Hello Friends,

This week we have four in-person regular groups, one regular zoom group, five specialty zoom group and one special event. Login and location information follow at the bottom of this newsletter.

Car Crying

After the death of someone you care about due to substance use, finding a private space to cry can feel crucial. It’s sometimes hard to let yourself openly mourn in front of others for a variety of different reasons. For many, the car becomes a refuge. I know it did for me. It’s a small, enclosed space where emotions can flow freely without fear of judgment. Whether parked in a driveway, pulled over on a quiet street, or sitting alone after arriving somewhere, the car allows for a kind of solitude that makes it easier to release grief. Whether that is a soft cry, sobbing or even screaming! For a while would just yell Nick’s name. I don’t seek out the car as a spot to cry anymore, but grief is sneaky and sometimes I just start crying when I’m driving. Maybe a song triggers the grief emotions or just my thoughts. If you start crying while driving, make sure you can pull over to a safe spot and not drive while distracted. Do you have other places that you feel it’s a safe place to cry? Share about them in one of grief groups or our private facebook page. Read more: Do You Cry When You Drive

~ With care

Robyn

Robyn Houston-Bean

Founder, The Sun Will Rise Foundation

THE FINDING SUPPORT IN GRIEF CONFERENCE

This has been such a wonderful event that last two years! We hope you can join us at this conference just for people bereaved due to substance use related causes!

LAST CALL FOR REGISTRATIONS!!! REGISTRATION CLOSING 10/14/24! Join us October 18-20, 2024 Framingham MA Discover hope, healing, support, and a sense of community at SADOD’s 3rd annual grief conference. REGISTER NOW! View agenda here.

Some of the sessions include:

When Vulnerability and Male Grief Collide - For Everyone

Grief Relief – For Grieving Grandparents and Caregivers

A Direct Service Provider Perspective From Inside The Workforce - Panel

The Parallels Between Addiction & Grief

Introduction to the RIVER Peer Grief Support Model

Sibling Panel

Healing Through Wonder

The Power of Peer Support

Making Advocacy Part of Your Grief Journey Panel Discussion

Navigating the Loss of a Partner to Substance Use:Panel Discussion

Finding Meaning in Grief

Grief, Soul Exhaustion and Soul Care

Harm Reduction: A Safe Space for Grievers to Ask Questions

Remembering Lives, Sharing Stories: An Interactive Grief Workshop

Healing Hands Workshop

How Do Young People (18-35 yrs) Grieve - Panel Discussion for Everyone

Peer Grief Support for People on the Recovery Spectrum - Panel Discussion

Healing Guilt and Regret

Weaving Memories: Basket Weaving as a Form of Meditation & Remembrance

Grounding Through Grief

Grief Movement

CALL THEIR NAME HIKE

A great hike in N. Easton MA today! The "Call Their Name" hikes offer a healing experience. Walking together fosters community, helps release tension, and the shared experience allows for both personal reflection and collective healing. There is a power calling your person’s name out in the world! Do you want to have a hike near you? Please complete this form.

INTO LIGHT

Last opportunity for grief support at the INTO LIGHT exhibit in NORTON MA. A peer grief group facilitated by Robyn Houston-Bean will be held 10/27/24 at 11:00 am. Please join us.

ACTIVITIES & EVENTS

1. FINDING SUPPORT IN GRIEF Conference October 18-20, 2024 Framingham MA REGISTRATION CLOSING 10/14/24! Discover hope, healing, support, and a sense of community at SADOD’s 3rd annual grief conference. Register now and learn more about this special event by clicking the link below: https://cvent.me/VVeBgB. Connect with others who have experienced the death of someone they care about to substance-use-related causes.

2. October Psychoeducational Workshop 10/22/24 6:30 pm Join SADOD for a discussion on boundaries and coping strategies for the holiday season, as well as an opportunity to find comfort in sharing a space with others who feel similarly. Most importantly, we hope this workshop will convey the fact that you are not alone in feeling apprehensive about the holidays. This workshop will take place virtually on Zoom. Learn more and register at bit.ly/sadod-holidays. Please note this workshop has a $10 fee for individuals outside of Massachusetts. Massachusetts residents may attend this workshop for free due to funding from MA-BSAS by using promo code MASS at the time of registration. If cost is an issue, please contact Laura@sadod.org

3. Peer Grief Support Group at the INTO LIGHT Project Wheaton College 31 E. Main St. The Beard & Weil Galleries. Norton MA 10/27/24 11:00 am ET. Last opportunity for a grief support group time together at this event space.

4. New Event! Yoga Nidra & Sound Healing Saturday, November 2, 2024 4:00 PM 5:00 PM Sally McDermott Dance Center Aurburn MA Instructors will create a safe space for healing and calming the body for people bereaved due to substance use related causes. Release. Reset. Renew. Relish in a 15 minute all levels gentle stretch Vinyasa yoga session as we then settle into our Yoga Nidra Practice. Grab a scented eye towel and a blanket as we fall into a deep guided meditation. All while bathing in the vibrations & reverberations of beautifully orchestrated Soundwaves. Space is limited to 15 people. Registration is required. As with our previous events, we are requiring a deposit to hold your spot. You will receive the deposit back at the event. If you sign up and do not attend the event without giving us 10 days notice, the deposit is not refundable. We do this to be able to continue to offer events at no cost to you. Thanks for your understanding.

Questions? Please contact Aileen Lovejoy: 774-239-1905 aileen@peersupportcommunitypartners.com REGISTER HERE!

