Leonard’s I Gjijtrse; adult Ufa in priam.' I believe be bad been in jail from age 12 until age 38,” deecribea Wayn Brown, education al specialist of the Confidence Chib. “He was prone to violent be havior and would often speak in tong nee,” Brown relates. , Leonard was suffering from a disabling mental illness. Hie past and experiences had resulted in such a high degree of deviant behavior that be was not able to function in society. The balance of Leonard’s life would have probably continued as it had been. He waa periodic ally locked up in Memorial Hos pital's mental ward or from time to t time Institutionalized in State men tal health facilities such as Brough ton. However, fortunately Leonard’s life found a better course when he was referred to1 the Confidence Club, a self-help County-supported organ isation in Charlotte. When he be came a member, he was able to choose between three areas of low stress jobs: kitchen, maintenance or clerical. The work is volunteer but he would have to report each day from 9 a m. until 2 p.m. He could also participate in fundraising ac tivities and extra activities such as bowling or going to the beach. Leonard would have to follow the conduct code of the dub. If he was involved in a fight, he would be suspended from work for a week. It was also his responsibility to take Ms medication. “Today, Leonard runs the snack bar efficiently,” states Brown. “There are no problems with his behavior. He is completely trust worthy and he reports to work at 8 • m. promptly each morning. If you were to meet him now you’d say he is one of the sweetest persons.” Brown has good thills to say about almost all of the 30-45 people who" are members of-, the Confidence Chib. They range in age .between the early 20s to 90s, some are college graduates, ethers are high school graduates, and others have not completed junior high. They have all been, at one Wayn Brown . .Educational specialist ' tune, certified mentally ill, though the illnesses differ in type and severity, and they have all been referred to the Confidence Chib by a licensed professional. The Confidence Club, the first and only facility of its kind in Charlotte, there are 20 throughout the state of North Carolina, once operated out of the Mental Health Building on Billingsley Road- Recently, they acquired a histdHcal home in which to house their facilities. It is lo cated at 801 Sunnyside Avenue. The Clubhouse employs Brown, as educational specialist, also two social workers and one nurse. They are there to assist the members of the club when necessary. *‘We don’t babysit them,’’ comments Brown. “They run the place themselves. We are there just in case something they are not able to handle coines up." The purpose of the ‘ Confidence Club is to help people who’ve suf fered from mental illness to be come capable and productive mem bers of society again. “People who have nervous breakdowns often for get how to do many things. Also, if they’ve been given shock treatment, a whole segment of their memory may be blocked out. It’s very dif ficult for them to become fully functional," explains Brown. "Left as they are, they become very dependent. They usually live on Social Security benefits or B.S.I. Without a job, they begin to feel uaeless - without a tense of purpose. Or they are ill-treated by other*. Many live in rooming houses where they may not have heat. They are often overcharged for things. Some people think they can do anything to a mentally ill person, if they believe no one cares about them.” the Confidence Club is a place these disabled and discarded per sons can re learn the customs of society. They learn to hold a steady Job and cope with its responsibilities. They learn to manage their money, find living quarters, and handle their neces sities. In other words, they learn to Jive in toe world again. “The key to tbe success of toe club is' that- the members are around people with similar problems and they know they are accepted. They are comfortable here and toe Jobe give them a sense of being pro ductive,” Brown informs. Take, for instance, Hob. He was a graduate of Appalachian State, a member of a very wealthy family. But somewhere along the way Bob succumbed to schizophrenic be havior. “He was extremely withdrawn and lethargic, totally non-produc tive. When you’d talk to him he would just sit and stare, making you feel very uneasy,’’ Brown de scribes. “Now, Bob is a model mem ber,” boasts Brown. “He is on the Hospitality Committee. He wel comes new members and shows them around the facilities. He works in the clerical unit- that puts to gether a bi-monthly newsletter.” Bob was very helpful during the Confidence Club’s recent open house. “It was very exciting,” comments Brown. In April or May of this year, the Confidence Club will develop a job placement department. “We will go out and secure low stress jobs for the members. Many of them already have begun asking for Jobs outside the club. But we don’t encourage them to find jobs on their own. Many jobs are high stress and we’d hate for them to go out and fail.” ccording To Dr. Alvarado ood Addictions Just As Real As ' *■' * * All*. I loijocco Addictions By Audrey C. Lodato Post Staff Writer ' Are you a chocoholic? Can your 1 day not begin until ycAi’ve had several cupa of coffee? Do you reach for