Monthly Archives: September 2014

Helping others on their path to recovery

It is National Recovery Month, so it’s a good time to discuss what it means to have a behavior disorder or addiction and how you can help loved ones affected by one of these illnesses. Common behavioral issues include eating and mood disorders, depression, ADHD, social phobias, post-traumatic stress disorders, and panic/anxiety disorders. Substance abuse is an extremely prevalent behavior disorder.

 “Addiction is the compulsive use of the addictive substance.” ~ Father Martin (recovering alcoholic and public speaker)

The amount of substance used makes little difference to the nature of this illness. How the substance use affects one’s life and the lives of others is what matters. Whether it’s happening as a result of problems concerning money, family or work, individuals facing an addiction typically stay that way if they don’t get help. Like many other illnesses, addiction will get worse without intervention.

We asked several Diakon Family Life Services staff members to share their insights and suggestions on this issue that affects numerous individuals and their families …

“Finding futures” in the midst of a storm

It was a dark and stormy night…

While this may be one of the most clichéd first lines in literature, it appropriately describes the start of the 22nd annual Pennsylvania Permanency Conference.

The hot July night before the conference began, a quick but powerful storm ripped through Lancaster County, leaving must of the region without power including the Lancaster Host Resort & Conference Center, home to the conference. In addition to power, water usage and air conditioning were lost. It was a very long night.

A less-hardy group may have packed it in, but certainly not all of the individuals at the conference—who are dedicated to bringing together waiting children with loving adoptive and foster families. Understanding that coming together was more important than everyday amenities, conference attendees, staff and hotel employees never lost faith.

People remained in good spirits and weathered the conditions. Eventually, when electricity was restored, people were able to shower, and the conference center cooled down, the event got fully under way with the apt theme of “Finding Futures.”

Back to school: then and now

Combat boots.

I asked my 15-year-old daughter what she needed to head back to school and that was her reply. I wondered why on earth she needed combat boots when it’s been 89 degrees outside and she was returning to high school, not entering basic training!

I had been expecting a request more along the lines of binders and mechanical pencils, but my three daughters consider shoes and clothing a much bigger necessity for the first few days of school. This really isn’t a new thing, but it made me wonder…

Is it just us?

So I decided to ask several parents with school-age children about their back-to-school necessities; here are some of their responses: