When I was a freshman in college at Purdue University, I was nearing what I would consider my peak as a musician. I was a trumpet soloist in the Purdue Jazz Band, a section leader in the Purdue Wind Ensemble, and an active member of both the All-American Marching Band and the Boiler Brass Pep Band. Unfortunately, I was also into skateboarding.
Late one Spring afternoon, after finishing the most difficult final exam I’d ever taken, I was skating from the examination hall back to the side street I had parked my car. As I rounded the corner behind the iconic Bell Tower, the two front wheels of my board dropped into a storm drain grate, sending me face first into the concrete. I was not wearing a helmet, of course. My nose and mouth took the majority of the impact, breaking my two front teeth in half and banging me up quite badly.
When I bounced up off the ground in a rush of adrenaline, my first thought was not “where are my teeth, and why is my wrist so swollen?” (Spoiler alert: teeth were shattered, wrist was broken). But rather, “will I ever be able to play trumpet again after this?” I thought my trumpet-playing was over, maybe forever. Thankfully, dentists and wrist-casts exist. I was fine after 6 weeks, and trumpet-playing continues to be a favorite hobby today for me. But since then, when I skate, I wear a helmet!
Most of us probably have a “safety” (or lack thereof) story like this from our past. Typically, we learn our lesson the hard way and do better next time, putting in place whatever prevention mechanisms we need to avoid repeating our mistakes. But, when it comes to our mental health and recovery journeys, journeys which can put our very lives at risk depending on the severity of what we are dealing with, we are rarely so lucky to get additional chances to learn. This is why it is essential for us to consider putting safety plans for our mental health and recovery in place before things get difficult.
Here are 3 ways to increase your safety in your mental health or recovery journey:
1. Make a “Call-List” – Who are three people that you know would either come to where you are, or come pick you up if you were in trouble, no matter what? Write their names down on a piece of paper. Then write a word of affirmation or two about what these folks mean to you and why. Lastly, write their phone numbers down. Keep this call list in multiple places, like the center console of your car, in your wallet or purse, and in a sock drawer. If or when things get bad, give one of these loved ones a call!
2. Know your “Triggers” – Each of us have a series of things that trigger us to think about past traumatic or stressful situations. Typically, once triggered, we try to find ways to cope. For some of us, especially those of us in recovery, we may experience cravings to use or to drink. For others, we may experience feelings of depression or anxiety that make us want to be alone or sleep forever. However, if we know what these triggers are and identify them clearly for ourselves, we can learn to avoid and prevent them.
3. Carry Narcan – Narcan is a brand of Naloxone, an opioid-intoxication reversal medication. Essentially, it is a first-aid item that is readily available (usually for free) in your community that can literally save your own or someone else’s life if there were to be an acute intoxication (overdose) situation that occurs. Even if you have never used a drug in your life, you can save someone else’s by carrying Narcan in your car, backpack, or purse in the case of an emergency. There are 4 locations in Hendricks County that you can get Narcan for free: Brownsburg Public Library, Journey Church in Avon, Family Promise in Plainfield, and the Health Department in Danville.
