A Harvest House, Sober Living for Women

11/29/2021

11/22/2021

I love Thanksgiving week . The cooking , remembering to be grateful , the family , the friends , the love , thanking God, putting everything else aside. I learned in AA , if holidays are hard, reach out. We’re here to help. ❤️🙏🏻

11/10/2021

I have seen a significant increase in co-occurring or primary mental health disorders in our work at A Harvest House Sober Living for Women over the last twenty months. . The medical care providers who help us are more important than ever.

We have a lot of healing to do.

https://www.bbvaopenmind.com/en/science/research/the-other-pandemic-the-effects-of-the-coronavirus-crisis-on-mental-health/

Authorities must provide adequate coverage and prepare for an escalation in cases needing treatment as steep as that of the pandemic itself.

06/05/2021

This Harvard professor explains the science of happiness. Can we create happiness in our lives? The answer is yes !

Some high points :

Studies show gratitude lists can increase happiness by 25 percent . He said everyone should do them!

Top predictors of happiness are faith , family , friends and work that has purpose , in service of others.

As a feeling , happiness is sustainable only when shared . Otherwise it’s fleeting , unpredictable and circumstance dependent .

When we practice happiness, even though we are not feeling great , in the moment and over time, we become more happy. He used the phrase “fake it until you make it.” Contrary action lifts us up.

He also talked about introverts and extroverts and how we can learn from each other in ways that make us more happy .

❤️







https://www.cnn.com/videos/us/2021/06/02/arthur-c-brooks-becoming-happier-acfc-full-episode.cnn?fbclid=IwAR3ctpvsTPVItGsj5ukrlW9yb0_qqQYjDS_TW-wY8ut18PL6trIsetsjhLI

The Atlantic columnist, podcast host and Harvard professor Arthur C. Brooks shares lessons the coronavirus pandemic taught us about introverted and extroverted people becoming happier. Watch Anderson Cooper Full Circle on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 6pm E.T.

02/11/2021

For 12 years, we have been doing something in the house , with over 600 women, that was revolutionary 80 years ago and still is today. We just follow the directions in the AA book , line by line, on the 12 steps and medical care as needed. It works .

11/21/2020

I am starting a gratitude challenge . When the pandemic started I had so much fear and had no idea how we were going to get through this. I know it’s not over yet but I wanted to look back at what I would tell my grandchildren (when I have them ) about this time. Post pictures from this year of some of what helped you get through . For me, prayer and taking this day by day. Finding joy .

08/20/2020

When I opened Harvest House eleven years ago, I wanted the house to be a place where someone could experience the joy that all of our senses bring - taste, touch, sound, hearing , sight . As we awaken to recovery , we realize life is beautiful .

In addiction , we look to drugs and alcohol for all comfort , for all needs. As we heal, that changes. It’s as if we see the simple pleasures around us for the first time. It is so rewarding to watch someone walk that journey !

08/05/2020

This is the other pandemic . So far, addiction has caused the loss of as many lives as Covid 19 in the US this year.

According to the American Society of Addiction Medicine, addiction is a disease with biological, psychological , social and spiritual manifestations. Without treatment and/or the engagement in recovery services (like AA , sober living , spirituality ) , addiction is progressive and can lead to disability or premature death.

There are many social services available for help , including free and low cost options. Don’t wait ❤️🙏🏻

06/01/2020

Truth does not discriminate

05/20/2020

04/14/2020

Mixing things up! So now we start every house meeting with “what did you do that was fun this week ?” We even created a “playroom “ in the house for games, art, creativity , making music, and meditation or alone time (thanks , Maya!) 🙌

Not so bad this week! Walking . Exercise with dumbbells. Fun movies. Driving around. Art. Making cartoons. Cooking. Music. Origami. Video games. Coffee. Playing with the pets. Boyfriend time. Laughing. Sharing. Service . As we say in AA , we are not a glum lot!