a candy bar or -other sweets during the afternoon and get “antsy" if you can’t have one? Pregnant women are not the only ones subject to cravings for par ticular foods. While not every crav ing is a sign of addiction, food addictions do create cravings, na turopathic physician Dr. Gil Alva rado remarked during a recent in terview. - V _ - -t /. “Someone who {*aa,«n addiction craves if (the fo«Fshe or bejftf Addicted to) aO the time,” Dr. Alvarado explained. "People can isvb food addictions Just like they • tave alcohol addictions, dgaratte 'addictions, and drug addictions. An i addiction can come from either a physiological, or a psychological sociological base,”- he continued. “Invariably, both at these will be involved. We’re not compartment alized people. What happens on a physical level is not separated from the psychological level.” According to Alvarado, the body tries to tell us what it needs, bat its messages are sometimes misinter preted. He told of a study involv tag young children who were given free rein over what they ate from a table of unprocessed foods. Over the course of a month, the children chose a balanced diet, even though on any particular day they might have eaten only one or two types of food At the end of the first month, other foods such as sweets, soft drinks, and processed foods were added to the table. Immediately, the children gravitated toward these foods Whan this happened, said Alvarado, "they lost their innate sense of balance," and ho huger ate a nutritious diet. Ha theorised that the new foods set them up to crave stimui*nt*. tvmm cravings, it wouid Dr. GO Alvarado ....Many causes of cravings food allergies sometimes cause cravings for the very food to which the person Is allergic, the naturo path noted. Other factors include a weak digestive tract that craves simple carbohydrates, such as sugar and refined flour, which are easy to digest; weakness in another part of the body which may. need to be stimulated; hypoglycemia; dia betes; social habits associated with fun (associations often built and ' nurtured by advertising); and asso ciations learned by havti* been rewarded with sweets as a child. Alvarado commented, "Some peo ple eat because they’re depressed, and then become depressed because they eet." Such circular reactions can easily maintain a craving for particular foods. Interestingly, when the body needs B vitamins, He explained, it craves something sweet, because foods that are innately sweet have B vitamins. If, however, you feed It processed sugar, not only don’t you get the needed vitamins, but you also deplete your already low sup ply of B vitamins because they ere necessary to metabolize sugars. Thus, you creates downward spiral. Dr. AJvaradd'ffl* asserted that a food such as chocolate, which con tains both sugar and caffeine, will stimulate the adrenal glands; these glands will be depleted, however, with regular use of caffeine. Although the problem of over weight as a whole cannot be blamed on addictions to various foods, those involved in well-known weight-loss programs agree that food addictions can pose a serious problem. Jean Pigg, a diet instructor for Weight Watchers, knows that from experience. She recounted her own “cold-turkey” withdrawal from Pepsi after years of drinking “many more than two or three” a day. Several participants from Over eaters Anonymous, who did not wish their identities to be revealed, also spoke about addle tiros. One stated, “I go into a depression like an alcoholic when I’m coming off a sugar high. I stay depressed for three days. A friend gets depressed for two weeks.” She added that she knows of several alcoholics who, when they stopped drinking, be came addicted to certain foods. Another OA member referred to her “trigger foods,” things she “can’t eat Just one of ” These foods, she stated, set off her par ticular addiction. When I began Interviewing for this article, I secretly hoped to find a simple solution to my own case of “chocohoUsm.” Alas, apparently there Is no easy solution. Accord ing to all the people 1 talked with, self-discipline, determination, and a change of eating habits are all going to have to be Involved. As I left Us office at the end of our interview, I told Dr. Alvarado, "Well,! guess I’ll have to go home and finish that Jar of chocolate chips before I can get started.” That, I accomplished. I’m still welting for the determination Public Hearing Set For Mecklenburg County / 1 - + A A wfflbothrmUubawtth curb and gut tor. The present Mdoot right of way wlD be expanded to 1M feat with con ■tructton easements. The public la Invited to attend the questions Or submit inatertol' oer talntng to the project. AddltWI material may be submitted until February n to Oaarga £ Walk, manager of highway doolgn, NCDOT. P.0 Baa »»t. 'toMgh. N. c. nn. A map of the proposed widening project and'rtght of way andcapieo available for public review at the NCDOT district office si Hickory NeweU Road and the office of Randy Jonas, MO B. Trade Street la For additional Information about tho hearing, contract W< A. Oarrett Jr., public hearing ottcer, NCDOT, P.O. Bos Mil, Raleigh. N. C. S7tU or call (Mt) 7SS-MM. "ir-■ ..-. ^Subscription to The Charlotte Post will keep you Informed of community news. 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