Recovery with Irma

Recovery with Irma is a new monthly column with Irma Schutte. Irma supports men and women who are ready to create their own alcohol-free happiness. She offers her clients a holistic and unique approach by combining her experience as a clinic homeopath (British Institute of Homeopathy), certified health coach (Institute for Integrative Nutrition) and recovered addict (sober since July 2015). Her work on holistic addiction recovery, mental health and natural medicine has been featured in popular publications such as Elephant Journal, NZ Women’s Weekly, Sivana East and more.

We’re blessed to call Raglan home. There is much to love about this town. The strong sense of community is something many of us value the most. When the chips are down there’s bound to be someone who will look after your kids, cook you a meal, take out your recycling, grab you some groceries or pick you a few lemons from their tree.

We cannot thrive in isolation and Raglan’s community spirit demonstrates first-hand the healing power of connection.

When the Chronicle connected with me a few weeks ago and offered me this space to be of service to you, I graciously accepted.

Who am I to talk?

I’m just a little girl in a grown up’s body learning to not feel so afraid of life and all its unknowns and uncertainties. I write, speak, teach and learn about holistic addiction recovery, how to create habits that serve us, ways to enjoy a sober life, mental health and natural medicine. In a previous chapter of my life I had the experience of addiction. Today, I choose sobriety because I want to expand my experience of my true self and my party girl identity got in the way.

I believe we recover from drug addiction, alcoholism, co-dependency, workaholism and perfectionism. We recover from depression, burnout, anxiety, stress, trauma, grief and chronic illness. We recover from having our hearts broken, from losing our marriages, our homes, or our jobs. And there are many pathways to recovery. For a small town, we are fortunate to have access to a wide variety of professional individuals and support groups. I would not be where I am today if it weren’t for Raglan’s wellness and medical providers.

If you’re reading this and you’re feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, lonely, sad, stuck, afraid or hurt, may I remind you that these people and groups are waiting to wrap you with love, understanding and kindness. Recovery happens when we give ourselves permission to go to that scary place called vulnerability, drop our facades and receive support from those we trust.

I’m grateful that I’ll be able to connect with you more in the weeks to follow. Your road to recovery need not be a lonely one.

In service always,

Irma.