By Beth Barhydt
The New Canaan Parent Support Group held a Pathway Session titled “Managing Cortisol to Promote Recovery” on Wednesday, March 13, 2024, at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. This event featured Dr. Raquel Harrison, a Lifestyle Medicine physician, as the speaker. The focus of the session was on understanding and managing cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone, in the context of recovery.
Dr. Harrison’s expertise in Lifestyle Medicine brought a unique perspective to the session, as she discussed how various lifestyle factors, such as nutrition, sleep, and social connections, can influence cortisol levels and, by extension, a person’s recovery process. Cortisol plays a crucial role in the body’s stress response, and its management is often a key consideration in both physical and mental health, especially for individuals in recovery.
The Pathway Series, initiated by the New Canaan Parent Support Group, is a platform for open discussion about addiction and recovery topics, aiming to provide education and share knowledge with parents and the broader community. This initiative started following the significant interest generated by the 1st Annual Community Addiction Awareness Vigil in 2017. Since its inception, the series has covered a wide range of topics related to addiction and recovery, bringing in clinicians, subject matter experts, and people with personal recovery experiences as speakers.
The New Canaan Parent Support Group, founded by Paul Reinhardt, extends beyond just parent support; it has broadened its mission to encompass education and awareness about addiction and mental health in the community. The group meets regularly and hosts various events, including the Pathway Sessions, to foster a supportive environment for individuals and families dealing with addiction and recovery.
For more detailed information about the event and the New Canaan Parent Support Group, you can visit their official website at https://ncparentsupportgroup.org/
At left is Paul Reinhardt, Founder, New Canaan Parent Support Group, and Dr. Raquel Harrison, Emergency and Lifestyle Medicine Physician. Richard Hoge photo.
