June 2015 |
drinkanddrugsnews
| 11
ExchangE
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My life started to spiral out of control
when I lost my job as a fundraiser. I was
struggling to bring up my little girl, who has
Asperger’s syndrome, as a single mum and
things seemed pretty bleak. While it was clear
to everyone around me that my drinking had
become a problem, it wasn’t until my
daughter was taken away that I realised how
my actions were affecting others.
Having a dependency robs you of your self-
worth and confidence. CRI provided the
support I needed to make it through my
recovery. While it felt like an emotional boot
camp at times, my key recovery worker helped
me to realise howmany useful skills I have –
for example, I have successfully run three
businesses and I’m a qualified aromatherapist.
I came out determined to make the most of
my talents and to take positive steps in my life.
I opened up Clean and Green Recovery on
my first ‘sober’ anniversary two years ago. I
began selling my own hand-made, natural
cleaning products on a market stall, and two
years on I’m running my very own shop! I sell
cards and jewellery by others in recovery, as
well as my own cleaning and beauty
products. I’ve also just received funding to
turn one of the rooms in the shop into a
holistic salon to provide aromatherapy and
reflexology treatments to people in recovery.
Kate Furey
talks about
how she used long-
forgotten skills to get
her life back on track
Kate has
received
funding to
provide
aromatherapy
and
reflexology
treatments
natural remedy
After working
with women
in
substance misuse
services and being
a woman in
recovery myself, I noticed that many women-
only face-to-face groups had been set up and
closed due to lo levels of continuous
attendance. One of the reasons I found for this
was fear of being ‘known’, as many members
had children and were concerned about issues
such as childcare and domestic violence.
I decided to set up a Facebook group,
dedicated to my friend Michelle Duell who
died as a result of addiction early last year. I
believe the group helps with coping strategies,
helps women feel more empowered and gives
them a sense of community – a place to relate
their personal experiences and one that
provides understanding.
Women open up on issues that would
otherwise be taboo in mixed
meetings. The ‘closed’ group
means only members can see
posts, and it is open to women
already in recovery looking for
continued support, as well as
those looking for a way out.
The group is also open to female family
members seeking understanding as well as
professional females, such as counsellors and
drug workers.
‘Women have very different issues to men
regarding addiction,’ said one anonymous
member of the group. ‘Many are afraid to
admit they have a problem due to the fear of
losing their children. If we can help and
support just one such mother with our own
experiences, then it’s a worthwhile group.’
The group, which can be found through
Facebook’s searchbar, has more than 1,000
members – the majority from the UK – and is
growing every day. I believe we need other
women in our lives to heal and stay sober –
we pray for the right women to join so we can
experience the ‘spirit of sisterhood’.
Annalice Sibley is a counsellor/12-step therapist
and founder of Women Only
Women first
Annalice Sibley
talks about how
she set up an online support group
to help women in recovery
Many
women-
only groups
close due to
low levels
of continuous
attendance
I also volunteer with CRI because it’s
wonderful to support the recovery of others.
It’s amazing to help them rebuild their
confidence. Because I have shared many of the
same experiences, I’m able to relate to their
situation and can prove to them that, even at
their lowest points there is always hope.
Kate Furey is the founder of Clean and
Green Recovery