It’s not all recovery , online outpatient treatment and school, and other commitments . We all did this to be happy! 😊

04/07/2020

Recovery . Healthcare. Safety. Gratitude . Please let me know if we can help.

03/31/2020

Virtual outpatient treatment . Physical distancing , not medical distancing . ❤️

I am so proud of , and thankful to , Maya and the young women in this house , who set us up for this , and zoom for our AA meetings and outside meetings, because I never could have done it ! Not ever . Hahahaha

We have the TV involved, an amp, a microphone, a computer . With me , when I use it for zoom , Maya does all the tech stuff and just says, “Mom, look here, talk into this “ . Hahaha ❤️

03/31/2020

This really just happened! I was just talking to them, and they walked away and said, “wait, we’ll be right back .” They said the roses smelled so good !

We are going to get through this!

03/25/2020

Hi everyone!

I just learned from local news about the confirmed cases of the Coronavirus in the San Fernando Valley .

I am grateful we started taking precautions on March 9th . Why? I guess it’s because I am a mom . People yelled at me for it at the time , but I’m ok with that! Haha

If this is helpful to anyone else , this is what we have been doing at A Harvest House, Sober Living for Women !

•We have limited guests;
• Trips outside the house have been curtailed to that which is essential , and only with social distancing , hand sanitizer and face masks. We also have gloves that can be used;
•We have increased hand washing . Everyone is trying to wash their hands every half hour, and always when they come in from outside;
•As soon as anyone comes in from outside, they throw their clothes in the laundry basket, and don’t wear them until they have been washed, washing their hands after handling them;
•Women have been attending online 12 Step meetings and online IOP ;
•Our rules on house cleanliness and medical care have been in place for ten years. Sanitizing surfaces commonly touched in chore areas is very, very important now. Medical care when needed is also essential now;
•We have stocked up on emergency provisions; and
•We do not have a large number of people at the house , which is really good now - we admit less than ten women in recovery and are screening new women and heat processing /sanitizing their belongings .

We are also continuing our focus on helping women recover from addiction, through an immersive 12 Step program in the house , and medical care as needed. We are lucky the program is in-house .

There could not be a better time for self-care , and finding a new way of living . Isolation is not good in recovery , so we are creating new ways of community and connection and fun.

In addition , good nutrition and exercise are also really important , especially now. These are so critical to our immune system! So we are doing a lot of this!

Also , we are trying to drink a lot of water and hot liquids. Gargling with lemon/lime water once a day can also really help . Scientists and doctors are saying this can flush the virus out of our throats and prevent illness if we are exposed . Water, water, water. Tea, coffee, soup!!!! We have all of this!!! ❤️❤️❤️

Yes, we can do this! We can !

And , as the owner of the house, I am trusting, and trying to listen to that quiet knowing from, my higher power , God .

03/20/2020

In the wake of the stay-at-home order today and the closure of all non-essential businesses , we are open .

We started taking precautions against the coronavirus on March 9th , because health and safety are our primary concerns.

• We have been limiting outside guests;
• Trips outside the house have been curtailed to that which is essential , and only with social distancing , hand sanitizer and face masks;
•We have increased hand washing ;
•Women have been attending online 12 Step meetings;
•Our rules on house cleanliness and medical care have been in place for ten years;
•We have stocked up on provisions; and
•We do not have a large number of people at the house - we admit less than ten women in recovery .

We are also continuing our focus on helping women recover from addiction, through an immersive 12 Step program in the house , and medical care as needed. There could not be a better time for self-care , and finding a new way of living . Isolation is not good in recovery , so we are creating new ways of community and connection .

Stay safe my friends. Please let us know if there is anything at all we can do to help.

Lisa Jacobsen, Owner and Director ,

03/12/2020

So some good news! A recent study by a reputable organization finds AA more effective than other approaches, and it’s free! 🙌

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/11/upshot/alcoholics-anonymous-new-evidence.html

An updated review shows it performs better than some other common treatments and is less expensive.