Hard Working & Solid

There are many good people working hard to provide solid mental health and substance use therapy and coaching.

There are tried and true therapeutic interventions.

The “self-care” list is pretty consistent, containing the standard stress management tips and mental health hygiene recommendations.

For example, this is list on the CDC website:

Ways to cope with stress:

• Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including social media. Hearing about the pandemic repeatedly can be upsetting.
• Take care of your body. Take deep breaths, stretch, or meditate
• Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals.
• Exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep.
• Avoid alcohol and drugs.
• Make time to unwind. Try to do some other activities you enjoy.
• Connect with others. Talk with people you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling”.

You can check it out yourself, but every list is basically some form of that CDC list.

Check out Psychology Today. Virtually identical.

No one can argue with those recommendations. However, I vow to work hard to discuss things that are different than that basic list.

I will not say the same thing that all the other providers/experts say.

I will add something different. Or at least I will try to add something different.

Tonight’s Recommendation:

1. Create a Firewall

Create a firewall between work and “home time”. Today I spent 13 hours with zoom meetings packed one after the other, conference calls, FaceTime news interview.

With only small slivers of time in between the calls/zoom meetings.

And then all the sudden BOOM !

The day is over. And I’m home.

2. Ritual & Routine

I recommend you create some type of ritual and routine that marks the end of work and the beginning of home time.

Analogous to someone coming home from manual labor.

Your hands are dirty, your clothes are dirty. You wash your hands, you change your clothes for obvious reasons.

However, this also serves as a transition from work to home.

3. Consistently

Figure out some type of routine that fits your individual circumstances.

Change clothes. Take some time alone. Communicate the plan to your family.

Maybe you go for a run.

Maybe you sit down and journal.

The important thing is to follow this routine consistently.

Otherwise, it won’t be a routine.

The post Rich Jones Recommendations appeared first on The Recovery Cartel.

Guided by Science & Medicine

I am starting to get irritated with the “I’m guided by science and medicine” crowd, virtue signalling that is ever-present.

I do not disagree with that philosophy. I will absolutely err on the side of caution.

I will remain on lock-down.

But I do not need to hear that over and over. If you are “guided by science and medicine” just shut up and follow science and medicine.

YOU ARE NOT A SUPERIOR HUMAN BEING BECAUSE YOU ARE GUIDED BY SCIENCE.

OK, Mr. Hawkins

Furthermore, Stephen Hawkins wannabe, why aren’t you guided by science in all areas of your life?

Does science and medicine guide your food intake?

Or are you day by day working your way to an early death via heart disease?

You get my point.

You are just a person who is guided by science and medicine. Well done. We are proud of you.

Now stop trying to gain points. I already admire you. You win.

1 (800) CALL-RICH

My personal “crisis line” has exploded over the past 2 weeks.

A noticeable change. Mostly mental health/stress related calls.

The calls are coming from all directions. Many calls are from past clients who still have my number.

It’s ridiculous. All day. Everyday.

People are starting to feel the pressure.

It’s getting more and more difficult. It’s a pressure cooker.

Crisis Upon Crisis

This country better find a way to scale shit up real quick.

And by shit I mean: effective front-line intervention (crisis lines) followed by effective and engaging follow up.

NOTHING IS SOLVED BY A CRISIS CALL ONLY. FOLLOW UP AND ONGOING SUPPORT IS NECESSARY.

I can certainly relate to the people calling. I’m moving into a new phase.

The constant uncertainty wears on me. The constant pressure wears on me.

Committed & Determined

But, I am committed and determined to not losing my shit (that’s a clinical term).

I am going to go back to my people for extra support. Extra contact. Also try to get back to basics.

People who report they are “good to go” (psychologically) are in more trouble than those of us who acknowledge the struggle.

That’s all for now. I’m gonna try to check out for the weekend to recharge….

Good luck with that …right ?

The post Letters From The Pandemic: Science & Medicine appeared first on The Recovery Cartel.

