The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania, Inc.                                                   and           Pennsylvania Recovery Organization --      Achieving Community Together (PRO-ACT)  Recovery in Our Communities March 10, 2015   www.councilsepa.org Information and Recovery Support Line 24/7: 800-221-6333 Who? Me! Angry?   Coping with Anger and Resentment Anger is a feeling that everyone has and it is as normal as feeling happy.  In some situations  anger is actually a healthy and helpful response, if for nothing else than mere survival.    What can become unhealthy or destructive is the way we deal with our feelings of anger.  When we manage our anger in an unhealthy way, it can lead to negative consequences... including relapse and return to other old and self-destructive behavior patterns.   When addressing anger issues, it is important to understand what drives the feelings, and subsequent behaviors.  Distinguishing between the feeling and behaviors is critical to successfully working through angry moments. Feelings:  Anger is a feeling and is part of our emotional DNA.  All feelings or emotions, including anger, are acceptable although some are destructive in the long run. Feelings don't always make sense or fit together with each other, as we can often have two or three conflicting feelings at the same time.  For example, we can feel anger without knowing the specific reason, and we can fee love towards someone we are angry with or who has hurt us. In any case, all feelings (like thoughts) are acceptable and are not really within our control. Behaviors:  We feel what we feel, just like we think what we think.  Unlike feelings, not all behaviors are acceptable.  We have control of our behaviors.  We always have the power of choice over our behaviors.  We can change our behaviors, even old behaviors that are strong habits.  Although people use feelings as excuses or justifications for their behaviors, you are still responsible for your actions.  Actions are a choice.  For example, someone saying, "I had to hit him because he made me angry," does not justify an assault and battery. What is anger?  What is resentment?  According to Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, the following are descriptions of each:  Anger: "A strong feeling excited by real or supposed injury;" its root word means regret, anguish or fear.   Resentment: "holding an attitude from something that is in the past; resentment is old anger." Note that the 'sent' part of the word resent is related to the word sentiment, and means "feel," so to resent is to re-feel - that is to replay an old anger over and over, again. Why do I Feel so Angry?  When you get angry, it is often because you have encountered an event or person in your life that has provoked your anger emotion.  In many instances, specific events touch on sensitive areas.  These sensitive areas or "red flags" usually refer to long-standing issues that can easily lead to angry feelings. In addition to events that you experience in the "here and now," you may also recall an event from the past that made you feel angry.  Just thinking about these past events may make you feel angry.   Long waits at a check-out counter or a full waiting room at the doctor's office; heavy traffic or drivers cutting you off; a friend joking with you about a sensitive topic; being owed money; or having money/property stolen from you; a cheating spouse/loved one;  being wrongly accused of something, rumors being spread about you, etc.  This is often referred to as Resentment! Unchecked angry feelings and the negative consequences associated with poor behaviors often lead to additional problems.  There is both physical and emotional symptoms associated with prolonged anger and resentment that are not properly managed.  The good news is that there is specific help available to deal with these feelings. Help is Available The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania is pleased to announce a new program to serve the needs of those who are feeling excessively angry.  The Council has teamed up with SAMHSA to offer an Anger Management Program designed specifically for people with substance use disorders.  This program will help participants better manage the emotions and behaviors associated with anger issues.  Our next Anger Management Program is scheduled to begin on Monday, April 6, 2015 at 6:00 pm at PRO-ACT's Central Bucks Recovery Resource Center located at 252 W. Swamp Road, Unit 12, Doylestown, PA 18901.  