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Latinas Juntas 2021 Mission

Latinas Juntas is here for you. For humanity. To build on women who hold strength and power using their abilities and strengths.

We provide free services to vulnerable populations who do not have the resources, financial security, or help that they are seeking. Please contact our founder Carmen Perez for any questions. We are here to help.

                           Carmenp215@gmail.com or carperez@iu.edu

He does not like it when I speak up because I hold Power, Capability, and Intelligence. And it angers him because I am a woman of color. I see it every day, at the hospitals and school of medicine/sociology/neuroscience. At the gas station, at the grocery store, patriarchy, machismo seeks into our daily society.

60 years ago women were legally mandated to stay quiet, their voice was not heard, we couldn’t legally work, vote, or speak our minds. Just take a moment to feel the weight of this.

I am pursuing my Doctorate in Philosophy for Medical Anthropology and Neuroscience.

I have Incan roots. I was born and raised in Chicago, I lived in Oak Park, Logan Square, Melrose Park. Both of my parents are Peruanos, I hold dual citizenship in the USA and Peru.

I have a course running through my blood to better my world. To make a longing impact on those who are vulnerable, afraid, insecure, and living in harsh conditions.

Some may call me too optimistic, I feel that isn’t a bad quality to have.

I worry about the integrity and humanity of the world. People are killing each other daily. Violence, materialism, and Instagram are running our lives. Let’s put politics aside.

Emotion VS Logic. Our brain holds both, the right and the left lobe. And then there is our frontal lobe which makes all of our decisions.

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Stop giving people power to control your smile, your worth, and your attitude.

Mandy Hale (via thoughtkick)

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You need someone that loves your soul more than your body

Unknown (via quotefeeling)

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Sometimes there comes the right person in the right moment in your life. And even if she or he doesn’t stay forever, it is just right for the moment.

Thoughtkick (via thoughtkick)

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Photo by eli russell linnetz

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Grimes for Flaunt Magazine

photo: Zoey Grossman

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queen

Grimes for Flaunt Magazine

photo: Zoey Grossman

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#a pile of warm cats is all you need

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Daylight fading into night.

Unknown Source.

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You need someone that loves your soul more than your body

Unknown (via quotefeeling)

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Analysis of AA

                         Critical Reflection of Alcoholics Anonymous

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is defined as an international fellowship that consists of individuals who have a problem with alcohol. AA implements the twelve steps and twelve traditions to guide an individual’s recovery. We both attended an AA group meeting in February to observe our feelings, reactions, emotions, thoughts, and experiences during the session. The group meeting attended was on February 21 at 9:30 AM. For short the group name is AA Pacific and there were members from all over the country. The paper will describe the meeting, examine our thoughts, and finally articulate learning about AA and how it will aid us in our social work career with individuals who have substance use disorders.

Examine

    Confidentiality is a crucial piece in AA participation and while it goes without saying, addressing anonymity during every meeting is a way for members to feel that it is taken seriously. Attending a meeting where the worst parts of your life are on display, members need to have assurance that their experiences aren’t at their own expense, or for outsiders' consumption to take with them. During the Feb 21st meeting of AA, the host welcomed anyone who was attending to speak up about any sobriety birthdays or milestones. The group was inviting and warm. From an outside perspective, there was not an overreaching pressure to share although we both felt that if we wanted to, we’d be welcomed, comforted, and respected. As sharing went on, members started speaking up, easing into the solace of the meeting. Because the meeting was held virtually, members didn’t allow the awkward pauses to last more than a minute or two and whether that was a result of panic or comfort, the sharing was passed around evenly and we carried the silences with understanding.

Articulate Learning

The prevalence of substance use disorders is high and impacts many different types of populations regardless of race, ethnicity, or gender. Furthermore, it was extremely beneficial to attend an AA meeting because we have an understanding of the general format and tenets of AA meetings. The literature revolving AA has been challenged and supported by different sources. Glaser (2015) provides evidence that AA has low success rates between 5-8% and is not equipped to address mental health issues including depression and anxiety. Furthermore, Glaser (2015) emphasizes that AA lacks trained mental health professionals and should not be considered as the only option for individuals in recovery. The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence [NCADD] (2016) challenges Glaser’s findings and reports that AA has a success rate between 42%-75%. Despite conflicting articles, AA has helped some individuals overcome their alcohol use disorder by providing a community of support, source of strength, and a reason to achieve sobriety. Regardless of the success rate of AA, it is important as a clinician to identify when it is appropriate to refer clients to AA or when to provide alternate resources for clients.

It would be appropriate to recommend AA to individuals who are ready to confront their substance use disorders and have some sort of spirituality in their lives. AA relies heavily on scripture-like slogans and a higher power. AA could be a good fit for someone if they are looking for connection to others who are also struggling with alcohol use disorder. It would also be important to assess if the client’s strengths include spirituality or a connection to some sort of higher power.  The meetings and materials for AA are based on the assumption that recovery is achieved through a spiritual awakening . AA meetings can be a good place to start for fellowship and for an individual who is willing to work a program. AA can be recommended for an individual who is interested in allocating a sponsor for their recovery. AA would be appropriate for someone who is ready to change their drinking habits and wants to be a part of a large community that has structure and rules in their meetings.

It is important to recognize that AA is not for all clients with substance use disorders. It may not be ideal to recommend AA if the person is not spiritual or does not believe in a higher power. As a clinician, it is still important to offer information about AA to the client and see if this is something that they would be interested in. AA would not be appropriate for individuals who do not like to share in big group settings and who do not believe in cross talk in group therapy as this is one of the rules in AA. Younger generations may have more difficulty relating to AA as it was created in the early 1900’s. Safety tips, motivational interviewing, and harm reduction can be offered to individuals who are not ready to achieve abstinence yet. There are several alternative options that may be appropriate for clients who do not believe in a higher power including Smart Recovery or Refugee Recovery.

Conclusion

It is important to discuss the benefits and barriers of AA with clients to inform them that it is an option for their recovery. Ultimately it is the client’s life and decision on whether or not they want to recover from their alcohol abuse. It is critical to remember the client’s autonomy and desire to change when discussing different options for recovery. It is critical to explore a client’s ambivalence to change as they begin their journey to sobriety. Although there is conflicting literature about the efficacy of AA, it is a widely used treatment option that can benefit our clients. 

Carmen A. Perez  & H.G

References

Glaser, G. (2015, March 16). The Bad Science of Alcoholics Anonymous. The Atlantic. https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2015/04/the-irrationality-of-alcoholics-anonymous/386255/

National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence [NCADD]. (2016, January 31). Alcoholics Anonymous and the Atlantic: A call for better science. https://www.ncaddesgpv.org/blog/alcoholics-anonymous-and-the-atlantic-a-call-for-better-science 

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The hardest battle you will ever have to fight is between who you are now and who you want to be.

Unknown (via quotemadness)

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Tell me darling, would you still love me If I told you about the monsters I need to sing to sleep every night? If you understood the way I need to tiptoe across my own mind so I can fall asleep before daylight? if you knew where the nightmares came from, if you saw my scarred soul, would being with me terrify you? If you knew the full extent of the damage they have done to me, would you stay, would you still want to?

Nikita Gill, Questions I Am Too Broken to Ask (via thoughtkick)