COVID-19: PICK YOUR TRIBE

In this strange new COVID-19 world, it is relatively stunning how quickly COVID-19 has been assimilated into America’s culture war.

Amazing how quickly the sides were drawn and the political positions defined?

AT the extremes, the talking points and group-think around this strange new COVID-19 world have been clearly defined.

Like every other social issue, nuance is not permitted. It’s black or white. Up or down. You are either in or out.

The following is a bit of an exaggeration, but only a little bit of an exaggeration.

This is essentially how every single discussion will play out until COVID-19 is contained and a vaccine is developed.

DEMOCRATS

If you are a democrat you must be against reopening unless every single “scientist” agrees that it is time to re-open.

You Will:

• Argue that “lives will be lost” if we open too early.
• Ignore the fact that it is impossible to eliminate risk completely and you will keep referring to some vague “we need to listen to the scientists”. .
• Let us all know that you get your information from “independent” or “academic” resources that can only be understood by other liberals.
  (Because y’all are of superior intellect).
• You will characterize people who want to “open it up” as being stupid, moronic and clearly not as enlightened as you are.

REPUBLICANS

If you are a republican you must be in favor of opening up NOW.

You Will:

• Focus on your liberty and freedom and act as if this is the Battle of Bunker Hill.
• You are a patriot and the rest of them are parasites who want to live off your tax money.
• Cash your stimulus check.
• Characterize those with other opinions as American-hating communists.
• You will make the strange connection between COVID-19 and other conservative issues, such as gun-rights. If they make us stay home they will take our guns?

FOR EVER & EVER, AMEN

There you have it. Every single cable news show from now until the end of time.

But what if?

These extremes don’t represent the majority. Whet if these tough guys and super intellects are the minority.

They just make for better television and better ratings for media coverage.

The complete elimination of reasonable disagreement makes politics something that is nearly impossible to tolerate.

ENLIGHTENED, NIHILISTS, EXTREMISTS, INDEPENDENTS

Is there a tribe of enlightened disinterest? A group that refuses to engage because of the silliness of engagement?

Where are the nihilists?

Alas, the nihilists are too non-committal and stand for nothing (literally).

Where is the group that rejects these extremes? It’s not the “independents”. That’s not a real thing.

There are no 3rd parties, no independents or nuanced positions.

Were there ever nuanced positions? Revisionist history and nostalgia says there were “back in the day”.

Apparently, Newt Gingrich changed all that (at least that’s what the New York Times told me–wait…the New York Times told me that—shit….).

FOR THE RECORD

I want “them” to keep “it” closed and be extra cautious.

But I don’t think people protesting to “open it up” are automatically “morons”. I don’t agree with them.

And I”m pretty sure there are some morons out there.

But I don’t have the ability to pick them out and make such statements. And I certainly do not think most of y’all who are saying they are morons are particularly intelligent.

If you were such an intelligent being, you would spend time thinking about their position, considering their position, refuting their position and you would not resort to childish playground type insults.

WOKE OR NOT

Isn’t the word moron politically incorrect and unacceptable in a civilized society?

Can someone who is more “woke” than me let us know if that word is acceptable?

In the end, it makes people feel better to put other people down and randomly assert superiority.

Just as it makes me feel better to randomly assert that I am somehow above all that tribalism.

I guess this is simply a way to cope with a very strange new COVID-19 world.

And we are all doing the best we can?

The post STRANGE NEW COVID-19 WORLD appeared first on The Recovery Cartel.

The Ripple Effect by Rich Jones

Things are starting to slowly turn in a positive direction. In terms of understanding the virus, advancing medicine/vaccines, increasing testing and related issues. Trending in a better direction.

You can’t shut-down such a large slice of economic activity without it leaving some pretty bad scars.

Projections of 20 plus % unemployment, 30% GDP contraction and the near elimination of small business in several sectors. Permanent change to airlines, hotel, restaurant industries etc….

The economic impact will be incomprehensible and beyond any frame of reference. There is nothing to compare this to in terms of modeling an economic recovery.