The cost for the 6 week-12 session program is $150 (this is an introductory price - normally $300). Enrollment is limited to 10 participants.  Each session is 90 minutes in length.  Attendance to all sessions is required to receive a certificate of completion.  To register for the program and for more information, please contact Stephen Osborne, CRS at 215-345-6644 x3113 or email him atsosborne@councilsepa.org. Each session builds on the next in order to develop a solid foundation to more effectively deal with unresolved anger. Topics include:  Simple Ways to Monitor Your Anger; How to Identify Anger Triggers; How to Create an Anger Control Plan; Relaxation Techniques; The Aggression Cycle; Assertiveness & Awareness Training; Conflict Resolution; and much more.    Volunteer for The Council/PRO-ACT !! Contact one of our Volunteer Coordinators: Central Bucks:  Email or call Rick at 215-345-6644 Southern Bucks:  Email or call Karen at 215-788-3738 x100 Philadelphia: Email or call She-Ria at 215-233-7700 or Email John or call 215-923-1661  Chester, Delaware and Montco: Email or call John at 215-923-1661 PRO-ACT Recovery Walks! Committees: Email  or call John at 215-923-1661 Volunteer Training Schedule Volunteer Orientation Training March 13, 1 pm - 2:30 pm at Central Bucks Recovery Community Center, 252 W Swamp Road, Doylestown PA 18901 Group Leadership/Facilitation Training March 11, 2015  1 pm - 3:30 pm at Southern Bucks Recovery Community Center, 1286 Veterans Highway, D-6, Bristol, PA 19007 March 12, 10 am - 1 pm and 5 pm - 8 pm at Philadelphia Recovery Training Center, 444 N 3rd Street, Suite 307, Philadelphia, PA 19123 March 27, 1 pm - 3 pm at Central Bucks Recovery Community Center, 252 W Swamp Road, Doylestown, PA 18901 Peer Mentoring Training March 16 & 17, 2015 9 am - 4 pm at Philadelphia Recovery Training Center, 444 N 3rd Street, Suite 307, Philadelphia, 19123 Please contact the volunteer coordinator for questions or to attend. AT OUR CENTERS TONIGHT at our NEW LOCATION!   Family Education Program - Tuesday evenings March 10, 17, 24 & 31 from 7 - 9 pm at 1062 E Lancaster Ave. Suite 22-A, Rosemont, PA  19010 from 7 - 9:00 pm.  To register call 800-221-6333. Planning to Sustain Recovery - every Tuesday 7 - 8:30 pm and every Thursday 10 - 11:30 am at CBRCC, 252 W Swamp Road, Unit 12, Doylestown.  Educational support group to help individuals in all stages of recovery plan goals and action steps to sustain recovery. To registeremail or call Jeanne at 215-345-6644.   Gateway to Work every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 11:00 am at SBRCC, 1286, Veterans Highway, Unit D-6, Bristol; Mon. - Fri. the first week of the month at PRCC, 1701 W Lehigh Ave., #6, Philadelphia, PA 19132; 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month at 1:00 pm at CBRCC, 252 W Swamp Road, Doylestown. Get help with resume building, barriers to employment and motivation. Contact Rick at 215-345-6644 or email for more information. Click here for March calendars!    Upcoming Events: Why Can't They Just Stop? with Kevin McCauley, MD - Tonight! Tuesday, March 10 at 6:30 pm at Horsham Community Center, 1025 Horsham Road, Ambler PA. Our brains are amazing and complex. We'll have a conversation about how substance use can be relatively harmless for some, yet for others, can lead to abuse, or the disease of addiction. Click here for flyer.   ADDICT a one act play - March 19 & 21 at 6:30 pm at Hatboro-Horsham High School. The play brings to life the impact of substance abuse among adolescents through ten vignettes, each focusing on a specific drug. Click here for flyer.     AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support your favorite charitable organization every time you shop, at no cost to you. When you shop at smile.amazon.com, you'll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to The Council. Go to www.smile.amazon.com  Log in with Amazon account info or register if you are a new member Type in The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania, Inc. and click SEARCH We will come up, hit SELECT Amazon donates 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to The Council. Save the date!  Gather your team, consider sponsorship!   PRO-ACT Recovery Walks! 2015 September 19 Register free; Form a team; Join the Honor Guard; Donate; Volunteer; or become a Sponsor by  clicking here www.recoverywalks.org Employment Opportunities: Click here

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