Bobby E. Wright (BEW) Start
I went to the Department of Family Services located on Kedzie and Madison, the West Side of Chicago, to inquire about moving into a shelter. While waiting in line, I noticed a mental health organization across the street named BEW. I am facing eviction from my subsidized apartment on the South Side of Chicago. I m seeking residence at a shelter before the eviction is final. Once inside the Department of Family Services, they asked me if I was ready to go right away. Since I wasn’t quite ready, I decided to go to BEW and see what they have to offer.
I went in the building and the security guard had me sign in and directed me to the third floor where I gave them my medical card and waited to find out more about the operation. I waited for about two and a half hours before I found out that many of the workers there did not come to work that day. I had two other appointments that day which I communicated to the receptionist. She told me to come back Tuesday. It was Thursday.
I came back Tuesday. I started my affiliation with BEW by going through the intake process. That took almost two hours. We then went to see a couple of social workers who were to assist me in the program. One was a clinical therapist and the other was a substance abuse counselor. They were both busy with group sessions. So i had to wait. While waiting, I was informed that they had a kitchen and I could get breakfast and lunch. I couldn’t eat the breakfast because it was pork which I don’t eat. However, I was able to have lunch . It was beef.
After lunch, I was still waiting to be seen by someone. Finally, the substance abuse counselor was available to see me. I was anxious to talk about all of the problems I was facing so when I finally met with the counselor, I began talking and talking and talking. The counselor listened and listened. He finally cut me off and gave me a motivational sermon which calmed me down. He reassured me that I was in the right place at the right time.. he then asked me some information about myself and made an appointment for our next meeting. He also helped make an appointment for the clinical therapist. Before I left, he gave me two bus passes to get back for my appointments. I was not able to make these appointments . I had an inspection with the Chicago Housing Authority concerning my apartment. My electricity was shut off causing an emergency situation with the Chicago Housing Authority and I had to miss my appointments with BEW. I called them to alert them of my inability to attend and to make some more appointments.
I went back to BEW the next Monday to see somebody. My Substance Abuse Counselor who I saw first was busy so he handed me off to another counselor who put me through another intake process. We then talked and he listened.Then he talked and I listened. It was a good talk. I still hadn’t seen the clinical therapist. I was told to come back the next day.
I came back the next day to see the clinical therapist. He finally came and we talked. He was listening and also asking questions at the same time. It was frustrating because I felt he wasn’t listening. Since I had not made an appointment and he had a group session scheduled, our meeting wasn’t very productive but at least we had began the process. I was frustrated because I needed bus fare to get back to BEW to have a proper meeting with the clinical therapist. He wouldn’t provide me with any so I talked to the substance abuse counselor who had give me my second intake but he was busy in a group session. Finally I talked to the first substance abuse counselor who directed me to attend the group session where I was able to secure bus fare . I then made an appointment to see the clinical therapist on Thursday at 3 o’clock and I also committed to attend a substance abuse group session that morning.
So here I am now at BEW today to see the clinical therapist and attend a substance abuse group session. There were about 12 people attending, myself included. I had a much better attitude at this meeting. I did not do too much talking and I listened intently. A lot of my fellow attendees were using hard core drugs like heroine and crack. A few were weed smokers, myself included. Some were just alcoholics. I think most of us smoked cigarettes. We were all addicted to something. This is the main reason for this writing: To relate to the world my experience in fighting addiction. This is where I start the battle to quit smoking and drinking.
As I said earlier, I did mostly listening. People were telling of their experiences using hard core drugs and I felt like crying. Tears were on the verge of falling but I was able to hold them back.
The discussion began with the benefits and consequences of our different addictions. One person said he lost his relationships with family and friends and girlfriend. These were consequences. As far as benefits, people said their drug of choice helped them to forget their problems. It helped them relax and have a better mood.
We then talked about anger and how people manage that anger. Some people use anger to manipulate and control people so that they can be free to use their drug of choice. Some people have no control of their anger and become hostile and aggressive. We learned that anger can affect your body in a negative way. We learned that some anger is truly genuine while much anger is manipulative. Some people need help so their anger wont escalate into hostility and aggressive violence. A simple touch on the shoulder or just being there to listen can calm an angry person down enough to prevent them from doing something they may regret.
Finally, before we ended the session, the counselor required us to recite one of the twelve steps to end addiction. We had to explain the principle in our own words and what it meant to us. I was the next to last person to recite a step and I chose the 11th step: Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out. I did not have to explain it. The counselor said that it was self explanatory.
The last person recited his step and the meeting was over. I then went to have lunch from the kitchen(chili and crackers). As i reflect upon the purpose of this meeting, I am now able to see my addictions from a larger perspective. This is the key to understanding and overcoming my addictions. I am now waiting for my appointment with the clinical therapist. I hope to share that experience with those who may appreciate it. Until then…May God bless. Peace.