The Ripple Effect

The “ripple effect” will be profound.

Consumer behavior will be forever altered. If you own a business Adapt and transition and do all you can to survive. Pivot like Shaq back in his Orlando Magic days….

But I believe things are starting to turn in a better direction (relatively speaking). We will be seeing movement toward a “re-opening” sooner than later.

SIDE NOTE: The media is starting to prepare for a full out politicalization of the COVID-19 issue ahead of the presidential election.

They will get even more sensationalistic. Each side digging in for trench warfare. The erosion of journalistic integrity is somewhat comical. If it weren’t so sad and scary.

All Hands On Deck

The co-occurring mental health and substance misuse epidemic concerns me. Suicides climbing. SUD escalating. Overdoses are happening all day, everyday.

Public health interventions for behavioral health issues need to be aggressively rolled out. Community health workers out in the neighborhoods.

And the workers do not have to be “recovery coaches only”.

We need to get over this idea that only recovering people can help. All hands on deck.

Be Compassionate

I never liked the whole “only an addict can help an addict” vibe.

I think recovering people bring vital knowledge and unique skills to the fight. However, I know many recovering people who are mean and punishing and do more harm than good.

I reject the “recovery” only vibe. How about this: “only nice people are allowed to help. Only compassionate people….”.

Everyone will need to contribute to containing the behavioral health pandemic. Just as everyone needs to contribute to containing the COVID-19 pandemic.

The post Letters From The Pandemic: “The Ripple Effect” appeared first on The Recovery Cartel.

Pandemic: Mania

Up late completing the next phase of the payroll protection program application and several grant applications are swirling about. I have an endless list of pandemic and non-pandemic responsibilities.

Family members, and their health and welfare, pop in and out of my consciousness. A very pandemic restless night. Restless sleep is an understatement.

“Self-care” is a buzz word. Telling me to calm down in an insult. Acting as if this is an extended snow day off from work and school?

Not Normal at All

I’m scared. It’s not business as usual.

I can not relate to boredom “while on lockdown”. I am in some sort of heightened state of vigilance.

If I ran out of business related issues/work related issues whilst on quarantine…I suppose I would go plant a garden or build a fort or raise a goat or build a moonshine still to supplement my income.

Do something to prepare. Even it was wasted motion.

Preparation becomes a coping mechanism. I simply will not relax or calm down until this thing is contained.

Don’t Fix Me

Don’t fix me. Do not hit me up with cliches and slogans.

Not today. I don’t need to “Let go and let God” or “Accept what I can not change”.

I do not care if “all things shall pass” or “pain is only temporary”.

I will not “turn it over”. Or meditate and be fully present with the experience.

• I don’t have any essential oils to rub on my feet or a good scented candle to huff.
• I don’t want to re-engage with online therapy (although I probably should). I don’t need an evaluation or professional help.
• I don’t want to do acupuncture or ibogaine or EMDR …
• I will not pray my way out of this.

I will not “just relax”…

I Will Work…

It also does not appear I will be catching up on any books or home projects whilst on quarantine (I like the term “whilst on quarantine”).

I won’t get to clean the garage out or reorganize the spice rack. (I don’t even know what a spice rack is).

But sleep is important…. overall I’m good. But on any given night, I’m jammed up and restless. We all need to sleep.

And I will go outside today. I will laugh. And I will listen to late 80’s / early 90’s East coast rap. – The Free Three.

Nothing Wrong Here

If you can relate to this… there is nothing wrong with you. This is a normal reaction to an abnormal situation.

I will sleep tonight.

I have been through this cycle many times; with COVID and without COVID.

I feel wound up already this morning. Get to work. Then crash early tonight.

I could never have conceived this reality. There is no frame of reference for the current state of affairs.

Am I doing the pandemic poorly?

Am I bad at the apocalypse?

The post Letters From the Pandemic appeared first on The Recovery Cartel.

MY SON IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE ECONOMY
– KEEP IT CLOSED!!!

In the spirit of full transparency: I was a COVID-19 denier at the beginning of the COVID news cycle.

