REACHING EVERYONE IN DISTRESS FOUNDATION INC

REID'S MISSION IS TO HELP VICTIMS OF THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC LEARN HOW CREATIVE EXPRESSION THROUGH MUSIC AND OTHER FINE ARTS CAN REPLACE SUBSTANCE USE AND THE DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIORS THAT COME WITH THE DISEASE. BEHIND EVERY ADDICTIVE BEHAVIOR OR MENTAL ILLNESS IS UNRESOLVED TRAUMA, SUPPRESSED EMOTIONS, AND WOUNDED PARTS OF OURSELVES. IT CAN BE VERY DIFFICULT TO VERBALIZE THE PAIN THAT HAS CRYSTALIZED IN OUR MINDS AFTER YEARS OF NUMBING. SOME OF THE UNRESOLVED PAIN ONE IS CARRYING COULD HAVE OCCURRED BEFORE LANGUAGE WAS DEVELOPED, AND THEREFORE THE ABILITY TO PUT IT INTO WORDS IS ABSENT. THIS IS NO DIRECT FLAW OF THE INDIVIDUAL - UNRESOLVED TRAUMA SIMPLY CREATES BARRIERS TO PROCESSING TRAUMA AND HEALING. CREATIVE EXPRESSION HELPS US RECOVER FROM THESE BARRIERS. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT CREATIVE EXPRESSION THROUGH MUSIC AND OTHER FINE ARTS TARGETS THE SAME PLEASURE RECEPTORS OF THE BRAIN AS ONE'S DRUG OF CHOICE. IN ESSENCE, CREATIVE EXPRESSION CAN REPLACE NEGATIVE OUTLETS WITH POSITIVE ONES.