a toolbox is by far the easiest part of what you will endure.
Halloween Celebrations and Recovery
October 1st hits and suddenly everyone is shouting, “It’s Spooky Season!” Seemingly overnight, every house is festooned with fake spiderwebs and a variety of pumpkins and gourds. Every store trots out their Halloween-themed wares. Horror movies stream around the clock. And, of course, pumpkin spice everything.
Suicide Prevention Month
If you or someone you love is in suicidal crisis, please call or text the Suicide and Crisis Hotline at 988.
“Why?” Anyone who has been touched by suicide knows that in their grief, they are consumed with wondering why someone they love has died by suicide. Our grief may not lessen if we lose someone to cancer, heart disease, stroke, or diabetes, but we understand that our loved one has succumbed to a disease. Suicide is mysterious, deeply tragic, and harder to grasp. It leaves many unanswered questions, including “What could I have done?”
What to expect when you arrive at Parkdale Center
When you arrive at Parkdale Center, we will be ready and waiting for you. If appropriate, you may leave your personal items in your vehicle until you’re shown to your room. If you prefer to bring them inside, that is fine as well. Here is what comes next:.
Dual Diagnosis - Substance Use Disorder and Co-Occurring Mental Health Disorders
The connection between substance use disorders (SUD) and co-occurring mental health disorders is well documented. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, “Multiple national population surveys have found that about half of those who experience a mental illness during their lives will also experience a substance use disorder and vice versa.” Our experience here at Parkdale Center finds co-occurring mental health and addiction disorders to be even more frequent.
Summer Celebrations and Recovery
Hot dogs, apple pie, and recovery. Fourth of July cookouts, pool parties, family reunions, bonfires, weddings (and their accompanying bachelor/bachelorette parties), Labor Day… Now that more folks are enjoying gatherings again, summer gives us plenty of opportunities to enjoy our loved ones’ company. Yet these events can be tough to navigate for those in recovery. Even our nearest and dearest, even those who know we’re sober, can unwittingly push us to drink at parties.
Creative Healing
Parkdale Center’s afternoon sessions are largely educational in nature, but recently we’ve added something new: Creative Expression. Led by counselor Christian Gabrano (who secretly has a background in art), patients spend time completing creative projects designed to encourage reflection and self-expression.
Family Programs Are Back - Educating Loved Ones About Addiction
Parkdale Center is pleased to announce the return of our in-person Family Programs. Because in-person meetings have not been possible for some time, we have offered weekly virtual meetings for our patients’ families—and will continue to do so. However, our 2-day, in-person Family Programs offer patients and their loved ones a deep dive into addiction, recovery, and the healing process in a way that a Zoom meeting cannot replicate. We are delighted to be able to offer these programs again.
The Stigma of Healthy Living
Session #6 of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists/ Support the Front series, Well-being for CRNAs and SRNAs, featured moderator Rodrigo Garcia in conversation with Dr.Dave Cummins, M.D., FASAM, and Medical Director of Parkdale Center for Professionals, the Indiana Professionals Recovery Program, and West Virginia Restore, among other professional positions. He is board certified in emergency medicine and addiction medicine, and he spoke with rigo about the connection between mental health and addiction, how that has been historically treated, and how that's changing. You can watch the entire session for free here.