I said stupid things about “over-reaction”. I made dumb comments about toilet paper hoarders.

Now I know what it’s like to be a grade A 100% “coronavirus clown”.

However, it quickly became apparent to me how wrong I was. I apologize for being one of the useful idiots.

I’m glad I was able to get back on track in a relatively short period of time. I would like to thank the lovely Mrs. Jones for her help in “waking me up”!

ONE OTHER THING BEFORE WE GET STARTED:

If you disagree with me, you can’t write me off as a “socialistic” loser who is just trying to live off the government.

I’m as free-market, capitalistic, meritocratic as it gets.

I own businesses that will suffer as a result of the shut-down.

The social justice warriors do not like me. I’m one of the evil capitalists. And I say: KEEP IT CLOSED.

MY SON AIDEN

In the fall of 2018 my son Aiden, was hospitalized due to a respiratory issue.

I won’t get into the details. The bottom line was 4 days in ICU in a “drug induced coma” with a “breathing tube”.

I thank God every day that he got through that.

However, he was hospitalized again in December of 2018 for the same issue. This is called a “pre-existing condition”.

COVID-19 has me losing my shit.

• I’m not sleeping well.
• I become preoccupied with my family’s health nearly every night.
• I’m not in a great frame of mind throughout the day.

COME ON RICH

If you say “Come on Rich, you are making a big deal out nothing”, it will engender a strong desire within me to react in an aggressive manner.

However, I will not do that, because I am gentleman. I don’t believe in violence.

One thing I know for sure though. If you make those “just chill out” type comments, you are the one who is mentally unstable; not me

One thing I know for sure. If you make those “just chill out” type comments, you are the one who is mentally unstable; not me.

MENTAL HEALTH EXAM

Mental Health Status Exam and Affect Appropriate to Situation. It is common practice in mental health settings to conduct a mental health status exam.

During the exam, the practitioner will assess multiple dimensions of mental and emotional health.

Including a category labeled “mood and affect”.

“Affect” is the patient’s immediate expression of emotion; mood refers to the more sustained emotional makeup of the patient’s personality.

Patients display a range of affect that may be described as broad, restricted, labile, or flat.

Affect is inappropriate when there is no consonance between what the patient is experiencing or describing and the emotion he is showing at the same time (e.g., laughing when relating the recent death of a loved one).

Both affect and mood can be described as dysphoric (depression, anxiety, guilt), euthymic (normal), or euphoric). (David Martin, Clinical Methods, the History, Physical and Laboratory Examinations, 3rd Edition).

Therefore, you can complete a mental health status exam on a person who is visibly upset, worried, angry etc… and conclude that they are “normal”.

NORMAL

There are multiple ways to describe these “normal” results of the mental status exam:

Affect appropriate to situation (something bad happened and you should be upset).

Mood and affect within normal range (your affect/mood is similar to most other people dealing with this type of issue).

The inverse is true as well.

NOT NORMAL

If you are NOT upset or worried or angry etc…when most people would be upset or worried or angry… you may be experiencing a “pathological state”.

Let’s just talk straight: If you think COVID-19 is no big deal.

If you think people are over-reacting.

If you think people are “just afraid and worried for no reason”.

YOU MIGHT BE THE ONE WITH THE MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEM. Not the other way around.

Anxiety, worry and fear ARE NOT DISORDERS.

BREAKING COVID-19 WORRY

There was little scientific “evidence” included in Pastor James Gordon Gilkey’s classic book: How to Master Life.

The book was basically a compilation of Gilkey’s personal philosophy, self-help advice, and anecdotes.

He wrote about his take on the world. He also gathered compelling observations from other people.

It was the 1930’s and the “self help industry“ was just getting started.

In the chapter entitled “Breaking the Grip of Worry” he writes about a “table” that someone developed.

This “table” has been attributed to Mark Twain-although no one is 100% sure if that is where it originated.

WORRIES & FEARS

The purpose of the table is to categorize worries.