5. KEYS 365 Virtual Suicide Prevention Workshop by Deb Casello Tuesday, November 5, 2024 6:30-8:00 pm ET This free KEYS 365 class is designed to empower participants with essential tools to recognize risk factors and warning signs of suicide, understand recommended suicide prevention verbiage, engage in open discussions, and foster hope and help-seeking behaviors. Self-care and resilience-building techniques for attendees to practice and share with others are included. This dynamic session focuses on early intervention and is interactive; participants will actively engage with each other as they are introduced to life-saving suicide prevention skills. Please pre-register here.

6. Afternoon Tea Belmont MA Sunday Novemeber 10, 2024 12:001:30 pm ET Come join The Sun Will Rise for a relaxing afternoon of tea and community before the hustle and bustle of the upcoming holidays. Enjoy great food and conversation with your peers in this small and quaint tea room. Each guest will receive their own pot of tea in a delicious flavor of their choice. There will also be a variety of scrumptious finger sandwiches, scones, mini desserts, and cookies for all. Vegetarian and GF options are also available. Space is limited to 15 people. As with our previous events, we are requiring a deposit to hold your spot. You will receive the deposit back at the event. If you sign up and do not attend the event without giving us 10 days notice, the deposit is not refundable. We do this to be able to continue to offer events at no cost to you. Thanks for your understanding.

Contact Natalie Patricio at jeepgirl474@gmail or (774)955-7752 with any questions and to inform of any food allergies or special accommodations. Registration is required. Sign up here!

**** Special post for Chris’s Corner, A Recovery Resource Center ****
The Regional Substance Navigation Program AND Chris' Corner are hosting their fourth annual Color Run/Walk for Recovery on Saturday, October 26th, and they need your help! Sign up to sponsor, volunteer, be a vendor, or participate! Sign up to participate https://forms.gle/dQMRotoxs6Wf7h6Y8

THIS WEEK’S MEETING INFORMATION

Monday - IN-PERSON, WEYMOUTH MA 10/14/24 6:30-8:00 pm ET.

Darlene Mersereau facilitating.

Crossroads Church, 241 Broad Street, Weymouth, MA

For anyone 18 and over who has experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use.

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Monday - MOM’S ONLY - ZOOM 10/14/24 6:30-8:00 pm ET.

Chris Santos facilitating.

For mothers who have experienced the death of a child(ren) due to substance use.

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89501963714?pwd=rzhdx7uxJO2lsP2PdpniApyhd6UZsd.1

Meeting ID: 895 0196 3714

Passcode: 957061 or

One tap mobile 16465588656

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Monday - SUICIDE RELATED DEATH- ZOOM 10/14/24 7:00-8:30 pm ET.

Don Lipstein facilitating/Nic Scarmeas co-facilitating.

For anyone 18 and over who have experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use. Whether you know for sure that suicide was the cause of death or you are uncertain, you will find support here.

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89707430582

Meeting ID: 897 0743 0582 or

One tap mobile 16469313860

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Tuesday - IN-PERSON, MATTHEW’S CANDLE, HANSON, MA 10/15/24 6:30-8:00 pm ET.

Mary Peckham facilitating.

Calvary Baptist Church, 429 Monponsett Street, Hanson, MA

For anyone 18 and over who has experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use.

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Tuesday - IN-PERSON, QUINCY, MA 10/15/24 6:30-8:00 pm ET.

Robyn Houston-Bean facilitating.

New Way Recovery, 85 Quincy Avenue, Quincy, MA

For anyone 18 and over who has experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use.

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Wednesday - IN-PERSON, CHARLESTOWN, MA 10/16/24 6:00-7:00 pm ET.

Shannon Lundin & Michael Cain facilitating.

St. John’s Church 27 Devens St 2nd Floor Charlestown MA

For anyone 18 and over who has experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use.

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Wednesday - ZOOM 10/16/24 6:00-7:30 pm ET.

Karen Walsh and Rachel Solomon facilitating.

For anyone 18 and over who has experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86470429283

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Wednesday - SIBLING ZOOM 10/16/24 6:00-7:30 pm ET.

Miriah Corso facilitating.

For anyone 18 and over who has experienced the death of a sibling due to substance use.

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81887342500?pwd=WLxNYnDMm8Juvs8OK1pbkrUJPMm1to.1

Meeting ID: 818 8734 2500

Passcode: 234576 or

One tap mobile 13092053325

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Thursday - LGBTQ+ ZOOM 10/17/24 6:00-7:30 PM ET.

Jill Shanahan (she/her) facilitating.

For anyone 18 and over and identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community who has experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use.

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89951258443?pwd=MnJQVDEzWmIxaWdjWnBKN2Y4ZEh1dz09

Meeting ID: 899 5125 8443

Passcode: 841193 or

One tap mobile 16469313860

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Thursday - YOUNG PERSON MEETING - ZOOM 10/17/24 6:30-8:00 pm ET.

Chloe Brosnan facilitating

For anyone 18-35 who has experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use.

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82575673103?pwd=Xvzay1uQXyW00t8TBwwqTwElDbc7RV.1

Meeting ID: 825 7567 3103

Passcode: 847275 or

One tap mobile 13052241968

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Friday-Sunday 10/18-10/20/24 SPECIAL EVENT IN-PERSON, SHERATON FRAMINGHAM HOTEL AND CONFERENCE CENTER, FRAMINGHAM, MA sponsored by SADOD: Finding Support in Grief Conference. Last Call. Registration closes 10/14/24!