Interestingly, this taxonomy of worry was widely endorsed and validated by readers at that time.

Picture a collective, head nodding, “I can relate”, type response.

To summarize what Gilkey wrote:

This man (presumably Mark Twain) had monitored his worries and fears.

He had written them down and after a period of time he came up with the following distribution of worry and fear:

• Worry about disasters, which never actually happened. About 40% of the anxieties.
• Worries about past decisions/mistakes. Things that you cannot control. About 30% of anxieties.
• Worries about possible sickness or “possible nervous breakdown”. But they never happened. About 12% of worries.
• Worries about family (especially children), friends. About 10% of my worries.
• Worries that have a real foundation. Possibly 8% of the total. (Legitimate concerns; real threats).
• Worries that have a “real foundation” are not worries.

YOU SHOULD BE WORRIED

They are fears, and they are legitimate fears.

Anxiety, worry, and fear serve a purpose.

They are not pathological, “diagnosable” or disordered.

They are not “clinically significant” unless they reach a very specific level. See DSM-V criteria for generalized anxiety disorder as an example.

If you are worried about COVID-19, and all the associated issues, it’s because YOU SHOULD BE WORRIED.

HAVE A COVID-19 PLAN

However, you do not have to act on the worry.

You do not have to be controlled by the worry. Also, you can move forward with confidence and still be worried.

You should develop a personal plan of action to deal with these challenging times AND you should work that plan.

But go ahead and worry. Go ahead and feel fear.

Courage equals performing your day to day duties in the face of fear.

You are courageous.

The post I WAS A COVID-19 DENIER – DON’T BE LIKE ME! appeared first on The Recovery Cartel.

Tragic Optimism

Reality can sometimes be extremely uncomfortable. For example, I have witnessed institutional and community denial and mismanagement of Substance Use Disorders for decades.

Resulting horrific outcomes. Yet change is aggressively resisted.

People are pretty good at putting a positive spin on a pretty shitty situation.

When you take a more realistic stance you are a trouble-maker. A pessimist. A buzz-kill.

Victor Frankl talked about “tragic optimism”.

Not the pie in the sky “everything is going to be okay” optimism.

Rather, reality based assessment of the situation followed by an operating system that says:

• Yes, things CAN get better and we CAN get through this.
• It is possible.
• There is hope.
• But it’s going to take monumental effort.
• And it’s going to require some really difficult decisions and crucial conversations.

Social psychology tells us these situations progress along a pretty predictable timeline.

A Sentinel Event occurs (911, 2008 financial crisis, COVID19, OR a more localized tragedy/event).

Sentinel Event

Things UNFOLD:

1) Initially, people are stunned and in shock.

2) People may even be energized by the adrenaline rush associated with such a dramatic and threatening situation.

3) Some people may even be excited. Everything is closed. Like a “snow day” from school. That is naive and it wears off quick. People say things like “time to catch up on some reading and complete some projects around the house…” I do not understand such thinking. I can not accept that position. However, it is relatively common.

Fear & Anxiety

4) In terms of work and the economy, the fear and anxiety may set in quickly. Depends on your circumstances. If you have a family you probably start spinning up pretty quick. The uncertainty is hard to reconcile. You are worried. At the same time, some people will be apathetic and indifferent until they are forced to take notice.

5) People double down on their “preferred interpretation” of the situation AND begin to vigorously defend said interpretation. In this particular case of COVID-19 it goes like this

• If you hate Trump. This is more of a reason to hate Trump.
• You need to make sure you take every conversation about the virus and turn it into an indictment of Trump.
• If you love Trump then you want to make sure you repeatedly state “things are not that bad. We should not even have this lock-down. More people die from the flu” etc…

6) In the meantime, some people know that they do not know. Some prefer to not make statements without a relatively high level of confidence in the accuracy and truth of the position. In this case, there are limited sources of objective information. There are preferred sources. Remove the middleman as much as possible.

7) As time goes by the tensions and concerns mentioned above will become more pronounced.

Calm Waters

An intervention or external circumstance can sometimes calm the waters.

8) In this case, the stimulus will help calm these waters. The stimulus, especially support for small business and support to bridge payroll and unemployment insurance. That will help ease the pain.

9) The recovery community will experience a similar progression of emotions and reactions. Online meetings will continue but enthusiasm is likely to wane. Again, the early “adrenaline rush” will be replaced by the mundane day to day reality of “cyber life”.

10) There will be ongoing decision points. On an individual level, a family level and an organizational level. There will be roller coaster of emotions. There will be difficult decisions along the way.

11) On an individual level, a family level, a community level, an organizational level, a business level and a societal level. We will need to make some bold move and there will be some unpopular decisions made.

We Will Get Through This

There is no question, we will get through this.

But if you think its going to be easy you need to think again.

Time to focus. Time to get to work. Keep moving forward and keep pushing.

Do all you can with all you have to help keep your tragic optimism in control. And…

Some Hints

1) Take time in the morning to calm your mind. Don’t jump on your phone right away to check the headlines. All bad.
2) Go outside for a walk.
3) Listen to music. Late 80’s / early 90’s east coast rap. Or whatever you are into.
4) Laugh: YouTube videos of cute kittens and shit like that.
5) Start a journal. Get your thoughts out of your head.
6) PHYSICALLY take care of yourself. I’ve stopped eating Zingers….
7) If so inclined, pray… Pray.

That’s all for today. Love each other, Rich Jones | Recovery Cartel

The post Tragic Optimism & COVID-19 appeared first on The Recovery Cartel.

GREAT NEWS FOR ALL

THIS JUST IN: WASHINGTON D.C. Feb. 29, 2020 8:30 p.m. EST for worldwide distribution.

The Center for Disease Control with the coordination of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services urges all international drug cartels and local dealers operating within the United States of America and it’s territories to cease and desist distribution and sales of all illicit drugs.

The list includes but not limited to the following:

• heroin
• cocaine
• methamphetamine
• ketamine
• fake pills
• real pills
• fake fentanyl
• real fentanyl
• cane toads ( (Rhinella marina, also known as the giant neotropical toad.)

NOTE: This must be done immediately and stay in effect until the coronavirus is contained.

POT IS EXCLUDED FROM THIS ORDER

Marijuana is still approved for distribution. Because it comes from the earth and it’s actually medicine.

The CDC is confident that the cartels and dealers will act responsibly in this time of national crisis.

Dr. Ida Manincharge said:

“We have had what I would characterize as very productive talks with the cartel leadership. We have found common ground.

With the help of these fine sociopaths I’m certain we can move on the coronavirus with the same level of efficiency and effectiveness used in addressing the opioid crisis”….

THE FDA

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration also weighed in.

Dr. Susan Purdue said:

“The American public can rest easy knowing that the FDA is standing guard.

We fully support the cartel quarantine program.

Remember, any program and/or drug we approve is safe and effective. Just look at the miracle drug OxyContin”.

THE AMA

The American Medical Association showed their support for the cartel quarantine program:

When asked about the program the esteemed Dr. Winslow Treatandstreet had the following input:

“I have no idea why people keep asking me about addiction. I don’t give a shit. Those people did it to themselves.

Last week they had me testify at some “confidentiality” meeting.

Who cares if some addict’s confidentiality is blown up. He’s a junkie.

As far as the cartel quarantine program goes: I say all good as long as no one touches my hippie lettuce”.

NEWS FROM SPACE

And finally the head of the Intergalactic Drug and Alcohol ABUSE Treatment Association, IDA&AATA, Mr Ken Igetmorefunding, offered his full support:

“Americans should feel blessed to have these esteemed experts at the table.

The swift implementation of OPERATION CARTEL QUARANTINE will most certainly save lives and drive down naloxone distribution.

Which ultimately is a good thing”.

#GodblessAmerica

#cartelquarantine

The post NEWS ALERT – THIS JUST IN appeared first on The Recovery Cartel.